Objectives: 1. Identify the central teachings from Judaism, early Christianity, early Islam, and Buddhism. 2. Explain how Judaism, early Christianity, early Islam, and Buddhism reflect the individual’s role in the world and with the deity. 3. Describe the connections between the humanities and Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism.

1. THE FLOWERING OF
RELIGION: JUDAISM,
CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM,
AND BUDDHISM
HUM/100 – Intro to the Humanities I
The Ancient World to Medieval Time
Prof. Francisco Pesante-Gonzalez

2. Objectives
1. Identify the central teachings from Judaism, early
Christianity, early Islam, and Buddhism.
2. Explain how Judaism, early Christianity, early Islam,
and Buddhism reflect the individual’s role in the
world and with the deity.
3. Describe the connections between the humanities
and Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism by
identifying examples of art, architecture,
philosophy, music, and literature.

3. The Search for a Promised Land
Ancient Palestine
• Palestine was region on eastern shores of
Mediterranean
• Hebrew people settled in Canaan, land promised
to them by God
From Ur to Egypt
• Torah, first five books of Hebrew Bible, tells early
history of Hebrews
• In Torah, God chose Abraham, a shepherd, to be
father of Hebrew people
• Abraham moves family and herds from Ur to
Canaan around 1800 B.C.
• Around 1650 B.C. Abraham’s descendants
move to Egypt

4. The God of Abraham
• Hebrews are monotheists, believing in one God
only—Yahweh
• Yahweh is all powerful, not a physical being
• A mutual promise, covenant, is made between
God and Abraham
• Abraham promises to obey God, Yahweh
promises protection
The Search for a Promised Land

5. Moses and the Exodus
Hebrews Migrate to Egypt
• At first Hebrews are honored in Egyptian kingdom;
later become slaves
“Let My People Go”
• Hebrews flee Egypt between 1300 and 1200 B.C.
• Bible tells of God’s command that Moses lead this
“Exodus”
A New Covenant
• Moses receives Ten Commandments—become
basis of Hebrew law

6. The Land and People of the Bible
• Torah tells of Hebrews wandering Sinai Desert for
40 years
• Arrive in Canaan form twelve tribes; judges
provide leadership
A Hebrew Law
• Women and men have separate roles, responsibilities
• Law includes strict justice softened by mercy
• Prophets arise later to interpret the law
• They teach people to live moral lives
Moses and the Exodus

7. The Kingdom of Israel
Canaan
• Land that Hebrews believe God promised them
• Canaan land is harsh; Hebrews expand south and
north
Saul and David Establish a Kingdom
• Hebrews threatened by Philistines to the north
• Only one tribe remains, Judah; Hebrew religion
called Judaism
• From 1020 to 922 B.C. Hebrews (Jews) unite; new
kingdom called Israel
• King David establishes Jerusalem as capital

8. Solomon Builds the Kingdom
• David’s son Solomon becomes King; makes
Israel a trading empire
• He builds a magnificent temple and royal palace
in Jerusalem
The Kingdom Divides
• High taxes and forced labor lead Jews in north
to revolt
• By 922 B.C. kingdom divides in two—Israel in
north, Judah in south
• 200 years of conflict follow
The Kingdom of Israel

9. The Babylonian Captivity
A Conquered People
• In 738 B.C. Israel and Judah pay tribute (money for
peace) to Assyria
• By 722 B.C. Assyrians conquer Israel
• In 586 B.C. Babylonians conquer Judah, destroy
Solomon’s Temple
• Many surviving Jews exiled to Babylon
• In 539 B.C. Persians conquer Babylon; 40,000 Jews
return to Jerusalem
• Temple and walls rebuilt; land later ruled by
Persians, Greeks, Romans

10. The Life and Teachings of Jesus
Romans Conquer Judea
• Rome conquers Judea, home of Jews; makes it part
of empire, A.D. 6
• Many Jews believe a Messiah, or savior, eventually
will free them
Jesus of Nazareth
• Jesus—a Jew born in Bethlehem (around 6 to 4
B.C.), raised in Nazareth
• At age 30 begins preaching monotheism, Ten
Commandments
• Does good works, reportedly performs miracles
• Stresses personal relationship with God, love for
friends and enemies

