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MalesHIST410Week3Lecture.pptx
Week 3 Lecture
HIST410
Dr. Males
Spring 2022
SSU
Chapter 6 – The Great Schools
Learning Objectives
What do historians mean by the term axial age?
What were the main centers of axial age thinking in Eurasia?
Why are the religious, political, and scientific ideas of the axial age so important?
What similarities developed among Indian, Greek, and Chinese science and medicine during the axial age?
How did political optimists differ from pessimists in their thinking about human nature and the role of government?
Why was the axial age confined to such a limited area of the world?
The Thinkers in the Axial Age
In current day Iran, a sage known as Zoroaster is dated to the late 7th and early 6th century B.C.E.
Limited information is known about him which makes it hard to determine the full picture of this person
Brought about Zoroastrianism
This assumed conflicting forces of good and evil shaped the world
One single good deity – Ahura Mazda present in fire and light
He was connected to his followers with dawn and fire-kindling
Ahriman – God of Evil
Associated with night and darkness
Zoroastrian communities are still scattered around the world today
The Thinkers in the Axial Age cont.
Around the middle of the millennium, texts of the Veda multiplied
Teachings of the Brahman were handed down in the early Upanishads were studied and written down
New thinking explored the moral implications of religious life in the world of competing states
Vardhamana Jnatrputra who lived in the 6th or early 5th century who is known as “Mahavira” – The Great Hero
Founded Jainism – Life designed to free the soul from evil by ascetic practices:
Chastity, detachment, truth and charity
Gautama Siddhartha – lived between the 6th and early 4th centuries B.C.E. who is known as “Buddha”
Founded in India a religion (Buddhism) of potentially universal appeal described as a code of life more than a religion
For the most privileged practitioners the aim was to achieve “Nirvana”
The Thinkers in the Axial Age cont..
Laozi – who lived in the 4th century B.C.E.
Identified a detachment from the world with the pursuit of immortality is explicit
Founded Daoism in China
The Jews
From southwest Asia’s Mediterranean coastal region
Started with a religion tailored to worldly ends, worshipping a tribal deity who promised material success, prosperity and victory
The god was known as Christ or Messiah
The Thoughts of the Axial Age
Religious Thinking
Creation – Before the Axial age, creation narratives were not about creation
The creator would be unique for nothing else could precede them
Monotheism
The idea of a unique God who would monopolize power over all
Divine Love
Late in the Axial age some Jewish people began to use this image to express their relationship
New Political Thinking
Political Pessimism
The way to overcome human deficiencies was to strengthen the state
Political Optimism
Thought human nature was essentially good
Challenging Illusion
The thought that united many of the Axial age was their effort to see beyond appearances to underlying realities
In challenging these underlying realities many sages would pursue and challenge thought in the following areas:
Math
Reason
Science
Medicine
Skepticism
The Structures of the Axial Age
The structures that underpinned the work of the thinkers of this time were important to making it happen
Schools and sages formed four categories:
The first group were professional intellectuals who sold their services as teachers
The second group sought the patronage of rulers or positions as political advisers
The third group was made up of prophets or holy men who emerged from ascetic lives with inspired messages for society
The fourth group were charismatic leaders with visions to share with and impose on their people
Chapter 7 – The Great Empires
Learning Objectives
Why were trade routes so important to axial age empires?
How did the Persian Empire benefit its inhabitants?
How was Rome able to conquer and rule a vast empire?
How did Asoka seek to unify his empire?
Why was the Han dynasty so significant for China?
Where did the first potentially imperial states arise in the Americas?
The Great Empires
For the paper for this week focus on two specific empires mentioned:
The Greek Empire
The Persian Empire
The Empire of Alexander the Great
The Roman Empire
Then reference your main textbook, pages 167-177 as a starting point for your paper.
Pick two empires to discuss advancements that were made and achieved within them. Examine the differences and similarities between the two empires chosen to explore.
For example, in the Persian empire there was more sexual equality within the societal structure whereas in the Roman Empire there was not. However, they did share similar structures within their government.
Questions? Reference: Fernandez-Armesto, F. (2011). The World: A History. Prentice Hall.
