Belief Systems

1. Belief Systems

2. Animism • An ancient religion that centralizes it’s beliefs around the belief that human-like spirits are present in animals, plants, and all other natural objects. • The spirits are believed to be the souls of dead ancestors. • Spirits possess living and non-living things • Often combined with other religions to extend beliefs.

3. HINDUISM KEY IDEAS: Brahmah – one unifying spirit Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, Shiva the Destroyer. Goal of life is to unite with Brahman (through reincarnation) Reincarnation – rebirth of the soul in a new body, get closer to Brahman with every rebirth Karma – deeds of ones life that effect his or her next life Dharma – moral and religious duties that are expected from an individual Caste system – social class system Vedas – one of the books of Hinduism, filled with sacred teachings

4. CASTE system. “A rigid class structure that determined an individual’s position in life.” Based on the idea of reincarnation and the belief that individuals “earned” their current position in society based upon their actions in a previous life. -- A person’s cast is their reward or punishment for karma, deeds committed in a previous life. Karma influences specific life circumstances, such as the caste one is born into, one’s state of health, wealth or poverty, etc.

5. BUDDHISM • Originated in India, by Siddhartha Guatama • FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS- 1) All life is suffering 2) Suffering is caused by selfish desires. 3) Eliminate suffering by eliminating desire 4) Following the Eightfold Path will help people overcome desire Right view. Right intention Right Speech Right Action Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right concentration • Sacred text-Tripitaka- Three baskets of wisdom • Ultimate goal: Nirvana- union with the universe and release from the cycle of death and rebirth

6. CONFUCIANISMConfucianism was the guide to the nature of government and the structure to society. 1) NATURAL ORDER – Each person has place in society which reflects his/her position in the universe. 2) ROLES -- Each person has a role and obligations in society. If met, harmony exists. 3) RELATIONSHIPS – Superior relationships must show love and responsibility; Inferior must show loyalty and obedience. Five key relationships:a. friend to friend, b. father to son, c. ruler to subject, d. husband to wife, e. older brother to younger brother 4) MANDATE OF HEAVEN – Ruler receives right to rule from haven if he benefits the people. 5) EDUCATION – Ruling class must be educated for the benefit of all.

7. Taoism (or Daoism) about 500 B.C. DAOISM –Believed nature has a “way.” People should passively accept nature than resist it. Founder= Laozi Live in harmony with nature Contemplate Tao, or the ‘way’ Yielding and acceptance are virtues Followers rejected the world and human government, they often became hermits, mystics or poets. Balance of yin and yang Yin= earth, darkness, female forces Yang= heaven, light, and male forces Collected works: The Way of Virtue and zhuang-zi

8. Shintoism • Japanese religion in which each clan worshipped their own nature Gods and Goddesses. • It varied because of different customs and beliefs. • Shinto means “way of the Gods” • It had no rituals or philosophy, but instead was based on respect for the forces of nature. • Worshipers believed in kami or divine spirits in nature. • An abnormal tree, rock, waterfall, mountain could be home to kami

9. POLYTHEISM • BELIEF IN OR WORSHIP OF MULTIPLE GODS • MOST ANCIENT RELIGIONS WERE POLYTHEISTIC • OFTEN PRACTICED RITUAL SACRIFICE TO THE MANY GODS

10. Definition: a belief in a single god Greek words “mono” meaning “one” and “theism” meaning “god-worship” Judaism was the first monotheistic religion. They believed in one god for protection who had power over everyone, not just the Jews and Hebrews. God was not a physical being, and no physical images were to be made of him. Monotheism

11. Judaism • Monotheistic – belief in one God who is present everywhere, all-knowing, all-powerful • Torah – Holy Book recording the laws and events in Jewish history • Believe that God made a covenant (agreement) with Abraham and the Hebrews to protect them. • Ten Commandments from God given to Moses – laws that describe how people should behave towards God and each other. • Believe that God chose the Hebrews as His people.

12. Christianity • Jesus Christ was the founder of Christianity. • Jesus’ teachings included many Jewish beliefs, such as monotheism and the Ten Commandments. He stressed God’s personal relationship with each person. • Jesus’ followers were called ‘disciples’ and later ‘apostles’. • Jesus was crucified for ‘challenging the authority of the Roman government’. Jesus’ disciples believed that his crucifixion was a triumph over death and that he was the Messiah. The Jewish priests did not believe he was the Messiah. • Jesus’ disciples continued to spread Jesus’ teachings and Christianity later became a prominent religion throughout the world.

