49 Overview: Religious Culture in the Age of Large Land Empires

Continuing with large land empires, this chapter introduces students to the religious expressions that emerged in the Roman Empire, ancient China, and ancient India as part of the so-called Axial Age from 500 BCE to 500 CE. With respect to Rome, students will examine the state religion that governed the core of the Roman Empire and the peripheral faiths—Judaism, the Mystery Religions, and Christianity—that promised a personalized experience for believers, while also presenting challenges to the public religion. In terms of Chinese civilization, students will study the origins of Confucianism and Daoism, their relationship to the Chinese state, as well as their primary philosophical principles. For India, students will survey the origins and tenets of Hinduism and Buddhism to better understand their influence on Indian culture in antiquity. In addition students will read about events related to the religions that emerged in these three regions; and assess how far concern for human suffering explains the emergence of the new religions between 500 BCE to 500 CE.⁽¹⁾

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this chapter, the student will be able to:

1. 1. Sort events related to religions in the Roman Empire, ancient China, and ancient India.
   2. Identify key historical elements regarding the Roman, ancient Chinese, and ancient Indian religions.
   3. Recognize essential theological and philosophical concepts related to Roman religion, the Chinese religions, and the Indian religions.
   4. Assess how far concern for human suffering explains the emergence of new religions between 500 BCE to 500 CE.⁽¹⁾