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
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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
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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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The Spread of Christianity
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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The Spread of Christianity
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 Spread of Christianity
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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The Spread of Christianity
Augustine Great philosopher of Christian antiquity Confessions
Distinction between physical and spiritual mode of personal existence
City of God
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The Spread of Christianity
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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The Spread of Christianity
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The Spread of Christianity
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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The Spread of Christianity
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The Spread of Christianity
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 Spread of Christianity
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The Spread of Christianity
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The Spread of Christianity
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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