13. Islam(620 AD) • Islam was founded by an Arab merchant named Muhammad. • Muhammad had a vision commanding him to convert the Arab tribes who believed in many gods to a belief in one God, ALLAH.FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM PRAYER Five times a day the Muslims must face toward Mecca (the holy city) and pray. FAITHFollowers must affirm that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad is his prophet. FASTING During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims cannot eat or drink during daylight hours. ALMSMuslims must give money to the poor, and pay taxes to the mosque. PILGRIMAGE All Muslims must make a pilgrimage to Mecca. • Fulfilling these requirements would be rewarded in heaven.

15. Caliph After the death of Muhammad, his followers selected a Caliph to lead them. Caliph means “successor” or “deputy.” The Umayyad • Made the caliphate hereditary • Moved the capital from Medina to Damascus. • Spread Islam as far as Spain.

16. SPREAD OF ISLAM

17. A SPLIT IN ISLAM • Many Muslims of non-Arab backgrounds did not like the way local Administrators favored Arabs. In what is now Iraq, Hussein, second son of Ali, led a revolt against Umayyad rule. • SHIITE MUSLIMS – accept only the decendants of Ali as the true rulers of Islam.(Today – Iran and 48% of Iraq) • SUNNI MUSLIMS – accept the Umayyads as rulers. (Today – most everywhere else).

18. Islam’s Golden Age -- Abbassid Dynasty • Islam’s Success - The strength of the Arab armies brought Islam it’s power. • Abbassid Dynasty - (750 - 1258) Overthrew the UmayyadThe reign of Harun al-Rashid…. Know for charity, supporting writers and artists. His son supported astronomy and translation of classical Greek works. Baghdad becomes the center of enormous trading empire.

19. ISLAMIC METHOD OF RULE • Arabs converted or enslaved conquered peoples who worshipped many gods. • At first, non-Arab converts had fewer rights, but later, all Muslims were treated equally. • Jews and Christians were to be respected as “people of the book” since they worshipped the same God. But they were forced to pay special taxes and could not hold public office.

20. ARAB CULTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS • Preserved Greek and Roman Culture through translations of ancient texts. • Arts and Crafts – Forbade images of God. Arabic art emphasizes geometric designs, flowers, and stars. • Mathematic advances including “Arabic numerals” and advances in algebra and geometry. • Architecture – Beautiful mosques & places with detailed caligraphy and geometric designs. • Medicine – Discovered blood moves to and from the heart. Great Mosque in Samarra, Iraq

21. THE ROLE OF WOMEN • Initially, woman had spiritual and social equality to men. Women had the right to own and inherit property. • Men were dominant in Islamic society. Every woman had a male guardian. Islamic men were permitted up to four wives. • Later, women’s rights eroded. They faced exclusion in their homes, no contact with males outside their families, and dress that hid all aspects of their femininity (including hair).

22. Islamic Prosperity Attracts Invaders • Seljuk Turks – Invaded from Central Asia in the 11th century. They converted to Islam, and used Baghdad as their capital. • In the 12th century, Christians launched a series of wars to retake the Holy Land, called the CRUSADES. • In the 13th century, the Islamic world was invaded by the Mongols.

23. CHINA REUNIFIED • SUI Dynasty – With the end of the Han dynasty, China experienced 300 years of chaos and civil war. From 581-618, the Sui Dynasty took control. • Sui Yangdi (2nd emperor) completed the GRAND CANAL that linked the Huang He (Yellow River) with the Yangtze River.

24. TANG Dynasty (618-907)– Restored the civil service examination. -- Expanded control into Tibet -- Increased trade with Southeast Asia -- Perfected the art of making porcelain. • SONG (SUNG) Dynasty (960-1269) --Period of prosperity and cultural achievement --Had trouble with northern invaders. Would eventually fall to the Mongols. --Developed the use of paper money, the crossbow, gunpowder, the abacus, and the compass.

