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Beliefs of Hinduism
• No single founder or text– Thus is a very complex religion
• The universe plays a vital and key role– Brahman– kind of like a many faced god– Vedas and the Upanishads are sacred texts
• Also the Bhagavad-Gita
• Goals of life– Atman is Brahman– Goals are to be one with the god or Brahman – Belief in many lives and afterlives– All focused on reaching Brahman
Beliefs of Hinduism cont…
• Karma and Dharma– Actions that affect his or her fate• Life is ranked from humans downward
– To escape life’s wheel one must obtain or practice Dharma• Religious and moral duties• Obey Dharma=better next life
• Also believe in Ahimsa or nonviolence
Gautama Buddha: The Enlightened One
• The story of Gautama Buddha…– Found out what life is all about and became just the
Buddha• Established the 4 noble truths– All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow– Cause of suffering is desire– Cure suffering=overcome desires– Overcome desire is done by following the Enlightened
Path– Final goal is Nirvana
Comparing Buddhism and Hinduism
• Both– Stress nonviolence, karma, dharma, etc.
• Buddhism rejects– Priests, rituals and many gods of Hindus– Caste system• Meaning one can reach enlightenment regardless of
birthright
Spread of Buddhism
• Mostly done by word of mouth but also..– The Tripitika or Three Baskets of Learning
• Eventually 2 sects developed– Theraveda– focused more on Buddha’s original teachings
• Spread to Shri Lanka and SE Asia
– Mahayana• Broke down the religion, made it easier to grasp• Spread to China, Tibet, Korea, Japan
• Eventually declined in India due to Hindu’s absorbing the religion
The Wisdom of Confucius
• Wisest man to live?– Maybe but remember Buddha and Socrates– Never wrote down his sayings• Were collected post death in the Analects
• Focused more on government than religion– Everyone has duties and responsibilities • Superiors and inferiors• Women and men
– Fitial piety is number 1
The Wisdom of Confucius cont…
• Government– Ruler was supposed to provide good government– In return people would respect him– Necessity for rulers to be well educated
• Spread of Confucianism– Very popular in China• Basis of government for many years
– Eventually would spread to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam
The Harsh Words of Legalism
• From Hanfeizi (we can call him Han)– Believed that man was bound to be bad
• Fed by greed and desires
– Also taught strict and harsh punishments• Emphasized laws• Strength not goodness is greatness virtue
• Pushed in some areas of China– Was eventually hated by the people– However still is the basis of much governmental
thoughts
Daoism: The Unspoken Way
• Laozi is the founder– Wrote the way of Virtue– Believed in seeking harmony with nature
• Turned focus to the Dao or way of the universe– Tried to end fighting between cultures– Didn’t like traditional governments (too harsh)
• Eventually people would blend Daoism and Confucianism
Buddhism in China
• Eventually reached China by 100 A.D.– Became more popular during times of crisis– Prayer and good works meant salivation• For all people– regardless of standing
• By 400 A.D. Chinese Buddhism had emerged– Included some ideas of Confucian and Daoism
Shi Huangdi
• Was seen as a brutal but effective dictator– United the once broken Zhou sections of China– Used military districts to keep power
• Also heavily punished those against him
• Strengthened infrastructure– Canals, roads, coins
• Also led to a more unified system
• Biggest accomplishment?– Building of the Great wall
• Was it successful?
Han Dynasty
• Overtakes the Shi Haungdi dynasty upon his death– Wudi is the leader• Known for his monopolies on salt and iron• Also for his expansionism
• Opened the Silk Road– Huge trade route
• Rulers determined by passing tests– Focused and based on Confucian ideals
Han Dynasty-- Collapses
• As time went on control was an issue…– Over strong warlords– Worn out peasants– Lack of control
• Also…– Outsiders started to invade China– Would become a split empire again
Han Dynasty- Achievements
• Sciences– All areas flourished but didn’t accept new ideas without proof– New medicines were also developed
• As well as acupuncture
• Technology– Furthest along for their time period– Paper, ship building, rudders, iron and bronze work, fishing
reels etc. • Arts
– Were ahead of their time– thanks to the technology available
Geography of the Greek Homeland
• Mountains and Valleys– Used to divide the peninsula– Built many city-states• Lots of rivals=lots of wars
• The Seas– Many safe harbors– Ships were their lifelines• Also used for increased trade
Governing the City-States
• Polis aka the city-state– Acropolis and the main walled city– Fairly small populations
• Early Governments– Monarchs, then aristocrats, eventually an
oligarchy• Changes in warfare– Iron weapons and the phalanx
Sparta: A Nation of Soldiers
• The Helots• The Rigors of Citizenship– Started at childhood, to a barracks, marry,
specialized training• Women– Tough upbringing too, to bear tough children, also
can inherit land
Athens: A Limited Democracy
• Demands for Change– Slowly moved to democracy
• Solon’s Reforms– Outlawed debt slavery, opened more high offices,
and gave some citizenship to foreigners – Economic reforms too– mostly exports– Still tyrants came to power
Athens: A Limited Democracy
• Later Reforms– Pisistratus comes to power• Helped by the farmers
– Cleisthenes also brought a legislature as well• Limited Rights– Males, slaves, and women
• Education– Boys attended schools, military training,
Forces of Unity
• Religious Beliefs– Polytheistic– Many festivals and temples– Oracles too
• Non-Greeks– Greeks felt strongly superior– Called the rest barbarians– Would help them in the future…
The Persian Wars
• Victory at Marathon– Rebels were struggling– Athens was trying to help• Darius didn’t care for that too much!
