Who are the 6 Civilizations?

Who are the 6 Civilizations?

• Babylonians of the Fertile Crescent (written bw 1750-1400 BCE)

• Indo-Aryans of Ancient India (Rigveda, 600 BCE)• Israelites (first read 444 BCE)• Zhou of China (Yijing 1000 BCE) though part we read

is in warring states period (300 BCE)• Maya (written down before classical period in 250 CE,

though our translation is from after colonial contact)• Japanese (Kojiki 712 CE)

Big Themes

• Connection between Religious Authority and Political Authority – As political power increased (from localized to dynastic

states), we see political power associated with religious beliefs and practices

• The Power of Writing– The ability to read and write gave scribes status and power. – Writing has power because a scribe the ability to mold

together oral traditions• Important religious texts reflect and inform religious

beliefs/worldview

Babylonians• Intro to Babylonian Writing and Culture• Background of Mesopotamian Religion

– Urban Gods– Gods and Empires– Politics/Religion Intertwine– More on Mesop belief system to come…

Indo-Aryans

• Aryan Migration/Invastion• Oral Traditions• Vedic Texts• The Caste System• Brahmanism

Indo-Aryans

• Aryan Migration/Invastion• Oral Traditions• Vedic Texts• The Caste System• Brahmanism

Priests

Warriors/Rulers

Merchants

Peasants

China

• Shang/Zhou China• ShangZhou Religion• Divination• Writing and Power

Hebrews

• Who are the Jews?• Hebrew Language• What’s in the Torah?• Oral Tradition and the Authorship of the Torah• Themes– A book that creates identity– Move towards Monotheism– A focus on Ethics

Maya

• Background on Maya Civilization– Shift to Agriculture– Group of City-States– Classical Period

• Mayan Religion– Cosmology/Worldview– Gods– Religion and Political Power– Popular Beliefs– Blood

Maya, Continued

• Mayan Ball Game– Enclosures found in Mayan Cities– Entertainment? Religious?– Winners and Losers– Reenactment of Myth

• Writing System– Combo of Ideographic/Pictographic– Status of Scribes– Remnants– Popul Vuh

Japanese

• Background on Shinto: Indigenous Religion of Japan– Animism– Kami– Shamans

• Political Structure and Shinto– Initially Divided– Consolidation of Power– Power of Emperor

• Kojiki– Oral tradition– Korean/Chinese Influence– Substance

Big Themes

• Connection between Religious Authority and Political Authority – As political power increased (from localized to dynastic

states), we see political power associated with religious beliefs and practices

• The Power of Writing– The ability to read and write gave scribes status and power. – Writing has power because a scribe the ability to mold

together oral traditions• Important religious texts reflect and inform religious

beliefs/worldview