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1. Eurasian cultural traditions.
2004, China celebrates 2,555th birthday of Confucius,
Buddhism/Christianity growing in china
Part of enduring legacy of classical world
In 500 BCE, Great emergence of durable cultural traditions that have shaped the world ever since.
China: Confucius and Laozi, Indian: Hindu, Persia: Zoroastrianism, Israel: Judaism, Greece: Rational Humanism

2. China and the Search for order
China had state buildings that went back to 2000BCE
Idea of mandate of heaven established by 1122bce
Breaks into chaos of the warring states 403-211BCE

3. The legalist Answer
Han Feizi leading legalistic philosophers
Principle: Strict rules, clearly defined and strictly enforced, answer to disorder
Pessimistic view of nature: Only state can act in people’s long term interest
Promotion: Farmers/soldiers only essential functions
Inspires Qin Dynasty reunification of china

4. The Confucian Answer
Confucius (551-479 BCE) Educated, ambitious Aristocrat.
Spent life looking for political position to put ideas to work.
Enormous impact on china/ East Asia
Teachings collected by the students as the analects
Confucianism: Body of thought
Principle: Moral example of superiors is the answer to disorder
Society consists of unequal relationships
Duty of superiors to be sincere/benevolent
Inspire different and obedience from the inferior
Humans can be improved Education is key
Broad liberal arts education
Use for govt problems
Need for ritual/Ceremonies
Became official ideology of Chinese State
Family as model for political life
History important
Nonreligious in character 5. The Daoist Answer
Associated w/ Laozi
Opposite of Confucianism
Elite regard it as complement to Confucianism
Enters pop. Religion
Ideology for rebellion.

6. Cultural Traditions of Classical India
Elite was happy about spiritual matters
No historical founder of Hinduism
Developed along Indian civilization
Spreads into SE Asia remains w/ Indians

7. South Asian religion: From Ritual Sacrifice to philosophical Speculation
Widely recognized sacred texts provided same common ground within the diversity of Indian culture and religion.
Compiled by Brahmins, spoken
Not written until 600 BCE
Provide glimpse of Indian civilization 1500-600 BCE
Gave Brahmins power/wealth
Made 800-400BCE

8. The Buddhist Challenge
Developed w/ Philosophical Hinduism
Siddhartha Gautama (566-485BCE)
Spiritual Journey leads to enlightenment
Life is suffering: Central Teaching
Goal achieve Nirvana
Life: Illusion
Karma/rebirth
Overcome ego
Meditation
Rebirth

9. Hinduism as a Religion of duty and Devotion
Hinduism Very important in shaping Indian culture and way of life.

10. Moving Toward Monotheism: The Search for God in the Middle East
The notion of a single supreme Deity developed in Zoroastrianism and Judaism and became the basis for both Christianity and Islam.

11. Zoroastrianism
Persian Prophet Zarathustra Traditionally dated to 6th-7th century BCE
Some state support during Achaemenes Dynasty (558-330BCE)
Single god Ahura Mazda, Source of truth, light, goodness.
Zoroastrianism did not spread beyond Persia.
Jews Influenced by ideas. God V. Satan. Last judgment/bodily resurrection. Final defeat of evil, help of savior. Remaking of world at the end of time.
12. Judaism
-Developed among the Hebrews, recorded in the Old Testament.
-Judean exiles in Babylon retained their cultural identity returned to homeland
-Distinctive conception of God
-Foundation for Christianity and Islam.

13. The cultural Tradition of classical Greece: The Search for a Rational Order.
Classical Greece did not create an enduring religious tradition
System of polytheism, fertility cults, and so on remained.
Greek intellectuals abandoned mythology framework
World is a physical reality governed by natural laws.
Humans can understand those laws. Human reason can work out a system for ethical life
Perhaps was caused by diversity and incoherence of mythology
Intellectual stimulation of great civilizations
Possible influence of growing role of law in Athenian political life. 14. The Greek Way of Knowing.
Flourished 600-300BCE
Key element was questioning and way they were asked
Socrates (469-399BCE) of Athens, always questioned assumptions, conflicted w/ city authorities over Athenian Democracy, accused of corrupting youth, Executed.
Earliest Classical Greek thinkers applied questioning to nature and application to medicine
Application of Greek rationalism to understand human behavior: Herodotus: why Greeks/Persians fight? Plato (429-348BCE) outlined design for a good society led by a “Philosopher-king” Aristotle (384-433 BCE)

15. The Greek Legacy
Many continued traditional beliefs and practices Greek rationalism spread widely Helped by Roman Empire Christian theology was expressed in Greek Philosophical terms Classical Greek text preserved in Byzantine Empire West Europe: Neglect of classical scholarship after fall of Roman Empire
Part of Islamic culture

16. Comparing Jesus and Buddha
Jesus taught 500 years after Confucius
Creates 2nd great universal Religion
Brief teaching times 3 years
Executed
17. The Lives of Founders
Both were “Wisdom teachers” Challenged conventional values Urged renunciateion of wealth Stressed love or compassion as basics of morality Called for personal transformation of followers
Different in that Jesus had Jewish traditions of single deities. Teachings were more social/political. Taught for 3 years, Gautama 40 years. Execution and died of age.

18. Establishing New Religion
Neither intended on creating a new religion, followers turned into gods.
Christianity because a world religion, process began w/ Paul. (10-65CE), women had more opportunities, early converts were urban-lower class. Attraction of miracle stories, attraction of Christian care for each other.
Roman persecution of Christians as “Atheists” for their antagonism to all divine powers except their one god. Ended w/ conversion of Emperor Constantine in early 4th century CE. Roman emperors tried to use Christianity as social glue. The Odosius ordered closure of all polytheistic temples.

19. Creating Institutions
Christianity developed a male Hierarchical organization to replace early “house churches” Women excluded from priesthood. Concern for uniform doctrine and practice
Emergence of bishop of Rome as dominant leader in west Europe. Doctrinal controversies.
Buddhism clashed over interpretation of the Buddhas teaching. Series of councils did not prevent divisions Less sense of right and wrong than with Christians.
Buddhism did not develop and overall church hierarchy

20. Reflections: Religions and histories.
Religion is a sensitive subject for historians. Important points of tension between believers and historians. 1. Change: Religions present selves as timeless, but historians see development over time as a human phenomenon. 2. Experience of a divine reality historians have trouble dealing w/ believers’ experiential claims. 3. Which group w/in a religion is “Authentic”: Historians usually refuse to take sides. It can be difficult to reconcile personal religious beliefs w/ historical scholarship. Classical religious traditions are enormously important in W.H