Religions

belief systems

Philosophies

Ideologies

Development and Interaction of Culture

Early Societies and their Religions

MesopotamiaPolytheisticWorshipped their gods at Ziggurats

Early Hebrew Also worshipped Mesopotamian Gods until

Moses introduced monotheism to themIsraelites and Jews then worshipped Yahweh

Early Societies and their Religions

Egypt and NubiaPolytheistic, worshipped

deities, their main ones being Amon and Re

Egyptians built pyramids in honor of their gods

Nubians built temples in honor of their Gods

Egyptian Cult of Aten was one of the World’s first expression of monotheism

Sudanic and Niger-Congo peoples held monotheistic religious beliefs

Early Societies and their Religions

Harappan society◦Consisted of fertility

cults◦Aryan religion

Polytheistic, Indra was main deity

Ritual sacrifices

China◦Relied on early myths

and legends

Early Societies and their Religions

The Mayan SocietyPolytheisticUsed Popol Vub as a

creation mythBloodletting rituals

PersiaZarathustra’s dualist

teachings Other religions that

promised salvation were practiced as well Judaism Christianity Buddhism Manichaeism

Classical Societies and their Religions

China◦Philosophies

include: Confucianism Daoism Legalism

India◦Main religions

Jainism Buddhism Mahayana

Hinduism

Confucianism

Daoism Legalism

Classical Societies and their Religions

GreecePolytheisticHad religious cults such as the

Cult of Dionysus and the Egyptian cult of Osiris which promised salvation

Hellenistic philosophies include: Stoicism, Epicureanism, and

SkepticismRome

Polytheistic Embraced religions of salvation and

stoicism Christianity arose in Rome after the

life of Jesus

Classical Societies and their Religions

Silk Road Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Manichaeism (dualist

religion) diffused throughout the routeByzantine

Christianity held a close relationship with the imperial government

Art & Architecture

SumeriansConstructed massive religious

temples called ziggurats

MesopotamiaKing Nebuchadnezzar built

defensive walls around new Babylonian Empire: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

EgyptBuilt cities and pyramidsProduced fine linen textiles

The Olmec Society◦Constructed ceremonial

centersTeotichucan

◦consisted of a marketplace, apartments, temples, etc.

Persia◦Persian Royal Roads

were developed – 1600 miles long

China The Great Wall was started

under the Qin Dynasty Terra cotta warriors were

buried in the first emperor’s, Qin Shihuangdi, tomb.

Silk textiles were huge in China

Introduced sheets of paper to the world

Ceramic artGreece

Myceaneans built heavy fortifications to protect their settlements

Used fresco art

Rome Roman temples Paintings from Etruscan tombs which represented scenes from

everyday life Roman roads spread throughout their empire

The trade routes connected cross cultural exchanges on the Silk Road

Coin currency Glass blowing techniques Roman mosaics

Science & Technology

SumeriansCreated the wheel

Lead to transportation methodsMesopotamia

Mesopotamian scholars were devoted to science and mathematics Prepared accurate calendars Divided hours of the day,

minutes and secondsHittites

Refined the technique of iron metallurgy

Egypt and NubiaBronze and Iron metallurgy was

slowly introduced into their society

ChinaNot able to control the production

of bronze metallurgyUsed iron metallurgy

Mayan SocietyPriest constructed the most

elaborate calendar of the ancient Americas

Post=classical

600-1450 Dar al Islam Middle East, West Europe,Sub-Saharan Africa, South/SE Asia

House of Wisdom

Middle East

Sharia ,Umma, Caliphate, Dhimmi,5 Pillars

Conflict between cultures

West Europe

Battle of Tours Caliphate of Cordova, Crusades, Cannon, cathedrals

A clash again

South/South East Asia

Indian Ocean/Silk Route trade,Delhi Sultanate, Hindu/Islamic conflict, Sufi mystics

Islamic Kingdoms

Sub-Saharan Africa

Mansa Musa,Islamic scholarship, tradinng network, mosque of Timbuktu

Byzantium continued

East Europe

Great Schism, St. Cyril in Russia, East Orthodox Domed architecture

Sinification of Korea, Vit Nam and Japan

East Asia

Buddhism, Neo-Confucianism, Tang sponsored Buddhism,

Priests wielded tremendous polythistic power

Latin America

Monumental architecture, sacrifice, Inca theocracy

Divine Right of Kings Absolutism

1450-1750 West Europe

Protestant Reformation, Reconquista, 30 years war

Russia becomes absolutist

East Europe“Westernizing” campaign of Peter the

Great, Czarism, pogroms, Catherine’s Enlightened despotism

Europe remains coastal

Sub-Saharan Africa

Animism, Islam, Conversion of Kongo royalty

God of the Gold and glory

Latin America

Jesuits, forced conversion, encomiendas

In comes Europe

East Asia

Catholic and Protestant European missionaries, Matteo Ricci in Ming Dynasty

Mughal Empire

South Asia

Tolerance of Akbar, Taj Mahal, Sufi Islam, Din Ali Din

Mighty Muslim Gunpowder Empires

Middle East

Ottoman, Safavid, mosque building, Janissaries, millett system

A movement away from religion

1750-1900

Age of revolutionsIndustrial ageAge of reasonAge of imperialism

A civilizing and Christianizing mission

West Europe

Communism, Capitalism, imperialism, socialism,