25. MONGOLS AND CHINA • MONGOL EMPIRE – Led by GHENGIS KHAN until 1227. • Kublai Khan conquered China in 1279. • The Mongols established a “foreign dynasty,” using the Chinese political and bureaucratic system to help run the country. • Defeated in 1368 when the Ming Dynasty begins.

26. INDIA AFTER THE GUPTAS • By the 8th century, Islam became popular in the Indian subcontinent. (Pakistan) • Timor Lenk, Mongolian leader, invades and captures Delhi, killing 100,000 Hindu prisoners. • Muslims considered themselves conquerors. • Despite this, Indian culture thrived. • There were far too many Hindus to convert or kill.

27. HINDU TEMPLE AT KHAJURAHO

28. Civilization in Southeast Asia • VIETNAM – Conquered by China in 111 BC. Kicked out Chinese in 10th century. Adopted the Chinese model of centralized government, Confucianism, and Chinese court rituals. • ANGKOR/KHMER EMPIRE (CAMBODIA) Powerful state existed between 9th century and 1432 when defeated by the Thai. • THAILAND – Defeated Angkor in 1432. Remained a force for 400 years. • BURMA – A Buddhist farming society with Indian political institutions and culture. Attacked by Mongols in 13th century.

29. Germanic Barbarian Invasions • The Visigoths sacked Rome in 410 AD. • The Angles and Saxons invaded England. • As the Huns invaded Europe, the Germanic tribes pushed into the Roman Empire.

30. FRANKS • Established the largest Germanic Kingdom in present day France. • United by a leader, Clovis, in the 490s. • This kingdom broke apart, but was reunited by Charles Martel who stopped the Muslim advance at the Battle of Tours in 732. • His son, Pepin, declared himself King.

31. CHARLEMAGNE • Pepin’s son, was known as Charlemagne. (Charles the Great). • Charlemagne expanded the practice of giving land to the nobles in exchange for loyalty and military service. • He was crowned emperor of the “Holy Roman Empire” by the Pope in 800 AD.

32. FEUDALISM • SOCIAL – A strict class structure based upon the control of land and military power. People born as serfs, knights, or lords, could not change their position. • ECONOMIC – Most people lived on manors which consisted of the Lord’s house, peasants huts on surrounding land, and fields for planting. The serfs gave the Lord a share of their production for use of the land and protection. • POLITICAL – The King relied on the Nobles for his armies, and might offer more land in exchange for their support.

33. FEUDAL MANOR Self-Sufficiency • The lord provided serfs with protection, housing, and strips of farmland • The serfs worked for the lord and maintained the estate Troubles of Manor Life • Serfs had to pay taxes for grain, marriage, and 10% of their income as a tithe, or church tax

34. CATHOLIC CHURCH • During the Middle Ages, the Church remained the single most powerful organization in Western Europe. • The Role of Faith – People believed the Church represented God and held the power to send a person to heaven or hell. • The Church became Europe’s largest landowner. It gained land when nobles died and through tithes. • The Church was the main center of learning.

35. The Byzantine Empire (330-1453) In 395, the empire officially divided into two. In 330, Emperor Constantine moved the capital to Byzantium, and renamed it Constantinople. The city was surrounded on three sides by water and had thick walls, making it difficult to attack.

36. The Byzantine Empire Although the Western half of the Roman Empire fell to Germanic tribes in the 5th century, the Byzantine empire lasts another 1000 years!! In 527, Justinian I becomes emperor. He recaptured Rome and sought to re-establish the Roman Empire.

37. ACHIEVEMENTS OF BYZANTIUM The JUSTINIAN CODE OF LAWS was created to promote justice (534 BC).

38. ACHIEVEMENTS OF BYZANTIUM In 671, “Greek fire” was invented.

39. ACHIEVEMENTS OF BYZANTIUM In 1054, the Christian church divides and the Eastern OrthodoxChurch is created.

40. DECLINE OF BYZANTIUM • Over time, the Byzantine empire faced challenges from neighbors. • In the 600’s, the Muslim Arabs took much of the empire’s territory in the Middle East. • In 1071, TheSeljik Turks captured Asia Minor, except for Constantinople, but the Byzantines controlled the Balkans for another 400 years. • In 1453, the Ottoman Turks finally defeated the empire.