Eurasian Cultural Traditions Ch5

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Ahura Madza

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In Zoroastrianism, the good god who rules the world

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Angra Mainyu

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in Zoroastrianism, the evil god, engaged in a cosmic struggle with Ahura Mazda

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Aristotle

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a Greek polymath philosopher (384-322 BCE) student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great

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atman

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the human soul, which in classic Hindu belief seeks union with Brahman

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Ban Zhao

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a major female Confucian author of Han dynasty China (45-116CE) whose works give insight into the implication of Confucian thinking of women.

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Bhagavad Gita

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a great Hindu epic text, part of the much larger Mahabharata, which affirms the performance of caste duties as a path to religious liberation.

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Bhakti movement

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an immensely popular development in Hinduism, advocating intense devotion toward a particular diety.

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Brahman

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the "World Soul" or final reality in upanishadic Hindu belief

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Brahmins

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the priestly caste of India

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Buddhism

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the cultural/religious tradition first enunciated by Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)

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Confucianism

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the Chinese philosophy first enunciated by Confucius, advocating the moral example of superiors as the key element of social order

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Confucius (Kong Fuzi)

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The founder of confucianism (551-479 BCE); an aristocrat of northern China who proved to be the greatest influence on Chinese culture in history

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Constantine

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roman emperor whose conversion to Christianity paved the way for the triumph of Christianity in Europe

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Daodejing

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the central text of Daoism; translated as The Way and Its Power

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Daoism

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a Chinese philosophy/popular religion that advocates simplicity and understanding of the world of nature, founded by the legendary figure Laozi

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filial piety

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the honoring of one's ancestors and parents, a key element of Confucianism

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Greek rationalism

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a secularizing system of scientific and philosophic thought that developed in classical Greece in the period 600-300BCE; it emphasizes the power of education and human reason to understand the world in nonreligious terms

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Hinduism

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a word derived form outsiders to describe the vast diversity of indigenous Indian religious traditions

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Hippocrates

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a very influential Greek medical theorist (ca. 640-ca. 370 BCE); regarded as the father of medicine

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Isaiah

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One of the most important prophets of Judaism, whose teachings show the transformation of the religion in favor of compassion and social justice (8th century BCE)

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Jesus of Nazareth

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the prophet/god of Christianity (ca. 4BCE-ca. 30CE)

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Judaism

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the monotheistic religion developed by the Hebrews, emphasizing a sole personal god (Yahweh) with concerns for social justice

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karma

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in Hinduism, the determining factor of the level at which the individual is reincarnated, based on purity of action and fulfillment of duty in the prior existence

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Laozi

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a legendary Chinese philosopher of the sixth century BCE; regarded as the founder of Daoism

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legalism

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a Chinese philosophy distinguished by an adherence to clear laws with vigorous punishments

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Mahayana

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"great vehicle" the popular development of Buddhism in the early centuries of the Common era, which gives a much greater role to supernatural beings and proved to be more popular than original (Theravada) Buddhism.

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moksha

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in Hindu belief, liberation from separate existence and union with Brahman

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nirvana

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the end goal of Buddhism, in which individual identity is "extinguished" into a state of serenity and great compassion

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Plato

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a disciple of Socrates whose Dialogues convey the teachings of his master while going beyond them to express Plato's own philosophy; lived from 429-348 BCE

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Pythagoras

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a major greek philosopher (ca. 560-ca. 480 BCE) who believed that an unchanging mathematical order underlies the apparent chaos of the world

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Saint Paul

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the first great popularizer of Christianity (10-65CE)

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Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha)

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the Indian prince turned ascetic (ca. 566-ca.486BCE) who founded Buddhism

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Socrates

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the first great Greek philosopher to turn rationalism toward questions of human existence (469-399 BCE)

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Thales of Miletus

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a Greek natural philosopher (ca.625-ca. 547BCE) noted for his application of reason to astronomy and for his questioning of fundamental nature of the universe

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Theodosius

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Roman emperor 379-395BCE who made Christianity the official religion of the Roman state, banning all polytheistic rituals

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Theravada

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"The Teaching of the Elders" the early form of Buddhism according to which the Buddha was a wise teacher but not divine and which emphasizes the practices rather than beliefs

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Upanishads

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Indian mystical and philosophical works, written between 800 and 400 BCE

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Vedas

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the earliest religious texts of India, a collection of ancient poems, hymns, and rituals that were transmitted orally before being written down in 600BCE

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Warring States period

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Period in China from 403-221 BCE that was typified by disorder and political chaos

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yin and yang

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expression of the Chinese belief in the unity of opposites

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Zarathustra

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a Persian prophet, traditionally dated to the sixth or seventh century BCE, who founded Zoroastrianism. (could be much older)

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Zhuangzi

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a Chinese philosopher (369-286 BCE) who spelled out the teachings of Daoism

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Zoroastrianism

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Persian monotheistic religion founded by the prophet Zarathustra