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Ancient History: Religions
What is religion?
What is religion?● a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature,
and purpose of the universe● usually involving devotional and ritual
observances● often containing a moral code governing the
conduct of human affairs
Mesopotamia ● polytheism = belief in many gods
○ the gods controlled weather, fertility, harvests, and the underworld ■ An = sun god■ Enlil = air god
Mesopotamia ● temple = building where believers
worshipped their gods and where the deities had earthly residences○ temples housed different gods in
different cities○ temples ran like households
● temples displayed cult image○ cult = religious movement, often based
on the worship of a particular god
Mesopotamia
● Mesopotamian temple = ziggurat
Mesopotamia
● polytheistic- 2,000+ gods● the main gods
○ Osiris = god of the dead○ Isis = goddess of protection○ Horus = god of the sky○ Set = god of chaos
Egypt
● pharoah as divine figure ○ represented god on earth○ buried in royal tomb
Egypt
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/king-tuts-tomb
● Book of the Dead○ religious texts
containing Egyptian beliefs, especially about the afterlife
○ includes spells○ many different texts
Egypt
● the soul could not achieve immortality (forever alive) without the physical body being preserved
● stressed importance of the afterlife- reason for mummification
Mummification in Egypt
● no royal tombs or monumental structures● no elaborate elite or priestly culture
Can you account for the difference in religious rituals between Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus River Valley?
Indus River Valley
● devotion to rulers and the gods○ snakes, jaguars, crocodiles
were also sacred● powerful priestly class
○ shamans (priests) could communicate with the beyond
Mesoamerica (Olmecs)
● rituals included athletics○ cities as athletic hubs○ ball courts
■ used small leather balls■ winners honored with
trophies■ losers were sacrificed and
“fed” to the gods
Mesoamerica (Olmecs)
● Legalism- set of political rather than religious ideas○ humans are inherently selfish and the
government must combat humans’ shortcomings
○ valued written law code and harsh punishments
China (Qin)
● Confucianism- ethical and social system○ stressed family and moral character
■ ancestor worship = the living honor the dead
○ believed all men could be equal○ people should concentrate on doing the
“right thing”
China (Qin)
● why do YOU think the Qin preferred Legalism over Confucianism?
Compare Legalism and Confucianism
● polytheistic- worshipped a pantheon of gods○ Zeus = sky○ Hades = underworld ○ Poseidon = sea○ cities had patron gods
■ Athens = Athena■ Olympia = Zeus
Classical Greece
● temples as sacred sites ○ Parthenon in Athens
● priests could receive signs from the gods using divination (seeking the future)○ Oracle at Delphi
Classical Greece
● blend of religious influences- Greek and native Etruscans (Latin tribes)○ main gods worshipped throughout the
empire○ religious rituals included festivals and
sacrifices ○ different cults based on regions
Roman Empire
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/330662797613152567/
Greek and Roman Gods
● rise of Christianity○ crucifiction of Jesus of Nazareth○ persecution of Christians by
pagans○ 312 CE- Constantine legalized
Christianity after having a vision of the cross before battle
Roman Empire
Map of Today’s Religions
What are similarities between the different religions? What are some differences?
1) Introductory sentence- what are you writing about?2) specific evidence- refer to evidence from the civilizations!3) conclusion- why is this important? Connect to a course theme! (cultural diffusion, multiple perspectives, power structures)