09 Religions and Philosophies of the Ancient World Free Online FlashCards

How did Jewish religious life change after the Second Temple was destroyed?

After Rome destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE, Jewish religious life increasingly centered on Torah study, prayer, synagogues, and teachers.

What followed the destruction of Jerusalem’s First Temple in 586 BCE?

After the Babylonian conquest of Judah and the destruction of Jerusalem’s First Temple in 586 BCE, many Judeans were exiled. Under Persian rule, some returned and the Temple was rebuilt.

How did Christianity begin?

Christianity began in the first century CE as a Jewish movement centered on Jesus of Nazareth. Christians came to understand Jesus as the Messiah and, in Christian belief, the Son of God.

What event marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar?

Muhammad’s migration, or Hijra, from Mecca to Medina in 622 CE marks the beginning of the Islamic calendar.

What historical disagreement contributed to Sunni and Shi‘i traditions?

After Muhammad’s death in 632, disagreement over leadership of the Muslim community contributed to the development of Sunni and Shi‘i traditions.

What made Abbasid Baghdad a major center of scholarship?

Under the Abbasids, Baghdad became a major scholarly center where Muslim, Christian, and Jewish scholars engaged with Greek, Persian, and Indian learning.

What does moksha mean in many Hindu traditions?

In many Hindu schools, moksha means liberation from samsara, the cycle of rebirth.

How did the Buddha teach people to address suffering?

The Buddha taught a path addressing suffering and its causes, cultivated through ethical conduct, meditation, and insight.

What two emphases characterize Jainism?

Jainism, associated with Mahavira, emphasizes nonviolence and spiritual discipline.

How did Confucius think social order could be sustained?

Confucius taught that moral cultivation, respect within relationships, and responsible government could sustain social order.

What does wu wei mean in Daoist thought?

Daoist thought emphasizes the Dao, or Way underlying the world, and ideals such as simplicity and wu wei: action that does not force matters against their natural course.

What moral choice is central to Zoroastrianism?

Zoroastrianism teaches devotion to Ahura Mazda and emphasizes moral choice between truth and falsehood.