– Mad at the fact the Greeks were helping• Darius sent his forces near Athens• However they lost there…
The Persian Wars
• Renewed Attacks– Darius would keep trying but eventually die…– Xerxes takes his place
• Sent his troops to Sparta– 300 anyone?– Spartans eventually lost
• Xerxes would also be a loser…– Tried to attack Athens, but no one was home– Eventually lost his whole fleet and the war too
The Persian Wars
• Results!– Greeks are feeling pretty good about themselves– Athens becomes the most powerful city-state• Formed many alliances as well• Called the Delian League
– Eventually took control of the whole league
Athens in the Age of Pericles
• Political Life– A direct democracy• About 6,000 members– not always rich either• Paid these men a stipend• Had juries• Ostracism too
• The Funeral Oration– Famous speech, focused on the greatness of his
people• Still considered to be a great speech
Athens in the Age of Pericles
• Economic and Cultural Life– Best architects and sculptors to rebuild the
Acropolis – Focused on how strong they were– Athens also becomes the cultural center of Greece
The Peloponnesian War
• The Greeks have a split– Peloponnesians and Athens
• The two sides go to war– Lasted 27 years– Sparta has the advantage• And with Persia’s help they win!
• Even though their economy comes back– Eventually broke down– Lost to Thebes
Greek Philosophers
• Lovers of wisdom?– Focused on reason and observation
• Ethical issues– Debated many issues such as…• Government, rhetoric• Away from traditional values
Greek Philosophers
• Socrates– Wrote no books– Question and answer method– Looks to accept truth and self-knowledge• Challenged normal thinking
– Led to his trial and eventually his death
Plato
• Left to carry on the traditions of his teacher– Set up an academy
• Rejected the ideas of democracy– Because it killed his teacher– Believed government should take care of all
citizens– Ideal society had 3 classes• Workers, soldiers, and philosophers
– Allowed women to have some say…
Aristotle
• Student of Plato• Analyzed all forms of government– Was skeptical of democracy– Believed a strong single leader was the best
• Promoted reason • Set up his own school– Left behind many writings and his own research– Used by universities for years
Architecture and Art
• Architecture – Looked to balance harmony and the universe– Also built the Parthenon• A temple to the goddess Athena
– Still admired today• Sculpture and Painting– Focused on natural poses– Paintings on vases and other poetry
Poetry and Drama
• The beginnings– Started with religious plays– Used stylized masks to emphasize their art
• Developed into Tragedies– Human suffering coupled with desire
• Comedy– Focused obviously on humor
The Writing of History
• Applied a lot to history– Reason, observation, logic
• Herodotus contributed in many ways– Often noted bias and conflicting accounts– Wrote the Persian Wars
Alexander the Great
• Philip’s Dream– Wanted to conquer city-states to the South– Had a huge army– Athens and Thebes join up vs. Chaeronea• Philip bring it all under his control• However was assassinated before all of his dreams
could come true
– Olympias (wife) and Alexander rise to the throne
Alexander the Great
• Alexander was pretty young – But a great soldier!– Was making huge strides…– Defeated Persia!
• Wanted to keep going but…– His soldiers had another plan– So he set up his empire• Sadly a fever had its say too…
The Legacy of Alexander
• Blending of Cultures– People started to assimilate with the Greeks– Married a Persian woman– Adopted other customs as well
• Alexandria– Huge museums, statues, and other items all from
other countries– Increased scholars work as well
• Women got some opportunities as well!
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