LANDMARKS IN HUMANITIES Chapter 4 Revelation: The Flowering of World Religions ca. 1300...

LANDMARKS IN HUMANITIES

Chapter 4Revelation: The Flowering of World Religions

ca. 1300 B.C.E.–1000 C.E.

Judaism

The Hebrews Ethical monotheism

Belief in single, benevolent, all-knowing god requiring obedience to divine laws of right conduct

Became fundamental tenet of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

Knowledge of Hebrews comes from the Bible Originated in Sumer Under Abraham of Ur, migrated and settled in Canaan

©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Judaism

Book of Genesis; establishment of divine relationship between God and Hebrews Covenant bound Hebrews to God in return for God’s

protection Hebrews migrated to Egypt; enslaved Around 1300 B.C.E., Moses led exodus out of

Egypt and back toward Canaan Settled near Dead Sea


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Judaism

Formation of fundamentals of Hebrew faith Moses encounters Yahweh at Mount Sinai Hebrew Decalogue (Ten Commandments)

Defines proper relationship between God and faithful, and between and among members of Hebrew community

The Hebrew State Hebrews defeated Philistines for Canaan King David

Psalms King Solomon

Solomon’s Temple: Ark of the Covenant©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Judaism

After death of Solomon, nation assumed two administrative districts Israel (north) Judah (south)

Israel fell to Assyrians in 722 B.C.E. “Lost Tribes of Israel”

Judah conquered by Chaldeans in 586 B.C.E. Hebrews taken into bondage Solomon’s Temple destroyed Beginning of Babylonian Captivity


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Judaism


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Judaism


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Judaism

The Hebrew Bible Torah

Earliest portion of Bible Founding religious document of Judaism

Writings of the prophets Destiny of a people is divinely directed God punishes or rewards actions of humankind on

earth, not in the hereafter


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Judaism

Jews freed by Persians; return to Judah Under scholar Ezra, books of the Bible become

more central in shaping Jewish identity Book of Job Not until 90 C.E. was list of canonic books that

constituted the Hebrew Bible made Diaspora

Oral debate and interpretation of scriptural ordinances Mishna Talmud


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Judaism


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Judaism

The Arts of the Hebrews Biblical injunction against three-dimensional art

Frescoes in early synagogues Music tied to prayer and worship

Cantors chanted biblical passages as part of Hebrew liturgy

Prayers in responsorial style; antiphonal practice Sacred music monophonic Music memorized and passed along

No system of notating until ninth century C.E.


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Christianity

The Greco-Roman Background Roman religion was a blend of native and

borrowed traditions Pagan Augury Welcomed gods of non-Roman people

Roman tolerance created lack of religious uniformity in Empire

No promise of retribution in afterlife or eternal life


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Christianity

Mystery Cults Near East agricultural societies celebrated

seasonal change Isis: Egypt Cybele: Phrygia Dionysus: Greece Mithra: Persia

Symbolic performances of birth, death, rebirth Baptism Communal meal


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Christianity

Judea Before Jesus Troubled times for Jewish population

Spiritual values threatened by secular empire Discord within Jewish population

Many awaited arrival of Messiah Sadducees Pharisees Essenes

Dead Sea Scrolls


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Christianity

The Coming of Jesus Gospels: writings that describe life and teaching of

Jesus (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) Jesus embraced ethical principles of Judaism,

emphasized pacifism and anti-materialism Sermon on the Mount

Jesus was condemned as threat to stability Put to death by Roman governor Pontius Pilate

Resurrection

Early representation: redeemer and protector Good Shepherd


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Christianity

Paul: Co-Founder of Christianity Apostles claimed that resurrection anticipated a

Second Coming Only small part of Judean population became

Christian in first 100 years after Jesus’ death Paul taught that Jesus was a reformer of Judaism Through Paul’s writings, message of Jesus

gained widespread appeal Jesus’ act of atonement Redemption, eternal salvation, everlasting life


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Christianity


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The Spread of Christianity

The Spread of Christianity Many factors influenced growing receptivity to

Christianity within Roman Empire Large gaps between rich and poor Increasing impersonalism Bureaucratic corruption Assaults by Germanic tribes

Jesus’ message easy to understand, accessible to all, and free of regulations and costly rituals

Unique feature: historical credibility


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Edict of Milan (313 C.E.) Legalized Christianity; proclaimed religious tolerance

By end of fourth century, Christianity official religion of Roman Empire

The Christian Identity The Council of Nicaea (325 C.E.)

