Chapter 4: Culture and Religion in Eurasia/North Africa, 500 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.

Big Picture - Question #4

If I was a Roman Christian traveler in Eurasian world of 500 C.E. writing home about my encounter with other religious traditions, I would write about the thinkers, religions and philosophies below. I would point out that some of these religions believed in many gods and goddesses (polytheistic) and others, just like Christians, in only one god (monotheistic). I would also point out that each tradition gave importance to different key ideas.

  • Brahmanism/Hinduism (800-400 B.C.E.) in India 
    • Brahman (the single impersonal divine reality); karma; rebirth; goal of liberation (moksha)
  • Confucianism (6th -5th centuries B.C.E.) in China
    • Social harmony through moral example; secular outlook; importance of education; family as model of the state
  • Buddhism (6th-5th centuries B.C.E.) in India 
    • Suffering caused by desire/attachment; end of suffering through modest and moral living and meditation practice
  • Greek rationalism (5th - 4th centuries B.C.E.) in Greece
    • Style of persistent questioning; secular explanation of nature and human life
  • Christianity (1st century) in Palestine/Israel/eastern Roman Empire 
    • Supreme importance of love based on intimate relationship with God; at odds with established authorities and a religion for all; salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Thinkers and philosophies of the Second-Wave Era

     

 Writings of Confucius          The Hindu/Buddhist              Greek Philosophy                     The Bible

                                                         Scriptures


Works cited:

Photos: UsefulCharts. (2020). Timeline of World History: Major Time Periods & Ages.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__BaaMfiD0Q

Strayer, R. (2016). Ways of the World: A Brief Global History. Bedford/St. Martin's

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chapter 15: Scientific Revolution - "The Question of Origins: Why Europe?"

In Chapter 15 under the section “A New Way of Thinking: The Birth of Modern Science,” Strayer writes about “The Question of Origins: Why Europe?” “Science as Cultural Revolution.” “Science and Enlightenment.” For this post, I will focus on “The Question of Origins: Why Europe?” section, specifically responding to the comparison sidebar question: “Why did the Scientific Revolution occur in Europe rather than in China or the Islamic world” (p. 665)? The Scientific Revolution occurred in Europe rather than in China or the Islamic world because the western Europeans were ready to challenge the knowledge of others cultures in addition to having a well established legal system and autonomous universities which set them up for success. Several centuries after 1000 in China, the Confucianism culture was considered sophisticated and secular for that time period. It didn’t have as much religious dogma such as in Christianity and Islam and its technological accomplishments and economic growth wer...
Read more

Chapter 10: The worlds of Christendom, 500 - 1300

Image
The definition of the word Christendom is the qualities and characteristics of a group of people or nations under a Christian set of morals and values, the Christian World. In history, Christendom refers to the Medieval and Renaissance idea of the central place of Christianity in the lives, nations, countries and states of individuals. Starting in the 4th century, the first Christian to become an emperor, Constantine I, used his power to rule the Roman empire to be a Christian State, causing a huge transformation into inhabitants’ lives. Whoever lived in that territory became part of the Christian World and were treated differently if decided to choose to not be part of it. “Christendom in its earlier stages came to refer to Christians united into one body. This unity was very significant because it was a unity of religion, but it was also a political unity creating powerful alliances.” The East and West were united in believing in one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. Christendom m...
Read more