11. A Growing Movement
• Apostles—the twelve men who are disciples (or
pupils) of Jesus
• Jesus ignores wealth and status; his message
appeals to poor
Jesus’ Death
• Many Jews view Jesus as the Messiah; others
see him as a heretic
• Roman governor Pontius Pilate sentences Jesus
to be crucified
• Apostles believe Jesus ascended into heaven
after death
• Christos, Greek word for “savior”; Christianity
derived from “Christ”
The Life and Teachings of Jesus

12. Christianity Spreads Through the Empire
Growth of Christianity
• Followers spread Christianity—new religion
based on Jesus’ teachings
Paul’s Mission
• Apostle Paul—spends life preaching and
interpreting Christianity
• Common languages of Latin and Greek help to
spread message
• Paul stresses Jesus is son of God who died for
people’s sins
• Paul declares that Christianity open to all converts

13. Jewish Rebellion
• Jews rebel against Rome; Romans storm
Jerusalem, destroy Temple
• Rebellions in A.D. 66, 70, 132 fail; Jews driven
from homeland
• Diaspora—centuries of Jewish exile (from Greek
word for “dispersal”)
Christianity Spreads Through the Empire
Persecution of the Christians
• Christians won’t worship Roman gods; become
enemies of Roman rule
• Roman rulers use Christians as scapegoats for
hard times
• As Pax Romana crumbles, Christians crucified,
burned, killed in arena

14. A World Religion
Christianity’s Expansion
• Christianity becomes powerful force; reasons for
widespread appeal:
• embraces all people
• gives hope to the powerless
• appeals to those repelled by extravagance of
Roman life
• offers personal relationship with a loving God
• promises eternal life after death

15. Constantine Accepts Christianity
• Constantine—Roman emperor battles for control
of Rome in A.D. 312
• Has vision of cross, Christian symbol; places on
soldiers’ shields
• Believes Christian God helped him win; legalizes
Christianity
• In A.D. 380 Emperor Theodosius makes
Christianity religion of empire
A World Religion

16. Early Christian Church
• Priests direct a single church; bishops supervise
numerous churches
• Apostle Peter—first bishop of Rome; clergy trace
their authority to him
• Pope—the father, or head, of Christian Church;
Rome, center of Church
A World Religion

17. A Single Voice
• Church leaders compile standard Christian beliefs
in New Testament
• New Testament added to Hebrew Bible (also
called Old Testament)
The Fathers of the Church
• Early writers and scholars of teachings called
Fathers of the Church
• Augustine, bishop in North Africa, one of the most
important Fathers
• Stressed receiving sacraments to obtain God’s
grace
• Wrote famous book, The City of God
A World Religion

18. Deserts, Towns, and Trade Routes
The Arabian Peninsula
• A crossroads of three continents: Africa, Asia, and
Europe
• Mostly desert with small amount of fertile land
Desert and Town Life
• Bedouins, Arab nomads, thrive in the desert
• Bedouins live in clans, which give support to
members
• Some Arabs settle near oases or market towns

19. Crossroads of Trade and Ideas
• Many sea and land trade routes pass through
Arabia
• Trade extends to the Byzantine and Sassanid
empires to the north
Deserts, Towns, and Trade Routes
Mecca
• Pilgrims come to Mecca to worship at the Ka’aba, an
ancient shrine
• Arabs associate shrine with Hebrew prophet
Abraham and monotheism
• Some tribes worship many gods and spirits, bring
idols to Ka’aba
• Some Arabs believe in one God—Allah in Arabic

20. The Prophet Muhammad
Early Life
• Around A.D. 570 Muhammad is born into a
powerful Meccan clan
• Becomes a trader, marries wealthy
businesswoman, Khadijah
Revelations
• By age 40, Muhammad spends much time in
prayer and meditation
• He hears angel Gabriel tell him he is a
messenger of Allah
• Muhammad founds religion of Islam—
“submission to the will of Allah”
• Many join him and become Muslim—“one who
has submitted”

21. The Hijrah
• Muhammad’s followers are attacked; together
they leave Mecca in 622
• Hijrah—the Muslim migration from Mecca to
Yathrib (renamed Medina)
• Muhammad attracts many more followers,
becomes great leader:
- political leader—joins Jews and Arabs of
Medina as a single community
- religious leader—draws more converts to Islam
- military leader—tackles growing hostilities
between Mecca and Medina
The Prophet Muhammad

