Anita Ravi, Big History Project, adapted by Newsela staff
100
Is the following statement true or false?
All ancient civilizations had some form of a religion.
True
100
What is our school wide concept for this unit?
Responsibility
200
What had the author researched in the past?
She researched ancient civilizations to see what they had in common.
200
What world religions are discussed in the article?
Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam
200
How does our SS unit connect to the school wide concept?
Our unit is about the religions that developed in the eastern hemisphere. We'll be trying to uncover how responsible religions were for the growth of ancient civilizations of the eastern hemisphere.
300
What's the author's purpose?
The author's purpose to explain why all civilizations had some form of religion and explain why they spread.
300
How did the growth of trade between civilizations impact religion?
It allowed religious ideas to be shared more easily.
300
What is the difference between a religion and a belief system?
A religion is an organized set of beliefs that includes the practice of ceremonies and praying to a one or more gods. A belief system is more loosely constructed and has ideas that its followers hold true, but do not necessarily practice in the same way.
400
The author discusses a claim about world religions made by the historians J.R. and William McNeil, what is their claim?
Their claim is that world religions were portable and thus able to spread easily.
400
What does portable religion mean?
It means that the religion is capable of being practiced in any location.
500
Why did city dwellers, especially the poor benefit from the spread of religions?
Religion could give meaning and value to ordinary lives despite daily contact with uncaring strangers.
500
What do the world religions of this text have in common?
These religions have some common features: a founding man who receives the word of God; a key text or texts that define man’s relationship with God; recommended ways of living and worshipping; people coming together regularly to have God’s word explained to them; and a path to changing oneself and the saving of one's soul, or eternal salvation.