Interactions Among Bronze Age Civilizations: Early Religions and Trade

1
Interactions Among Bronze Age CivilizationsEarly
Religions and Trade

• The Vedic (Hindu) Religion in India, Hebrew
  Monotheism, and Persian Zoroastrianism

2
Origins of Hinduism

• Aryan migrations into the Indus Valley caused a
  mixture of ideas to form the basis of Hinduism
• The Vedas (1500-600 B.C.E) a holy book compiled
  by the Brahmins (priests), contained basic ideas
  of the impersonal gods of early Hinduism
• caste system formed out of the ideas in the Vedas
  (written using Sanskrit language)
• Dissatisfaction with impersonal Brahmin practices
  led to the Upanishads (800-400 B.C.E), a holy
  book showing a more personal relationship with
  the gods
• Hinduism eventually was challenged and reformed
  by the rise of Buddhism

3
Aryan Migration

• pastoral ? depended on their cattle.
• warriors ? horse-drawn chariots.

4
Varna System
Brahmins
Kshatriyas
Vaishyas
Shudras
Those with no caste? Untouchables
5
The Caste System Justified
Brahmins

• SOCIAL CLASSES
• mouth
• arms
• legs
• feet
• Of Purusha, a god

Kshatriyas
Vaishyas
Shudras
6
Hindu Beliefs

• Brahman
• basically, God. Everyone and everything
  (including all the other gods) is a manifestation
  (a part) of Brahman.
• Ultimate goal
• Union with Brahman by achieving moksha
  (liberation) through samsara (reincarnation)
• Caste System
• Social mobility in the NEXT LIFE determined by
  good karma achieved by fulfilling ones dharma
  (duties)

• Bhakti (worship) movement
• Came about as a reaction against Brahmin rituals
  that werent very personal
• Adoration and personal worship of gods
• Identification of individuals with a particular
  deity

7
Vishnu and Shiva

• Protector and preserver

• Destroyer

8
Zoroastrianism

• Official religion of the Persian Empire
• Founded by Zoroaster (600s BCE)
• Beliefs
• Monotheistic (Ahura Mazda)
• Belief in Heaven and Hell
• Judgment Day
• Good (God) and Evil (Satan), Savior (Messiah)
• Assimilated into other monotheistic faiths

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• JUDAISM
• Hebrews in the Middle East
• Despite conquests by Assyria and Babylonian
  empires, retained culture and traditions
• Duteronomic Code 613 laws in the Old Testament
  to keep Jews separate from other cultures and
  prevent assimilation

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Judaism

• Yahweh- God
• Powerful and jealous
• Demanded loyalty
• People could communicate with God
• God was viewed to be actively involved in human
  affairs
• In return for devotion to Yahweh, became his
  chosen people
• Basis for Christianity and Islam