22. Returning to Mecca
• In 630, Muhammad and 10,000 followers return
to Mecca
• Meccan leaders surrender
• Muhammad destroys idols in Ka’aba
• Meccans convert to Islam
• Muhammad unifies Arabian Peninsula
The Prophet Muhammad

23. Beliefs and Practices of Islam
Islam
• The main teaching of Islam is that there is only
one god, Allah
• People are responsible for their own actions;
there is good and evil
• Islamic monument in Jerusalem—Dome of the
Rock
• Muslims believe Muhammad rose to heaven here
to learn Allah’s will
• Jews believe Abraham was prepared to sacrifice
son Isaac at same site

24. The Five Pillars
• Muslims must carry out five duties—the Five
Pillars of Islam
- statement of faith to Allah and to Muhammad
as his prophet
- pray five times a day, can use a mosque—
Islamic house of worship
- give alms, or money for the poor
- fast between dawn and sunset during holy
month of Ramadan
- perform the hajj—pilgrimage to Mecca—at
least once
Beliefs and Practices of Islam

25. A Way of Life
• Customs and traditions guide Muslim’s lives
• Scholar class, ulama, and teachers apply religion
to life; no priests
Sources of Authority
• Original source of authority for Muslims is Allah
• Qur’an—holy book, contains revelations
Muhammad received from Allah
• Muslims follow Sunna—Muhammad’s example for
proper living
• Guidance of Qur’an and Sunna assembled in body
of law—shari’a
Beliefs and Practices of Islam

26. Links to Judaism and Christianity
• To Muslims, Allah is same God worshiped by
Christians and Jews
• Qur’an, Gospels, Torah—contain God’s will as
revealed through others
• Muslims, Christians, and Jews trace their roots to
Abraham
• All three religions believe in heaven, hell, and a
day of judgement
• Shari’a law requires Muslim leaders to extend
religious tolerance
Beliefs and Practices of Islam

27. Muhammad’s Successors Spread Islam
A New Leader
• In 632 Muhammad dies; Muslims elect Abu-Bakr to
be first caliph
• Caliph, title for Muslim leader, means “successor” or
“deputy”
“Rightly Guided” Caliphs
• First four caliphs guided by the Qur’an and
Muhammad’s actions
• Jihad, armed struggle against unbelievers, used to
expand Islam
• By 750, Muslim empire stretches from Atlantic
Ocean to Indus River

28. Reasons for Success
• Muslim armies are well disciplined and expertly
commanded
• Byzantine and Sassanid empires are weak from
previous conflict
• Persecuted citizens of these empires welcome
Islam
• Attracted to Islam’s offer of equality and hope
Treatment of Conquered Peoples
• Muslim invaders tolerate other religions
• Christians, Jews receive special consideration as
“people of the book”
Muhammad’s Successors Spread Islam

29. Internal Conflict Creates a Crisis
Rise of the Umayyads
• Struggles for power end the elective system of
choosing a caliph
• Wealthy family, Umayyads, take power; move
Muslim capital to Damascus
Sunni—Shi’a Split
• Shi’a—“party” of Ali—believe caliph should be
Muhammad’s descendant
• Sunni—followers of Muhammad’s example—
support Umayyads
• Sufi followers pursue life of poverty, spirituality;
reject Umayyads
• In 750, a rebel group—the Abbasids—topple the
Umayyads

30. Control Extends Over Three Continents
Fall of the Umayyads
• Abbasids murder Umayyad family; one prince
escapes, Abd al-Rahman
• Flees to Spain; establishes new Umayyad
caliphate in al-Andalus
• al-Andalus—Muslim state in southern Spain
settled by North Africans
Abbasids Consolidate Power
• In 762, Abbasids move Muslim capital from
Damascus to Baghdad
• Location provides access to trade goods, gold,
information
• Abbasids develop strong bureaucracy to manage
empire

31. Rival Groups Divide Muslim Lands
• Independent Muslim states spring up; Shi’a
Muslims form new caliphate
• Fatimid caliphate—claim descent from Fatima,
daughter of Muhammad
• Begins in North Africa; spreads to Red Sea,
western Arabia and Syria
Muslim Trade Network
• Muslims trade by land and sea with Asia and Europe
• Muslim merchants use Arabic, single currency, and
checks
• Córdoba, in al-Andalus, is dazzling center of Muslim
culture
Control Extends Over Three Continents

