Transcript World History: Mesopotamia to the Middle Ages

World in Transition:
The Expansion of Civilization
Confucianism
Started by Confucius (551-479
BCE) during the Warring States
Period in China
Analects
Offers solutions to the problems
plaguing China
– Focus on life rather than the afterlife
Does not advocate a specific deity
Drawing of Confucius
– Emphasizes worship of ancestors
Basic Beliefs of Confucianism
Emphasizes li
– the “rituals” of everyday life
Goal is to promote social harmony on earth
through relationships
– Five Relationships
Filial Piety
– China has a longstanding tradition of ancestor
veneration
Education
Respect for superiors & hierarchy
Emphasizes active
government &
relationships
Social Impact of Confucianism
Becomes foundation of
Chinese government
Reinforced importance of
patriarchal relationships
– Men could keep more than
one wife, a women’s place
was in the home
Reinforced family as the
center of Chinese society
Japan, Korea, Taiwan,
Singapore are influenced by
Confucian ethics
Family altar in Malaysian Chinese
home. Family is inviting ancestors
to partake in the Hungary Ghost
festival
Daoism (Taoism) – “The Way’
Founded by Laozi (6th cent.
BCE?) during the Warring
States Period
Everything revolves around the
Dao
Goal: Create societal harmony
by living according to the
natural laws of the universe
Wu Wei “without action”
Impact of Daoism
Encourages respect for
nature
– Feng shui, astronomy, science,
etc.
Heavily influenced Chinese
art and literature
– Landscape paintings
Yoga and meditation
Balances male & female
Passive, finding harmony in
nature, little government
interference
Balance between Yin
(feminine, dark) and Yang
(masculine, light)
Hinduism
Began in India c.1500 BCE
Beliefs outlined in the Sanskrit
scriptures formed the basis of
the Vedic religions (Hinduism)
One god in many different forms
– Brahma (world soul), Vishnu
(preserver & friend to
humanity), Shiva
Sacred Texts
– Vedas, Bhagavad Gita,
Upanishads (taught one how
to escape from reincarnation)
Shiva, the Destroyer
Basic Beliefs of Hinduism
Major Ideas
– Dharma (duty)
– Karma (action)
– Samsara (cycle of
life/reincarnation)
– Moksha (liberation)
Yogas
– Paths or practices
– Several different types
Kali, goddess of death and
destruction
Social Impact of Hinduism
The Law of Manu – justifies the
caste system
Patriarchal society – sati ritual
Modern Untouchables
Modern India has 160 million untouchables
or approximately 15% of India’s
population.
Buddhism
Founded by Siddhartha
Gautama (563-483 BCE)
– Born into kshatriya caste
Encouraged a monastic life
Reform movement of
Hinduism/Vedic beliefs
– No specific deity
– Nirvana – liberation from
life cycle (women can
achieve!)
– Believes in spiritual equality
• No caste system
Basic Beliefs of Buddhism
Four Noble Truths
– Life is suffering
– Desire causes suffering
– End suffering by ending
desire
– To end desire follow the
Eightfold Path
• Right view, right intention,
right speech, right action,
right livelihood, right effort,
right mindfulness, right
concentration
Buddhist Wheel of Life; the eight
spokes represent the Eightfold Path
Spread of Buddhism (aided by the Mauryan
emperor Ashoka, 269-231 BCE)
Spread of Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana (“greater vehicle”), newer
development
– India, China, Japan, Korea, central Asia
Hinayana (“lesser vehicle,” also
Theravada), earlier version
– Ceylon, Burma, Thailand
The Caste System in Hinduism &
Buddhism
Hinduism supports the caste system
– A higher caste is your “reward” for following
dharma
Buddhism does not support the caste system
– Anyone can follow the eightfold path
• Buddhism only survived in India because the
Mauryan emperor Ashoka converted to it
Judaism
First monotheistic faith
Abraham considered “father”
of the Jews (circa 2000 BCE)
Conquered by the Assyrians,
the Neo-Babylonian Empire,
the Persians, & the Romans
Under Persian rule the
Jewish diaspora begins,
worsens under Roman rule
– The dispersion of Hebrews
from their homeland
Abraham and Issac by
Rembrandt
Basic Beliefs of Judaism
Death is not the end of
human existence
– Focus on life instead of
afterlife
Moses by Rembrandt
Believe dead will be
physically resurrected
Ten Commandments
One is saved through
commitment to being
moral to God.
– 614 Rabbinical laws
Social Impact of Judaism
Short lived kingdom in
the Middle East
Jewish Diaspora
Heavy emphasis on
tradition & culture
– Language, diet,
holidays, etc.
Patriarchal community
– Matrilineal descent
Israel as a united monarchy lasted from
1050-930 BCE. Eventually it was divided
into two kingdoms. The northern kingdom
of Israel would last until 720 BCE. The
southern kingdom of Judah would last until
586. The fall of the two kingdoms led to
Jewish Diaspora.
The Diaspora
Basic Beliefs of Christianity
Founded by Jesus of
Nazareth (c.6 BCE – c.30
CE)
Encouraged monastic life
Reform movement of
Judaism
– New covenant downplayed
“the law”
Apostle Paul helped
spread Christianity
Edict of Milan, 313CE
– Constantine allowed
Christians to practice
openly in the Roman
empire
Old & New Testament
Appealed to lower
classes & women
– Promise of eternal life
to all
Role of Women in…
Buddhism &
Christianity – both
could achieve
salvation
Hinduism – could not
read the sacred texts
Confucianism education was open to
females, but mostly
for behavior & virtues
Who had more rights?
Poor Females
Rich Females