ANCIENT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

Prehistoric Religious Practices How do we know what was practiced

tens of thousands of years ago? We look at archaeological findings (like rock

paintings, sculptures, tools, and home structure) and speculate based on what indigenous belief systems are like today

Shamanism

Not a unified faith Describes a diverse set of practices View of the world and beyond:

Our life on earth can be affected by the spirit world

TERM: Shamans are men or women who can interact with the spirit world while they are in a trance

Places: China, Japan, Siberia, Alaska to South America

https://www.youtube.com/

watch?v=XOvQOnjA-5A

(1:18)

Animism (TERM)

an·i·mism  (n-mzm)n. 1. The belief in the existence of individual

spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena.

2. The belief in the existence of spiritual beings that are separable or separate from bodies.

3. The hypothesis holding that an immaterial force animates the universe

Ancient Chinese Religion: http://www.history.com/videos/religions-of-

ancient-china#religions-of-ancient-china

Totems (TERM)

Often associated with Native American beliefs

An animal or other figure that represents the spirit of a group of people (like a family)

Famous Ancient Sites Believed to be Religious in Nature

Ancient Egypt

Time: 3100-323 BCE Place: Nile River/ cycle of life and death

influenced Egyptian beliefs. Nile Valley was long and needed a strong

central ruling center – religion and pharaohs provided this

Leaders: Pharaohs were linked with sun god, Ra and thought to be immortal Mummification

Gods: Multiple gods for multiple purposes Childbirth, passage into next world, fertility, etc.

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=250777

http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-egypt/videos#journey-to-the-afterlife

Zoroastrianism

Time: 600 BCE – 600ish CE Place: Persia (Iran) Leaders: Prophet Zoroaster Gods: Two (good and evil) who constantly

battle Fate of people: depends on choice of the

two gods based on a person’s good deeds

Influenced Judaism and Christianity Angels, heaven and hell, good and evil

Greek and Roman Religions