World Religions

South Asian Timeline: 200-1500

Indo-Europeans migrate

South Asian Timeline: 1700-1500

Aryans enter S.Asia

South Asian Timeline: 1500-500

Vedic age: Hinduism develops

South Asian Timeline: 700-500

Upanishads essays explained vedas

South Asian Timeline: 500

Buddha 

Upanishads – four main ideas (Hindu terms as well

1.  Brahman - universal spirt 

2.  Atman - inner spirt/soul

3.  Reincarnation - rebirth (karma and dharma) 

4. Mokash - state of perfect understanding (atman merges with brahman

• Castes – four main castes (Hindu terms as well)

1. Brahmins - priest 

2. Kashatriays - rulers/warriors

3. Vashyas - commoners

4. Shudras - servents/slaves

The story of Siddhartha 

• Sees suffering 

• Leaves home → seek answers 

• 6 years wandering →mediates

• He becomes enlightened (“Budda”)

• 4 noble truths 

The Four Noble Truths 

1. Life is filled with suffering 

2. Selfish desire causes suffering

3. End selfish desire → end suffering

4. Follow 8 fold path → nirvana 

Judaism Timeline: 2000 – 1800 B.C.

o Abraham lived in Mesopotamian city of Ur

o God made a covenant (promise) with Abraham

o Abraham moved his family to “promised land” Canaan

(present day Israel/Palestine)

Judaism Timeline: 1650

o Due to famine & drought, Hebrews migrated to Egypt

where they were first welcomed

o Eventually enslaved by Egyptians

Judaism Timeline: 1300-1200

o Moses leads Hebrews out of Egypt

o Wandered through the desert for 40 years

o Received Ten Commandments from God

Judaism Timeline: 1020-922

o After establishing control of the “promised land”, the

Kingdom of Israel is eventually formed

o Three kings: Saul, David & Solomon

o The kingdom split in two: Northern Israel & Southern

Judah

Judaism Timeline: 500

o Hebrews swept up by a series of invaders: enslavement

& scattering of Hebrew people

o Babylonian Captivity in 586 BC

Idea of the “Messish”

Jewish people believe there is a Messiah who hasn’t come yet. But a group of Jewish people believed Jesus was the Messiah which led to the creation of Christianity. 

Jesus – story of birth to death & resurrection

• He was born in Bethlehem and he grew up in Nazareth 

• His teachings were deemed blasphemous 

• He was the crucified as a punishment

• Was then later put into a tomb but then vanished it its told that he rose from the dead 

• He was the son of god  

• He died for our sins

main teachings of Jesus

• The Ten commandments 

• To love your neighbors, your enemies and yourself (golden rule)

• That there is a kingdom after death (heaven)

• That everyone has an equal opportunity to go to heaven, not just the rich.

spread of Christianity – apostles, Gospels and Paul

Paul played the most important role in spreading the religion. He traveled and gave out letters called Epistles talking about Jesus and his teachings. The apostles were the first 12 followers of Jesus. The main four in the New Testament are Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John; they then go on to write the Gospels. The Gospels are in the New Testament which talk about Jesus’s life, ministry (teachings), death and resurrection.

Life in Arabia/Mecca before Muhammad

Mecca was a very popular place due to it being near an oasis, also it was very popular for trading and a very holy place. It is the home of the Kaaba which before Muhammad was a polytheistic city. The Kaaba is a shrine where people go to pray and at the time had many gods attached to it. 

Muhammad’s vision & the Hijrah

Muhammad was born in the city Mecca. He was orphaned at the age of 6 then raised by his grandfather and uncle. He got very little education and became a trader. One day he got a vision of an Angel named Gabriel who tells him he is the messenger of Allah. The hijrah was the migration from Mecca to Medina.

 Five Pillars of Islam

1. Faith

2. Prayer

3. Alms

4. Fasting

5. Pilgrimage → Hajj