Nicene Creed Roman Catholic Church rose in West; Greek

Orthodox in East


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Christian Monasticism Communal asceticism Basil of Caesarea The Benedictine rule

Poverty, chastity, obedience Women prohibited from positions of Church

authority Benedictine nunneries

Scholastica

Regular clergy played important role in education; preservation of literature and history


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The Latin Church Fathers Development of Christian dogma and liturgy

Jerome Translated Bible into Latin

Vulgate Ambrose

Fused Hebrew, Greek, Southwest Asian traditions into Christian doctrine and liturgy

Wrote earliest Christian hymns Gregory

Established administrative machinery of Church of Rome


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Augustine Great philosopher of Christian antiquity Confessions

Distinction between physical and spiritual mode of personal existence

City of God


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Symbolism and Early Christian Art Symbolism often more significant than literal

meaning Sign of the fish Alpha/omega

Numbers thought to bear allegorical meaning Catacombs

Jesus as Good Shepherd


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Early Christian Architecture In West, church building based on Roman

basilica Hierarchy of spaces

Latin cross plan Symbolized soul’s progress from sin to salvation


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Byzantine Art and Architecture Golden Age of Byzantine culture under Justinian

Silk Code of Justinian

Ambitious program of church building in Constantinople Greek cross plan

Hagia Sophia

San Vitale, Ravenna Mosaic


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The Byzantine Icon Schism between Eastern and Western Churches

over role of icons Byzantine images formulaic; archetypal

Early Christian Music Music of the Mass

High Mass: Gregorian chant Five ordinary parts of the Mass

“Kyrie eleison”; “Gloria”; “Credo”; “Sanctus”; “Benedictus Dei”; “Agnus Dei”


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ISLAM

The Coming of Muhammad Muslims recognize Muhammad as a prophet

Angel Gabriel Emphasis on centrality of bond between Allah and

believers Community whose gratitude toward God governs

every aspect of life and conduct “Five Pillars”

At outset, Muhammad forced to abandon Mecca Hijra Returned; conquered it; destroyed idols in Kaaba


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ISLAM


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ISLAM

The Qur’an Muhammad’s revelations as written down by his

disciples Muslim guide to spiritual and secular life 114 chapters (suras)

Believed to be eternal and absolute word of God Hadith

Second source of Muslim religious/legal tradition Words and deeds of Muhammad as reported by

followers Sharia


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The Spread of Islam

The Spread of Islam Spread of Islam aided by easy rules of conduct,

absence of priestly hierarchy Unification of tribal population of Arabia propelled

Muslims into East Asia, Africa, and the West Jihad: fervent religious struggle Militant coercion; economic opportunities

Commercial and social benefits to conversion

Muhammad never designated successor Sunni/Shiites

Caliphs oversaw establishment of Muslim Empire©2013, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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The Spread of Islam

Islam in Africa Muslims came to dominate trans-Sahara network Islam mixed with aspects of local belief systems

Became Africa’s fastest growing religion Attracted following of ruling elite

Islam’s Golden Age Baghdad between eighth and tenth centuries

Multiethnic trade center; urban population Sufism


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The Spread of Islam


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The Spread of Islam

Early Islamic Art and Architecture Mosque is first and foremost place for prayer

Oriented toward Mecca The Great Mosque, Córdoba, Spain

Muslims condemned worship of idols, likenesses of living creatures

Instead, combination of geometric, arabesque, and calligraphic motifs Mosaic; glazed tile Bold colors


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The Spread of Islam

Early Islamic Music Early Muslims regarded music as forbidden

pleasure Muslims made landmark contribution to

development of solo songs; instrumental music for secular entertainment; music composition


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Beyond the West:

Buddhism Buddhism

Siddhartha renounced his wealth after discovery of the three “truths” of existence: sickness, old age, death

Through meditation he arrived at the full perception of reality that became basis of his teaching “Wheel of the Law”

Four Noble Truths Eightfold Path; nirvana


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Beyond the West:

Buddhism The Spread of Buddhism

Emphasis on non-attachment, humility, meditation Scribes compiled stories of Buddha’s birth

(Jataka) and sayings (Dhammapada) During third century B.C.E., became state religion

of India Many different sects developed

Mahayana Gave Buddha divine status

Bodhisattvas


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Beyond the West:

Buddhism Early Buddhist Architecture

Buddha’s ashes enshrined in stupas Three-dimensional realization of cosmic mandala


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Beyond the West:

Buddhism


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LANDMARKS IN HUMANITIES Chapter 4 Revelation: The Flowering of World Religions ca. 1300...

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