Key Concept 2.1 The development and codification of religious and cultural traditions

1. Key Concept 2.1The development and codification of religious and cultural traditions 600 BCE to 600 CE “The Classical Era”

2. Outline • Main Idea • Codifications and further developments of existing religious traditions provided a bond among people and an ethical code to live by • How? • Judaism • Hinduism • New belief systems and cultural traditions emerged and spread, often asserting universal truths • Buddhism • Confucianism • Daoism • Christianity • Greco-Roman philosophy • Belief systems affected gender roles • Other religious and cultural traditions continued parallel to the codified, written belief systems in core civilization • Shamanism and animism • Ancestor veneration • Artistic expressions show distinctive cultural developments • Literature and drama • Architecture

3. Main Idea As states and empires increased in size and contacts between regions multiplied, religious and cultural systems were transformed.

4. Religions and Belief Systems • Bond among people • Ethical code to live by • Influenced and reinforced stratification • Politically • Economically • Occupationally

5. Religious and Political Authority • Often merged as rulers used religion to justify their rule. • This also ensured the continuation of their rule. • Military and legal structures • Conflict easily generated • Beliefs and practices varied greatly within societies

6. Codifications and further developments of existing religious traditions provided a bond among people and an ethical code to live by. • How?

7. Judaism • Secular religion that focused on worldly benefits • Prosperity • Material goods • Successes • Promised deliverance through • Following ‘the Law’ • Covenant with God • Two types of Jews: • Original—covenant • Jesus’s followers—God’s grace is not guaranteed

8. Judaism • Monotheistic • Further enforced with the codification of the Hebrew scriptures • These scriptures reflected Mesopotamian cultural and legal traditions • Conquests contributed to the growth of diasporic communities around Meditteranean and Middle East

9. Hinduism • Caste system—place is society is preset and unmovable • Brahmans • Enforced traditions • Ex: sanctity of cows, burning widows on husband’s funeral pyre

10. Hinduism • Core beliefs were outline in the Sanskrit scriptures • Bagivad Gita • These formed the basis of Vedic religions that later became Hinduism • Contributed to • the development of social and political roles of a caste system • Importance of multiple manifestations of Brahma to promote teachings of reincarnation

11. New belief systems and cultural traditions emergedand spread, often asserting universal truths.

12. Buddhism • Core beliefs about desire, suffering, and the search for enlightenment preached by Buddha • Recorded by his followers into sutras and other scriptures • Reaction to Vedic beliefs and rituals dominant in South Asia • Changed over time as it spread through Asia • Mauryan Emperor Ashoka • Missionaries and merchants • Establishment of educational institutions

13. Buddhism • Humans are inherently evil • Nirvana—ultimate extinction of all sense of self • Prayer, meditation, and unselfish behavior • Reincarnation • Based on past actions • Two types: • Theravada Buddhism—influenced by Indian moral disciplines • The soul can advance to nirvana through tiny increments and these transcend lifetimes • Mahayana Buddhism—influenced by Chinese principles • The soul could reach nirvana in one single lifetime

14. Buddhism • How did it spread? • Silk Road activities • Ashoka • Military conquests • Trickled down from higher levels of society to lower levels • Ex: Empress Wu used Buddhist clergy to gain popularity which caused her people to convert • Naval trade routes • Korea, Malaysia, Japan

15. Buddha and Ashoka • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nn5uqE3C9w&list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9

16. Confucianism • Core beliefs and writings originated in the writings and lessons of Confucius • Elaborated by key disciples who sought to promote social harmony • Outlined proper rituals and social relationships for people in China—including the rulers

17. Confucianism Core Beliefs Influence • Man is born good. • World is morally neutral • The world does not decide the consequences of man’s actions • Human nature is inherent • People should have political rights • Ex: the right to protest—although Confucius advocated a single ruler • Reshape traditional institutions • Defined obligations associated with different social roles • Introduced the idea of individualism • Established religious standard for the conduct of economic life

18. Daoism • Similar to Buddhism in the belief of detachment from the world in order to reach immortality • Human ritual has the ability to change nature. • With control comes power • Lack of knowledge can lead to detrimental effects • Daoist rulers should enforce morals and virtues on his/her people

19. Daoism • Influence of daoism in Chinese history is far-reaching. • Literature • Art • Medicine • Science • Led to the beginning of the scientific methods such as observation, experimentation, description, and classification. • http://history.cultural-china.com/en/166History12924.html

20. Christianity Description Basic Beliefs • Based on core beliefs about teachings and divinity of Jesus Christ of Nazareth as recorded by his disciples • Drew on Judaism • Initially rejected Roman and Hellenistic influences • Divine love • Importance of faith • Jesus • Monotheistic • All-knowing God • All people are sinners • This separates people from God

21. Christianity • Romans were hostile to Christianity initially. • Eventually gained imperial support through Constantine. • Spread through missionaries and merchants in Afro-Eurasia. • Rulers converted conquered peoples. • Ex: Charlemagne • Trickled down from rulers to civilians. • Silk Road activity • Less successful than Buddhism • Roman Empire, Holy Roman Empire, Ethiopia, Armenia, Kiev, the Franks

22. Christianity from Judaism to Christianity • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG55ErfdaeY&list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9

23. Greco-Roman philosophy • Emphasized logic, empirical observation, and the nature of political power and hierarchy • Uses logic and objective questioning to solve problems • The scientific method • Developed as a way to investigate the workings of nature • Attempted to view the universe as parts of a whole • Developed the concept of atoms as building blocks of matter

24. The Persians and the Greeks • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-mkVSasZIM&list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9

25. Belief systems affected gender roles • Buddhism and Christianity encouraged monastic life • Confucianism emphasized filial piety • Respect for parents and ancestors • Buddhist cultures educated women and children in nunneries and nurseries • Islam • Men practiced polygamy • Women’s rights were limited

26. Other religious and cultural traditions continued parallel to the codified, written belief systems in core civilizations • Common religious and cultural traditions by 600 CE:

27. Shamanism and Animism • Persisted in cultures within and outside core civilizations because of their daily reliance on the natural world. • Communities questioned the cause of natural disasters and phenomenon. • Mythology developed to explain questions • Greece and Rome • Meals and sacrifices offered • Rituals involving the twelve deities

28. Ancestor veneration • This persisted in many regions. • Believed ancestors were either among them or were in the state of nirvana • Reincarnation/nirvana • Decorated tombs • Passed oral traditions from generation to generation

29. Artistic expression show distinctive cultural developments • Religion • Sculptures of gods • Based on worldly events and needs • Paintings of travels along the Silk Road

30. Literature and drama • In particular, these two forms influence artistic developments in neighboring regions and in later time periods. • Marcus Aurelius—Meditations • Influenced philosophy • Ban Gu—Book of Han • Told history of China from 206 BC to 25 AD • Books of the New Testament

31. Architecture and Sculpture • Factors the affected a society’s architecture: • Environment • Natural resources available for building • Wealth • Religion • Greco-Roman culture converging with Buddhist beliefs affected the development of sculpture and gave rise to unique works.