Christianity
A Central feature in early Christianity, especially within the Roman Empire. The prison diary of Vibia Perpetua gives an example of their “witness.”
Martyrs
Majority sect within modern Islam. The Arabic word for “tradition.”
Sunnis
This Sanskrit text offered guidance for living within the varna and jatis system, including whom to marry, which profession to follow, and what to eat.
Code of Manu
Historians refer to this period of 25 CE through 235 CE when Rome experienced a relatively peaceful period where trade flourished and the economy thrived as.
Pax Romana
The practice of living without the ties of marriage or family, forsaking earthly luxuries for a life of prayer and study. In Christianity, this practice was first started in Northern Egypt.
Monasticism
Minority tradition within modern Islam that understands succession at the death of Ali that follows Muhammad’s lineage.
Shiites
Religion that is reformed to align with rural and agrarian values. This involved self-sacrifice vegetarianism to stop the sacrifice of animals. Further, this religion created the atma or the eternal self. Atma was represented by Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva—the phases of the universe: birth, existence, and destruction.
Hinduism
Rome's "public thing" was a blend of previous types of city-state political bodies.
Res publica
Centered in Rome, emphasizes the atoning power of Jesus's death.
Roman Catholicism
Core practices and beliefs that unite all Muslims. It includes the Haji to Mecca, paying alms to support the poor, and praying five times a day.
Five Pillars of Islam
King Zheng took this title which means "First August Emperor." This also allowed the mandate of Heaven, founded by the Zhou, to pass onto the Qin ruler.
Shi Huangdi
These surgically castrated men served in several different roles and rose to high levels of military, political, and personal power with them. They were used in the Tang, Ming, Ottoman, and Byzantine empires as well as the Abbasid caliphate
Eunuchs
This emotional and mystical form of Islam was practiced by the masses. While it stresses universal brotherhood, it is also associated with dervishes, repeating repeatedly the name of God, and numerous love poets.
Sufism
Centered in Constantinople, it emphasizes the role of Jesus in helping humans achieve union with God.
Greek Orthodoxy
Islamic polity is chosen either by election from the community (Sunni) or the lineage of Muhammad.
Caliphate
Daily Double:
This new school of religious thought was developed during the Gupta period, which saw a surge of religious enthusiasm.
Chandragupta I ("King of Kings, Great King) (r. c. 320-335 CE,) and his son expanded its territory. This school is known as the "Lesser Vehicle" school. It is a more traditional, conservative branch of this religion. Accepts the divinity of the religion's godhead, however, does not of the bodhisattvas.
Hinayana Buddhism
Daily Double:
This empire controlled vast territory in East Asia from 206 BCE until 220 CE. Started by the Qin Dynasty after they were able to prevail over other rivals during the Warring States period.
Han Empire (Dynasty)
This was created by religious scholars during the Abbasid period. It covers all aspects of practical and spiritual life.
Sharia
Daily Double:
Labeled as "New Rome," and centered in Constantinople by Constantine in 324 CE. Would later be labeled as the "Eastern Roman Empire" which fell to the Ottomans in 1453.
Byzantium
A special tax was imposed on non-Muslims to pay to their Islamic rulers. This provided security for the non-Muslims, who could own property and were allowed cultural/religious autonomy.
Jizya
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This empire was formed by Mande-speaking peoples (originally from between the Senegal and Niger Rivers. It was founded in the early thirteenth century by King Sundiate, however, Mansa Musa (1312-1332) is the most well-known King. Epic tells of his hija and his displays of wealth, most importantly gold.
Mali Empire
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This empire would control parts of Afro-Eurasia from 300 BCE until 300 CE. Known for its violent military expansion and ability to forge an unparalleled number of ethnic groups and minor states into a single political state
The Roman Empire