Judaism
Place and
time of
origin
Diffused
to:
Founder
Major
Diety/
Dieties
Sacred
Writings
Principal
Beliefs
Symbol
Christianity Hinduism
Buddhism
Confucianism
Daoism
Judaism
Jewish Diaspora
Origins
 Founded in 1600 BCE
 Canaan- Homeland,
Hebrews believed it
was promised to them
by God (Palestine)
 Torah- Holy doctrine,
first 5 books of the
Bible (Old Testament)
Abraham
 “Father” of the
Hebrews
 Made a covenant
(promise) with
Yahweh
 Abraham promised to
be faithful, Yahweh
promised to protect his
people
Journey from Ur to Egypt
 Abraham led his
people to Egypt
to escape drought
and famine
 They were later
forced into
slavery
Moses
 Led Hebrews exit
from Egypt, known
as the Exodus
 Spoke with God on
Mount Sanai,
 He returned with the
10 Commandments
Beliefs
 Emphasize moral conduct and the worship
of one God (ethical monotheism)
 Ideas influenced human behavior for
Christianity and Islam
 God will send a savior to earth after three
signs have been sent
 Afterlife often called “world to come”
 Follow 613 Torah Commandments
 Rabbi is the leader of
the synagogue
 Sabbath is from
sundown Friday to
sundown on Saturday
 Star of David arose as
symbol in 16th century
Holidays
 Rosh Hashanah-
Jewish New Year
 Yom Kippur- day of
atonement
 Passover- exodus of
Egypt
 Hanukkah- festival of
lights
Christianity
Founded circa 35 CE
 Based on teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, a
Jew.
 Emphasized parts of Judaism, but also faith
in Jesus as the Messiah and son of God
 God was a trinity: The Father (God), son
(Jesus), and the Holy Spirit
 Most important missionary was Paul of
Tarsus
Diffused along Mediterranean
trade routes
Christianity Detail
 Added a new book called the New
Testament to the Jewish Bible
 Symbol was the cross on which the Roman
government of Palestine crucified Jesus of
Nazareth
 Originally seen as a Jewish cult by Romans
Roman Colleseum
Why did Christianity Spread?
 No infanticide -> Population growth
 Less patriarchy
 Many poor were attracted to equality of
believers
 Many educated were attracted to Christian
philosophy and writings
 And…
Emperor Constantine
Battle of the Milvian Bridge
 312 AD
 Constantine saw a sign in
the sky and heard the words
“In this sign, conquer.”
 Constantine converts to
Christianity, encourages
patricians to do likewise
Hinduism and Buddhism
AP World History
Bartlett High School
Mr. Pahl
Hinduism
 Founded circa 2000 BCE
 No single founder
 No single sacred text.
 Grew out of various groups in India:
 The Aryans added their religious beliefs to
those of the Indus Valley.
 Our of all its complexity, though, there are
certain basic beliefs…
Hindu Beliefs…
 God is one, but is known by many names.
 Everything in the universe is part of the
unchanging, all-powerful force called Brahman.
 Brahman is too complex for most people to
understand.
 They worship gods that give a concrete form to
Brahman.
 Gods are Brahma the Creator; Vishnu the
preserver, Shiva, the destroyer
 All are aspects of Brahman
 Every person has an essential life, or atman.
More Hindu beliefs
 But even the atman is just another name for
Brahman.
 The ultimate goal is to attain moksha, union
with Brahman.
 Since this usually takes more than one
lifetime, Hindus believe in reincarnation.
 Reincarnation is the rebirth of the soul in
another bodily form.
 Karma; your good or bad deeds affect one’s
future, and the future of those around one,
for good or suffering
Vedas and Upanishads are sacred texts.
The Bhagavad Gita spells out many
ethical ideas.
Even if a very ill-conducted man worships me, not
worshipping any one else, he must certainly be deemed to be
good, for he has well resolved. He soon becomes devout of
heart, and obtains lasting tranquility. (You may) affirm, O son
of Kuntî! that my devotee is never ruined. For, O son of
Pritha! even those who are of sinful birth, women, Vaisyas;
and Sudras likewise, resorting to me, attain the supreme goal.
Bhagavad Gita, Chapter IX
Buddha
 Gautama Buddha, from the foothills of the
Himalayas, founded a new religion.
 Gautama born about 566 BCE
 He saw for the first time in his protected
environment, a sick person, an older person,
and a dead person.
 Gautama left a happy married life to
discover the realm of life “where there is
neither suffering or death.”
Buddha…
 He meditated and fasted. For 48 days he
meditated in one place. He believed he understood
the cure for suffering and sorrow; he was now
Buddha.
 The Four Noble Truths are the heart of Buddhism:
1. All life is full of suffering, pain and sorrow.
2. The cause of suffering is the desire for things that are
really illusions, such as riches, power and long life.
3. The only cure for suffering is to overcome desire.
4. The way to overcome desire is to follow the Eightfold
Path
The Eightfold Path:
 Right views
 Right aspirations
 Right speech
 Right conduct
 Right Livelihood
 Right effort
 Right mindfulness
 Right contemplation
Buddhism
 Final goal of Buddhism is nirvana,
union with the universe and release
from the cycle of rebirth.
 Buddhism and Hinduism agree on
karma, dharma, moksha and
reincarnation.
 They are different in that Buddhism
rejects the priests of Hinduism, the
formal rituals, and the caste system.
Buddha urged people to seek
enlightenment through meditation.
Hinduism and Buddhism
Compared
Hinduism
and
Buddhism
Similarities
Differences
Karma
Buddhism rejects the
priests of Hinduism,
the formal rituals, and
the caste system.
Buddha urged people
to seek enlightenment
through meditation
Dharma
Moksha
Reincarnation
Buddhism
 Buddha preached in northern India and his teachings
spread.
 Buddhas followers gathered his teachings into the
Tripitaka.
 Gradually Buddhism split into two parts, schools:
– Theravada Buddhism. Closely followed Buddha’s original
teachings.
– Mahayana Buddhism. Made following Buddhism easier for
the ordinary people.
 Buddhism declined in India, being swallowed up by
Hinduism which made Buddha another Hindu god.
Can you give examples of:
1. How are Judaism and Hinduism similar?
2. How are Buddhism and Christianity similar?
3. How are Buddha and Jesus similar?
4. Why didn’t Hinduism and Judaism spread to new
converts?
5. Why did Christianity spread west instead of east?
6. How can Hinduism be considered monotheistic
and Christianity be considered polytheistic?