WC unit 4

Belief System

Explains one's place in the world
Religion, philosophy, or combo

Traditional religion

Not one of the main 5
Old and local
not trying to expand

Universal religion

One of the main 5 religions
Has universal principles
Adaptable to gain new followers

polytheism

multi god religion

Animism

The belief that things have souls
Like wind, a river, etc

Syncretism

Merging of multiple religions into one faith

Shinto

Traditional Japanese religion
Animistic, polytheistic

Kami

Spirits in Shinto religion
What the people worship
places, things etc

Yoruba

Traditional Religion in Southwestern Nigeria
Divination, Animism
Monotheistic
Very cultural (celebrations/festivals)

Olorun

Supreme god of the Yoruba

Orissa

Important spirits in Yoruban religion

Mauryan Empire

Indian Empire
Followed Brahminism

Mauryan Empire Qualities

Large Military
Single currency
Taxing system

Chandragupta Maurya

Founder of Mauryan Empire

Brahmanism

Religion of rig Veda
Varna system
The elites believed in it

Brahmins

Highest rank of Varna system
Priests

Kshatriya

Second rank of varna system
warriors and rulers

Vaishya

Third rank of varna system
Merchants/farmers

Shudra

Fourth rank of varna system
laborers

Dalit

Last rank of varna system
Outcasts

Ashoka

Most successful Mauryan king who converts to Buddhism

Arthashastra

Ancient Indian text that explained how to rule well
taxes, war, trade, etc

Rock and Pillar Edicts

Rocks and Pillars with Buddhist reminders for the Mauryans

Gupta Empire

The decentralized empire that emerged after the Mauryan Empire

Sri Gupta

Founder of Gupta Empire

Chandragupta II

Leader of Gupta
Interested in the Arts (especially poetry)

Hinduism

A religion native to India
Polytheistic
Reincarnation

Brahma

The Hindu God considered the creator of the world

Vishnu

God of existence in Hinduism

Shiva

Hindu God of death

Samsara

The cycle of suffering
reincarnation of life and death

Moksha

Liberation from Samsara

Mahabharat

Hindu poem/epic, Popularize believe of Brahmans

Ramayana

Hindu poem/epic, Popularize believe of Brahmans

Bhagavad Gita

a section of the Indian epic the Mahabharata

Dharma (H)

a person's religious and moral duties must be fufilled

Bhakti

(H)Personal devotion to gods
Ex: Fasting

Atman

(H) The Soul
Understanding that one's soul is just an aspect of Brahman

Maya

The illusion that one's atman is separate from universe
->Will leave one stuck in Samsara

Karma

(H + B)The effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny

Brahman

(H) Universal Spirit

Complex Monotheism

Understanding that brahma, vishu, and shiva are all under one principle (Brahman)

Rama

Someone who fufilled Dharma

Buddha

"The enlightened one"

Siddhartha Gautama

Founder of Buddhism
Born a prince, overcame suffering, became Buddha

Sangha

Buddhist monks

Dharma (B)

Nirvana, Middle way, 4 noble truths
Must be found to escape suffering

Middle way

Living in moderation

Asceticism

Starving oneself of basic needs to try and find
enlightenment

Hedonism

Living in luxury

Four noble truths

- Realizing there is suffering the world
- Suffering is rooted in Desire
- We can stop suffering by stopping/managing desiring
- to follow the Eightfold path

Eightfold path

8 habits to follow
ex: right intention, right action, wisdom as habit etc

Nirvana

Highest state of enlightenment

Theraveda

More conservative branch of Buddhism
most og
practiced in southeast asia

Mahayana

-More common branch of Buddhism
-In china
-Regards buddha as divine being (godlike)
-People can achieve enlightenment but stay in this world

Dharma chakra

(B)Circle of Ethics
symbol of ashoka

Kushan Empire

One of first states to embrace buddhism

Kanishka the Great

Leader of Kushan Empire

Vajrayana

Branch of Buddhism
yoga Buddhism?

Bodhisattva

One who can reach nirvana but waits to do so to help others

Sodgians

Nomadic group in central Asia
Middle men profiting from silk road
adopt Buddhism (syncretism)

Bamain Buddhas

Statues of Buddha carved into cliff

Stupa

Buddhist monuments across silk road
Missionaries?

Kumarajiva

Buddhist scholar/translator, Brought Buddhism into china.

Xuanzang

Translator who Brought texts and translated them to Chines

Six Dynasties period

After the collapse of the Han Dynasty
when Buddhism takes of Confucianism and Daoism

Judaism

Religion of Jewish People

Torah

earliest evidence of Judaism
first 5 sacred texts

Hebrew Bible

Sacred text of Judeaism

Patriarch

Head male of family/tribe

Abraham

Founder of Judeaism
father of Isaac and Ishmael

Abrahamic religions

Christianity
Judaism
Islam

Semitic

Comes from Shem, relating to the peoples who speak Hebrew and Arabic.

Israel

Son of Isaac, father of Joseph

Israelite

Member of ancient Hebrew nation

Moses

Leads Jews out of captivity in Egypt ->Is given 10 commandments

10 commandments

- Inscribed on tablets
- Put on Ark of the Covenant
- magical

Canaan

Semitic speaking region

Diaspora

disperse of Jewish people from holy land

Judah

son of jacob, also southern Israel

Judea

Land populated by Jews during Roman Empire

Ark of the Covenant

A sacred chest that housed the tablets of the Ten Commandments.

Covenant

a promise god made with Abraham

Babylonian Exile

Babylonians forced most of the inhabitants of Judah to migrate to Babylon

Orthopraxy

Right practice

Orthodoxy

right belief

Pontius Pilate

Roman Governer who sentenced Jesus to death

Paul of Tarsus

aka Paul the Apostle
spread first teachings of Jesus

Imperial Cult

Worship of Roman emperors
Emperors are divine beings during and after life

Gospels

Life of Jesus in them
Part of new testament

Martyr

Christians who were punished for refusing to follow imperial cult

Constantine

Emperor who converted to christianity

Nicene Creed

Explains that holy trinity is equal
Decide when easter is

Byzantium

Eastern half of roman empire that survived

Constantinople

capitol of Byzantium empire

Edict of Milan

Constantine makes Christianity legal

Theodosius

declares Christianity only valid religion in Rome

Hagia Sophia

Church representing Christianity in Constantinople