Ancient Cultures/Religions Parts 1-2 WH

Mesopotamia

Where civilization began; (land between two rivers) - included:
Sumerians
Babylonians
Phoenicians
Assyrians
Persians

Sumerians

Invented the wheel, cunieform, built ziggurats

Babylonians

First major collection of laws

Phoenicians

Developed the alphabet

Assyrians

Harsh and cruel rulers; built large library

Persians

Largest empire to date

Ancient Egypt

Believed Pharaoh was a god-king
Believed in life after death
Developed hieroglyphics to keep written records

Ancient India

Subcontinent
Hinduism
Buddhism
Caste System
believe it ensures spiritual purity

Ancient China

Confucius
Dynasties

Ancient Greece

Many individual city-states
Polis
Copied by the Romans

Ancient Rome

Strong system of law kept empire united
Provided stable government
Copied the Greeks - Arts, Architecture, Gods

Confucianism

�Emphasis on how to live in harmony with others
�5 Relationships
�Most important: Respect for elders (parents and ancestors)
�Analects

Hinduism

�Followed mainly in India
�Worship many different gods and goddesses
�Believe strict caste systemhelps people to be spiritually pure
�Vedas

Buddhism

Founded by Siddhartha Guatama (Buddha)
�Wanted to answer the question, "Why do people suffer?"
�Discovered 4 Noble Truths
�Told people to follow the 8-Fold Path
�Reach Nirvana
�Tripitaka

Judaism

�Monotheistic
�Abraham
�Torah
�The Old Testament of The Bible
�The Ten Commandments

Christianity

Monotheistic
�Jesus
�Bring salvation
�The Old & New Testament of the Bible
�The Ten Commandments

Islam

�Monotheistic
�Muhammad
�Quran
�The Five Pillars of Islam

Polytheism

Believe in more than one god

Monotheism

Belief in one god; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

the Americas

First people migrated across a land bridge
�Present day Bering Strait

8 Features of Civilization

�Cities
�Well-organized Central Government
�Complex Religions
�Job Specialization
�Social Classes
�Art and Architecture
�Public Works
�Writing