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)