32. Muslim Society
The Rise of Muslim Cities
• Leading cities include Damascus, Baghdad,
Córdoba, Cairo, Jerusalem
• Baghdad, impressive Abbasid capital; population
around one million
Four Social Classes
• Muslim society: Muslims at birth, converts, protected
people, slaves
• “Protected people” were Jews, Christians,
Zoroastrians
Role of Women
• Women enjoy some rights but expected to submit
to men
• Women’s responsibilities vary with husbands’ income

33. Muslim Scholarship Extends Knowledge
Muslims Support Learning
• Muslims use scientific knowledge to help fulfill
religious duties
• Muhammad valued power of learning, study,
scholarship
• Muslim scholars preserve and translate scientific,
philosophical texts
• House of Wisdom—Bagdad institute: library,
academy, translation center

34. Art and Sciences Flourish
Muslim Literature
• Qu’ran is standard for Arabic literature; praise for
Muhammad, Islam
• Abbasid caliphate poets write of nature, life, and
love
• Popular literature includes The Thousand and
One Nights
Muslim Art and Architecture
• Islam discourages images of living things, artists turn
to calligraphy
• Calligraphy—art of beautiful handwriting
• Architecture of Muslim mosques is blend of many
cultures

35. Medical Advances
• Persian al-Razi is greatest physician, from 500 to
1500
• Al-Razi writes encyclopedia of medical
knowledge
Math and Science Stretch Horizons
• Muslim scientists solve problems through
experimentation
• Al-Khwarizmi develops algebra and writes textbook
• Mathematician Ibn al-Haytham changes ideas about
vision
Art and Sciences Flourish

36. Philosophy and Religion Blend Views
Scholars Promote New Ideas
• Ibn Rushd is criticized for blending Greek philosophy
with Islam
• Jewish philosopher Maimonides faces opposition for
his ideas
• Blends philosophy, religion, science in The Guide for
the Perplexed
The “Ideal Man”
• Muslims recognize values of many cultures; enjoy a
blended culture
• Emerging Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal empires reflect
Muslim culture

37. The Buddha Seeks Enlightenment
Siddhartha Gautama
• Founder of Buddhism; priests prophesized his
greatness
Siddhartha’s Quest
• Raised in isolation, Siddhartha Gautama wants
to learn about world
• Seeks enlightenment (wisdom), how to escape
human suffering
• Tries many methods; gains enlightenment by
meditating
• Becomes the Buddha, the “enlightened one”

38. Origins and Beliefs
• Buddha begins to teach followers
• Preaches Four Noble Truths—basic philosophy of
Buddhism
• Fourth Noble Truth is to follow the Eightfold path
to achieve nirvana
• Nirvana:
- a perfect state of understanding
- a release from selfishness and pain
- a break from the chain of reincarnations,
rebirths
• Buddha rejects caste system and multiple gods of
Hinduism
The Buddha Seeks Enlightenment

39. The Religious Community
• Some followers devote lives to religion, become
monks and nuns
• Three bases of Buddhism: Buddha, religious
community, teachings
Buddhism and Society
• Many followers at first among poor and lower caste
• Monks and nuns spread Buddha’s teachings
• Teachings written to become sacred literature
The Buddha Seeks Enlightenment

40. Buddhism in India
• Spreads to other parts of Asia
• Never gains firm hold in India; Hinduism remains
strong
• Buddhist pilgrims often visit India
Trade and the Spread of Buddhism
• Buddhism spreads by traders to:
- Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Sumatra
- China, Korea, Japan
The Buddha Seeks Enlightenment

41. Traditional Buddhist Beliefs
• To Buddhists, desire causes suffering but suffering
can be overcome
A More Popular Form of Buddhism
• Belief in bodhisattvas develops—potential
Buddhas who save humanity
• Mahayana sect—Buddhists accepting new
doctrines of worship, salvation
• Theravada sect—Buddhists who follow original
teachings of Buddha
• Wealthy Buddhist merchants build stupas—
stone structures over relics
Buddhism and Hinduism Change

42. • Murpey, R. & Stapleton, K. (2014). History of
Asia (7TH ed). Pearson Education.
• World History: Patterns of Interaction
(2007). McDougal Littell.
REFERENCES