Discovering the Humanities THIRD EDITION CHAPTER The Flowering of Religion: Faith and the Power of Belief in the Early First Millennium Discovering the Humanities, Third Edition Henry M Sayre Copyright © 2016, 2013, 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc or its affiliates All Rights Reserved Learning Objectives Examine the impact of Roman rule on Judaic culture Discuss the development of Christianity from its Jewish roots to its rapid spread through the Roman world Learning Objectives Describe the new Byzantine style of art and discuss how it reflects the values of the Byzantine emperors, especially Justinian Outline the principal tenets of the Muslim faith, and account for its rapid spread Characterize the spread of Buddhism from India north into China Closer Look: Dome of the Rock The Dome of the Rock Jerusalem Late 680s–691 A.F Kersting/akg-images [Fig 4.1] The Flowering of Religion • The ambulatory (a circular, colonnaded walkway) of the Dome of the Rock is one of the earliest examples of Muslim architecture The sanctity of this spot at the heart of Jerusalem is recognized equally by the three great faiths of the Western world— Judaism, Christianity, and Islam The Spread of Christianity by 600 [Fig Map 4.1] CE Developments in Judaic Culture • The Jewish religion had become increasingly messianic • A large number of people had proclaimed to be the Messiah • The apocalypse is the Christian understanding of the coming of God (or the Messiah, as in Judaism) on the day of judgment • Sectarianism of Judaism grew The expansion of Islam to 850 [Fig Map 4.2] CE Model of the Second Temple of Jerusalem ca 20 Erich Lessing/akg-images [Fig 4.2] BCE Developments in Judaic Culture • A sect is a small, organized group that separates itself from the larger religious movement because it asserts that it alone understands God's will and therefore it alone embodies the ideals of the religion Islamic Africa • In the eighth and ninth centuries, Muslims came to dominate the transSaharan trade routes, and Islam became the dominant faith in North and West Africa Islamic Africa • Muslims traded in salt, gold, and slaves (Muhammad had authorized the practice of enslaving conquered peoples, with the exception of Muslims) Islamic Africa • In 1312, the Malian ruler Mansa Moussa, a devout Muslim, built the Djingareyber Mosque in Timbuktu • Under Moussa's patronage, Timbuktu grew in wealth and became a center for scholars and the arts Islamic Africa • In 1334, Moussa embarked on a pilgrimage to Mecca • As part of his pilgrimage, Moussa distributed more than two tons of gold among the poor in Egypt Architectural Simulation: Islamic Arches Great Mosque of Córdoba Begun 785, extensions 852, 950, 961–76, and 987 © Bednorz-images, Cologne [Fig 4.21] Islamic Spain • Like Islamic Africa, Islamic Spain maintained its own indigenous traditions, thus creating a distinctive cultural and political life • The Umayyad caliph Abd ar-Rahman (r 756–788) built a magnificent new mosque in Córdoba • Under the Umayyad caliphs, Muslim Spain thrived intellectually Islamic Spain • Religious tolerance was extended to all (however, Muslims were exempt from taxes, while Christians and Jews were not) • By the time of Abd ar-Rahman III (r 912–961), Córdoba had grown into the most important center of Learning in Europe The Great Mosque of Córdoba • The Umayyad caliph Abd ar-Rahman (r 756–788) built a magnificent new mosque in Córdoba • Under the Umayyad caliphs, Muslim Spain thrived intellectually • Religious tolerance was extended to all (however, Muslims were exempt from taxes, while Christians and Jews were not) The Great Mosque of Córdoba • By the time of Abd ar-Rahman III (r 912–961), Córdoba had grown into the most important center of learning in Europe • The mosque-affiliated madrasa that Abd ar-Rahman III founded was the earliest example of an institution of higher learning in the Western world The Spread of Buddhism • By 600 CE, Buddhism had reached from from India through Asia and all the way to Japan • In early Buddhist art, the Buddha was never shown in figural form • By the fourth century, the Buddha was commonly represented in human form A mudra is a symbolic hand gesture of the Buddha seen in art The spread of Buddism, 500 BCE–11th century [Fig Map 4.4] CE Colossal Buddha, Bamiyan, Afghanistan ca third century CE Stone Height: 175' © Ian Griffiths/Robert Harding World Imagery/Corbis [Fig 4.22] Closer Look: Large Seated Buddha at Yungang Large Seated Buddha with Standing Bodhisattva, from cave 20, Yungang, Shaanxi, China, Northern Wei dynasty ca 460– 70 CE Stone Height 44' © Wolfgang Kaehler/Corbis [Fig 4.23] Continuity & Change • Islam is often considered outside the Western tradition, but it is a fundamental part of the Western heritage, particularly concerning music, poetry, and architecture • But in its insistence that Jesus was a "mere" prophet and not the son of God, Islam inevitably came into conflict with the Christian West Saint Mark's Cathedral, Venice, west facade 1063–94, with decorations added for centuries after [Fig 4.24] ... become increasingly messianic • A large number of people had proclaimed to be the Messiah • The apocalypse is the Christian understanding of the coming of God (or the Messiah, as in Judaism) on the. .. Characterize the spread of Buddhism from India north into China Closer Look: Dome of the Rock The Dome of the Rock Jerusalem Late 680s–691 A.F Kersting/akg-images [Fig 4.1] The Flowering of Religion • The. .. of judgment • Sectarianism of Judaism grew The expansion of Islam to 850 [Fig Map 4.2] CE Model of the Second Temple of Jerusalem ca 20 Erich Lessing/akg-images [Fig 4.2] BCE Developments in