UNIT 1: The Ancient Near East and Far East
1. Prehistoric Era
Prehistoric - Historic - Neanderthal - Shanidar Cave - Lascaux - Paleolithic Era - Neolithic Era - Agriculture - Civilization - Homo habilis - Homo erectus - Homo sapiens neanderthalensis - Homo sapiens sapiens - Cro-Magnon - Sumer - Ur - Uruk - Gilgamesh - Cuneiform - Rock of Behistun - Ziggurats - Eddubas - Akkad - Sargon I - Babylon - Amorites - The Hanging Gardens of Babylon - Nebuchadrezzar - The Code of Hammurabi - Zoroaster - Zarathustra - Zend Avesta - Ahura Mazda - Ahriman - Darius - Satraps - Cyrus the Great - Medes - Persepolis and Susa - Royal Road - Hattusas - Hittites
2. Egypt: The Gift of the Nile
3. The Hebrews
4. Indian Civilization Through the Mauryan Empire
5. China Through the Han Dynasty
UNIT 1 Focus Readings
1. Zoroastrianism
The Persians also contributed a religion known as Zoroastrianism. The prophet Zarathustra (628-551 BCE), referred to more commonly by the English name Zoroaster, founded Zoroastrianism. The main text we have for this tradition dates from the third century CE and is known as the Zend Avesta. According to this much later text, in his youth, Zoroaster had visions and conversations with divine beings. He became a wandering preacher who urged the Persians to abandon sacrifice to all minor deities, and to be more humane towards animals in sacrifice. He taught a dualist religion, in which good battled evil. Good was symbolized by light while evil was symbolized by darkness. Fire was thought of as divine, since it was a form of light. The god of good was Ahura Mazda, and immortal holy ones or forces of good, such as obedience, truth, law, and immortality, assisted him. His twin, Ahriman, was banished from heaven to hell, where he reigned as the principle of evil. Zoroaster urged the Persians to "turn from the lie (druj) to the Truth (asha)."
Zoroaster taught tht people are creations of the good god, and have the free will to turn either towards good or evil. In the end, humans will be judged according to the Book of Life, in which all deeds are recorded. There was a priesthood known as the Magi, who absolved sins, and meted out atonement and repentance. Some historians argue that the Zoroastrian concept of good vs. evil influenced Christianity, as did its concept of life after death, the importance of good works, and its cult of Magi, who are mentioned in the Christian gospels as among the first visitors to the infant Jesus.
An important tradition within Zoroatrianism was the cult of Mithra. According to legend, mithra was born on December 25, the date of the winter solstice when the sun returns from south of the equator and is reborn. Mithra was sent by Aura Mazda to redeem the earth. After the first century of the Common Era, Mithraism was a widespread cult in ancient Rome, where Mithra was called by the Greek version of the name,Mithras.
Zoroaster taught tht people are creations of the good god, and have the free will to turn either towards good or evil. In the end, humans will be judged according to the Book of Life, in which all deeds are recorded. There was a priesthood known as the Magi, who absolved sins, and meted out atonement and repentance. Some historians argue that the Zoroastrian concept of good vs. evil influenced Christianity, as did its concept of life after death, the importance of good works, and its cult of Magi, who are mentioned in the Christian gospels as among the first visitors to the infant Jesus.
An important tradition within Zoroatrianism was the cult of Mithra. According to legend, mithra was born on December 25, the date of the winter solstice when the sun returns from south of the equator and is reborn. Mithra was sent by Aura Mazda to redeem the earth. After the first century of the Common Era, Mithraism was a widespread cult in ancient Rome, where Mithra was called by the Greek version of the name,Mithras.