Transcript Eurasian Cultural Traditions 500 B.C.E.

Eurasian Cultural
Traditions
500 B.C.E.-500 C.E.
Chapter 5 Lecture
A.P. Lecture
Ways of the World
Today’s Objective...
Today we will analyze the
Eurasian Cultural
Traditions (500 B.C.E.500 C.E.) and the major
religions using this
lecture.
2
Lets Sing!!!
Dynasty
song! We
get to
sing!!! Yay!
Chinese Religions

Confucianism

A religion based on the philosophy of Confucius in
China who served as an advisor to rulers.
He lived in China during a time of moral lax.
His writings deal primarily with individual morality
and ethics, and the proper exercise of political power
by the rulers.
Confucianism is primarily an ethical system
This philosophy provided a hierarchy where one
knew their place in the world.






Family=country
**Generally new religions will emerge in times of
chaos or uncertainty. Why?
4
Daoism





Dao can be translated
to “the path” or “the
way”
This philosophy
stresses balance and
harmony in the
universe
Leave the world as
you found it.
Eliminate want and
The Ying and Yang symbol
focus on need.
demonstrates the female and
There is no hierarchy male roles in the natural order.
as in Confucianism
Aryan Migrations
•1600 – 1000 BCE
•Large, light-skinned
•Nomadic horseman from
central Asia (S. Russia)
•Brought:
•Herding
•Oral tradition in Sanskrit
•Aryan Gods
•4 Classes
Blend of
Dravidian and
Aryan
influences
+
Called the
“Vedic Age”
Harappan Civilization
•2500 – 1600 BCE
•Indus River Valley
•Dravidian (dark-skinned)
•Herded cattle and farmed
•Worshipped fertility gods
•Ritualized bathing pools
•Houses showed evidence
of distinct class divisions
Classical Hinduism
=
• By 500 BCE (start of the Classical Era)
• Oral traditions written down in the Vedas
• 4 Varnas = Castes and their (Dharma)
• Brahmin = Priests (learn scriptures)
• Kshatriyas = Warrior/Aristocrats (govern and fight)
• Vaishyas = Merchants (to sell goods/work)
• Shudras = Peasants (to serve)
--------------------------------------------------------UNTOUCHABLES
• Jati = Sub-castes that further divide the varnas
• Samsara = reincarnation (cyclical existence of the soul)
• Dharma = duty
• Karma = good and bad deeds
• Moksha = Salvation or release fron 6the cycle of Samsara
Hinduism
 Polytheistic religion made of hundreds of
gods, originated in India around 1500
b.c.e
 Three main deities are Shiva the
destroyer, Vishnu the preserver, and
Brahma the creator, all are embodied in
Shiva.
 Reincarnation is a principle of Hinduism in
which a persons soul is born again.
7
8
The Story of the Buddha
 The Founder = Siddhartha Gautama
 Born in 563 B.C.E. in foothills of Himalayas a
Kshatriya (warrior/aristocrat) family
 Father was determined that his son would
experience only happiness
 Gautama lived a pampered life in beautiful
parks and palaces
 Gautama grew tired of his comfortable life
and went out into the world to find the
answer..
9
Buddha Story (cont).
Gautama met a series of people who
taught him that:
 Some men become monks, withdraw
from the active daily life, and lead holy
lives seeking spirituality
Gautama left his wife, family, and
home to be a holy man, seeking
spiritual enlightenment and the
explanation for suffering..
10
Buddhism Story (cont.)
Nothing was
working for
Siddhartha
Decided to
meditate under
a tree to find
the answer
11
The Buddha
 Meditated for 49 days
 Demons and spirits
tempted him
 In the end, Siddhartha
understood the problem
of suffering & how to
solve it
 Siddhartha became
enlightened, aka “The
Buddha”
12
The Four Noble Truths
1. All life involves suffering
2. Desire is the cause of suffering
3. Elimination of desire brings an end to
suffering
4. A disciplined life following the Noble
Eightfold Path eliminates desire..
13
The Noble 8-Fold Path
 RIGHT __________
1.
VIEWS (Belief)
2.
ASPIRATIONS (Resolve)
3.
SPEECH
4.
CONDUCT (Behavior)
5.
LIVELIHOOD (Occupation)
6.
EFFORT
7.
MINDFULNESS (Meditation)
8.
CONTEMPLATION..
14
Nirvana
Definition
 A state of perfect spiritual independence
 Enlightenment
 Escape from reincarnation
Parallels to other religions
 Similar to Moksha (Hinduism)
 Similar to reaching Heaven
(Christianity)..
15
Buddhist Doctrine
(cont.)
 Buddhism promotes a life of:
 Moderation
 Quiet Contemplation
 Self Control
 Buddhism rejected:
 Brahmins (Priests)
 Castes and jati
 Vedic gods of Hinduism..
16
Who was attracted to
Buddhism?
Hindus from low castes
Merchants especially! Why
merchants?
 Had high wealth but low status
in Hindu..
17
Ways Buddhism Spread
Merchants spread it via trade
Siddhartha preached & won
converts
Monks spread the word by
preaching..
18
Buddhism Flourished
Spread throughout SE Asia
Spread throughout Central Asia
via the Silk Road
Reached China via the Silk
Road..
19
Hinduism Adapted to
Regain Appeal in India
Less emphasis on Brahmins
Bhagavad Gita offered salvation to
the faithful, even if they are not
priests
Hinduism replaced Buddhism as the
most popular religion in India..
20
Sects of Buddhism
 Theravada “The Lesser Vehicle”


Earlier form, stricter, no gods
Popular but not much easier than Hindu
 Mahayana “The Greater Vehicle”
(Developed Between 3rd and 1st Centuries)

3 Changes:
1.
2.
3.
Buddha worshipped as a God
Boddhisatvas = individuals who reached Nirvana
but remained behind to help others get there
Monasteries granted salvation for large donations
21
22
Compare the 3
Monotheistic Religion
Zoroaster
•Zoroastrianism
Hebrews
•Judaism
Jesus of Nazareth
•Christianity
23