Unit 0: Foundations Key Vocabulary

Empires/Belief Systems to the 1200 CE.

Patriarchy

a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it.

Hinduism

allowed a individual worshippers to show their devotion to their gods directly without using priests as intermediaries

Caste System

a hindu-istic class structure that is determined by your job which is determined by your birth/past life

The Vedas

a body of sacred works, epics, hymns. philosophical treaises, and ritual texts created by Aryans. Oldest of the Hindu Religious Text. Primary Source of Info during Aryan era.

Brahmins

priests that could approach the gods and goddesses recognized by the Aryans.

Braman

rituals that might allow a person to achieve union with the ultimate unchanging reality that is the source of the universe

Karma

actions performed in one’s life determines their status in their next life.

Dharma

your job/duty

Moksha

a state of liberation, bliss, and awareness in which achieved with union of Brahman.

Reincarnation

an endless cycle in which souls are reincarnated through a continual process of rebirth (samsara)

Brahman

highest, universal in hinduism

Untouchables

outside the caste system; impure and did tasks that made them beneath the dignity of shrudas

Varnas

a social class within a hierarchical caste system

Sati

the practice widows dying with their husbands

Buddhism (1)

1. life is suffering
2. suffering is from desire
3. one must limit desire to limit suffering
4. to limit suffering, one must follow the “Eightfold Path”

Siddhatha Guatama

a rich sheltered prince out to the world and saw suffering and challenges. He decided leave everything to experience as those suffering and find a solution. He created Buddhism and found a solution after years of meditation.

Four Nobel Truths

a spiritual epiphany about the truth about the universe

Buddhism

teaches that by controlling desire and limit suffering leads to spiritual enlightment

Eightfold Path

1. Right View
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech
4. Right Reaction
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration

Nirvana

The Goal for Buddhist path: Enlightment or awakening

Mahayana Buddhism (great vehicle)

allowed people to strive for Enlightment even if they couldn’t become monks.

Theravada Buddhism (teaching of elders)

believed to be a closer resemblance to Buddha’s actual teachings

Stupas

a buddhist place of worship and houses for religious relics

Bodhisattva

 a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings.

Judaism

originated from Hebrews, a monotheistic religion about the god Yahweh

Hebrews

a group of people who briefly established two small kingdoms btwn the Mediterranean and Jordan River aka Canaan.

Ten Commandments

A series of rules of behavior for the Hebrews, created by God.

Diasporic Communities

Communities that spread out of their origin homeland

Abraham

tribal leader of the Hebrews that spoke to God (mentioned in abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam)

Israel

the land God promised the Jews through Abraham

Christianity

a abrahamic and monotheistic religion in the belief of Jesus of Nazareth dying for sins

Jesus of Nazareth

(3 BCE - 29 CE) born to religious parents and began ministry at age 30

Salvation

Sins

Universal Religion

a religion with a goal to welcome more followers into the religion

Monastic Life

living in isolation/self-discipline to devote oneself to religion

Great Schism (1054)

the separation of the Catholic church of the West from the Orthodox churches of the East

Orthodox Church

The East Religion, idk what they believe in but i’ll ask

Roman Catholic Church

The West Religion, idk what they believe in even tho its my religion lolol

Crusades

a series of military expeditions/wars

Islam

monotheistic and abrahamic religion that’s centered the belief of god (Allah). Guidance in Qu’ran

Muhammad

born in Arabia (570 - 632 CE) and was 40 when he experienced religious visons. Founder of Islam and received revelation from God, which he described in the Qur’an

Five Pillars

1. the profession of faith in God and in Muhammad as God’s prophet
2. regular prayer at home or in \n mosques
3. fasting during the sacred month of Ramadan
4. giving alms (charity) to the poor
5. and a pilgrimage to Mecca, if possible

Shar’ia

Muslim laws or sacred laws

Haji

pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia

Jizya

tax towards the non-muslim population

Dhimmi

legal protection for non-muslims in islamic states

umma

refers to the islamic or muslim community formed by Muhummad in Medina

Allah

Islam’s word for God

Mecca

located in Saudi Arabia, holy islamic city

Medina

where muhummad first started

Hadiths

traditions attributed to the Prophet Muhammad that include his sayings, acts, and approval or disapproval of things

Caliph

successor of the prophet Muhammad, muslim ruler

caliphate

state ruled by a caliph, a Muslim ruler who is both the ruler of a state and the leader of the entire ummah

Qur’an

the direct words of God from the Prophet Muhummad

Dar al Islam (House of Islam)

refers to states that are majority islam

Ulama

Muslim scholars trained in Islam and Islamic law

Jihad

arabic word for struggle

Harem

a part of a house set apart for women in islamic household

Sufis

emphasized personal spiritual experience; divine revelation can be reached when losing oneself and uniting with God

Sunni/Shia

divisions and have different religious beliefs for Islam. Sunni is majoirty, Shia is minority

Confucianism

stressed the importance of complementary relationships

Confucius

educated man born in wealthy family, lived during political turmoil of Eastern Zhou Dynasty (constant war with states), inspired him to create Confucianism

Filial Piety

respect and honor for elder family members

Mandate of Heaven

there could be only one legitimate ruler of China at a time, and that this ruler had the blessing of the gods. If he did not fulfill their duties to the people, the people were allowed to rebel

Civil Service Exam

Taken by young Chinese men and is tested for the knowledge of Confucianism; must pass for government employment

Scholar Gentry

idk high top people

Daoism

The Dao

The Way; an Chinese belief system which emphasizes harmony with the natural balanced order o the universe

Yin and Yang

the idea that all things exist as entwined, complementary (harmonous) opposites

Laozi (the elder)

Chinses scholar created Daoism in book Dao De Jing

Bureaucracy

Empire

control over terriotry to a great extent

Shamanism

a tradition of part-time religious specialists who establish and maintain personalistic relations/ connections with specific spirit from other worlds

Ancestor Veneration

the practice of honoring one's ancestors

Syncretism

a blend of different beliefs