1. Chapter 3 Test Corrections

2. Questions about Caste System  Aryans used color of skin, also known as Varna, to implement racism  Highest caste was for priests, then warriors, then traders/merchants, and peasants  Lowest caste, actually considered outside of the Caste system: the untouchables-this group still exists today.

3. Hinduism  Hindus share a common worldview  It is negative, they do not see much positivity in this world  They believe in reincarnation, whereby the soul is born again and again until moksha/liberation is achieved  The end goal is moksha-liberation from this world and a release from its evils-this process takes many lifetimes-reincarnation critical  Sacred Hindu texts are in Upanishads and the Vedas  Hindus believe in the caste system and support it  You are in a lower or higher class because of karma and what you did in your past life  Hindus believe in the atman (individual soul) and brahman (world soul)  Jainism-another religion at this time-nonviolence and nonconversion

4. Buddhism  Sidarthura Gautama-the Buddha-negative worldview as well  Believes in enlightenment (wisdom/knowledge) which is obtained through meditation  Four Noble Truths about life’s existence-life is full of suffering, desire, etc.-use the Noble Eightfold Path to reach enlightenment which will finally result in nirvana  Do not believe in the caste system  Does not become very popular in India, however, missionaries and traders spread it and it becomes very popular throughout East Asia

5. Judaism  Find the history of the Jewish people in the Torah/Old Testament  Abraham-original prophet of Judaism from Ur  Goes to Canann-God tells him to go there-mainly desert  Later settle in Egypt, are put into slavery-flee Egypt in the Exodus  Their leader is Moses-Ten Commandments-new covenant with the Jewish people  Wander for 40 years-arrive back in Canaan-originally 12 tribes  Later unite under Kingdom of Israel, with Saul, David, and Solomon  The kingdom crumbles after death of Solomon-have Israel in North and Judah in the South  Are expelled from their homeland by the Babylonians-Cyrus lets some return  Overall, biggest problem for Jews throughout history has been the struggle to find a homeland