World History Studies: Origins of Christianity, Islam, & Ancient Eastern Philosophies

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering the origins, core doctrines, and historical developments of major world religions and philosophical movements including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Shinto.

Messiah

A promised saviour figure in Jewish tradition; Christians believe Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled this role around 6-4 BCE.

Edict of Milan

A decree issued by Emperor Constantine in 313 CE that legalised Christianity within the Roman Empire.

Council of Nicaea

A formal gathering of bishops in 325 CE that condemned Arianism and produced the Nicene Creed.

Arianism

A belief taught by Arius from Alexandria that Jesus was created by God and therefore not fully divine; summarized by the phrase 'There was a time when the Son was not.'

Augustine of Hippo

Born in Thagaste in 354 CE, a theologian who belonged to the Manichaeism sect before converting to Christianity and writing 'Confessions.'

Privatio Boni

Augustine's theory describing evil not as a substance, but as the absence or privation of good, similar to how darkness is the absence of light.

Ordinata Caritas

Latin for 'Ordered Love'; Augustine's idea that virtue consists of loving things in their proper order, with God as the highest love.

Consubstantial

A term from the Nicene Creed meaning 'of the same essence,' stating that Jesus is of the same substance as the Father.

Orthodoxy

Derived from the Greek words 'orthos' (correct) and 'doxa' (belief); it refers to the officially accepted doctrine of the Church.

Papacy

The office and authority of the Pope, who is the bishop of Rome and the governing head of the Catholic Church.

Erasmus

A Christian humanist (c. 1466–1536) and author of 'The Praise of Folly' who used irony to criticize ritual over true piety and Church corruption.

95 Theses

The list of complaints written by Martin Luther in 1517 attacking the Catholic Church, particularly the sale of indulgences.

Act of Supremacy (1534)

The English law that made King Henry VIII the head of the Church of England, officially separating from the Pope's authority.

Hijra

The migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE, marking Year 1 of the Islamic calendar.

Ummah

The worldwide community of Islamic believers, initially united in Medina by shared faith rather than tribal bloodline.

Sharia

An Islamic moral and legal framework based on the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad, covering worship, ethics, and social life.

Sunni Islam

The larger branch of Islam (~85–90%) which believes the Caliph should be chosen by community consensus and accepted Abu Bakr as the first leader.

Shia Islam

The branch of Islam (~10–15%) which believes leadership must come from Muhammad's bloodline (Ali) and views authority through divinely guided Imams.

Zakah

The third Pillar of Islam, requiring the giving of $2.5\%$ of one's savings annually to support the poor.

Abbasid Caliphate

The dynasty (750–1258 CE) centred in Baghdad that oversaw the Islamic Golden Age and the House of Wisdom until the Mongol Siege.

Varnas

The four social classes of ancient India: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants), and Shudras (labourers).

Brahman

In Upanishadic philosophy, the ultimate, eternal reality or universal energy that underlies all existence.

Atman

The true inner self or soul; the Upanishads teach 'Tat Tvam Asi' ('You are that'), meaning Atman is identical to Brahman.

Moksha

The liberation from the cycle of Samsara (rebirth), achieved by realizing the identity of Atman and Brahman.

Dukkha

A fundamental Buddhist term often translated as 'suffering' but meaning disharmony or unsatisfactoriness.

Nirvana

The ultimate goal of Buddhism, meaning 'blowing out'; the extinction of desire, hatred, and ignorance to escape Samsara.

Kami

In Shinto, these are sacred divine powers, spirits, or phenomena found in nature, such as mountains, trees, and ancestors.

Kegare

The Shinto concept of spiritual impurity or pollution caused by bad deeds, disease, or death, which separates people from the Kami.

Harai

The Shinto purification ritual performed to remove Kegare and restore harmony with the Kami.