why study history?

Why Study History?

Why do we study history?

“Whoever wishes to forsee the future must consult the past; for human events ever resemble those of preceding times. This arises from the fact that they are produced by men who ever have been, and ever shall be, animated by the same passions, and thus they necessarily have the same results”Machiavelli

Reasons to Study History•1. So that we won't repeat the mistakes of

the past▫But we still do. Shouldn’t war be gone by

now?•2. So we can know something of the future

▫but it cannot reveal the future•3. History helps us understand people and

societies▫The more we know about other cultures the

more successful we will be.

Continued•4. History provides identity

▫The more we know ourselves the more successful we will be.

•5. History contributes to moral understanding▫helps us to figure out right and wrong.

•6. History helps us understand change and how the society we live in came to be

•7. History helps us to be good citizens

Even history has a history!•And that can be a problem

▫Bias▫Perspective▫Generalizations▫Skeptic

What Makes a Civilization?8 Characteristics

•Cities – we now have time to build since we have a surplus of food (not subsistence) 

•Organized Governments – oversee community projects, and food supply (priests, military, and then hereditary)

Cont• Complex Religion – the first to emerge were Polytheistic or a religion that believes in many gods 

•Job Specialization – examples are artisan, skilled craftworkers, bricklayers, merchants, etc.

Cont•Social Classes – Most often ranked according to job (Priests and Nobles, Wealthy Merchants, Artisans, Peasants, Slaves)

•Arts and Architecture – it expresses belief and values of who created it

•Public Works – Irrigation systems, roads, bridges, and walls.

•Writing Systems

Which is most important?

World ReligionsJudaismChristianityIslam

JudaismI. History

A. 4000 years ago. B. Oldest monotheistic religion.C. Born into faithD. 15 million. Half are in the US. A

quarter in Israel

II. AbrahamA. Abraham- FounderB. Convinced in worshiping one God rather

than idols. (Idol smashing story) He has a son Isaac who he is supposed to sacrifice for God. God was simply testing Abraham and let him sacrifice a sheep instead.

C. Abraham’s grandson Jacob, son of Isaac has 12 sons which lead the 12 tribes of Israel (Look at Abraham family Tree)

III. One GodA. Jehovah/Yahweh is one and only God.

He is divine.B. Prophets were messengers sent to

reveal the will of Yahweh. C. Greatest prophet was Moses. D. Leads people out of slavery in Egypt.E. Went up to Mt. Sinai on the Sinai

Peninsula and brings down the 10 Commandments

Moses and the 10 Commandments

IV. Torah

A. Torah are the teachings- First 5 books of the bible. Instructions God gave to Moses.

B. They believe the Messiah will come.

V. Beliefs

A. Rabbi- Expert Jewish teacherB. Language- HebrewC. Worship- Synagogue, Daily prayer D. Orthodox- Go to Mass, men women

separate in HebrewE. Non-Orthodox- More modern, make it fit

your life. Men women sit together and worship in English 

F. Sabbath- holy day from sunset Friday through Saturday (day of rest)

Kosher Foods

VI. FoodA. Food- Kosher- Only animals that chew their cud and have cloven hooves are Kosher. Seafood must have fins and scales.

Orthodox Jews

VII. Jewish SectsA. Orhodox- most conservative, daily

worship, dietary laws, separation of women at synagogue, study of torah.1. Hasidic- Subgroup of Orthodox, distinctive style of dress, full beards, hats, dark clothes

B. Conservative- more moderate, agree to follow laws, but many don’t

C. Reform- most liberal, women can be Rabbi’s, open to interfaith families, gay/lesbian.

Christianity

I. History

A. Originated in the Middle East. Turn of BCE/CE Birth of Jesus.

B. Over 2 billion followers. #1

C. Background

1. Jesus Christ son of God, God on Earth2. Sporadic persecution of Christians took place in

Rome until 313CE. Emperor Constatine promoted Christianity for use by his military.

3. By the year 1000 CE, most of Europe was Christian.

4. In 1054, the church in the East split away from the church in the West—The Great Schism

5. The Protestant movement began in 1517 and over the next 300 years, many groups split away from the original church.

Ascension and Trinity

II. BeliefsA. One God: Monotheistic- Trinity:

Father, Son, Holy Spirit B. Jesus was Prophet/MessiahC. Holy Book is the Bible- New and

Old Testament (Torah)D. Holidays like Christmas and Easter

III. WorshipA. Holy Place: ChurchB. Leadership

Catholic- Pope, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests. Protestant Probably the most different thing about most

Protestant churches- how they organize themselves. Most have bishops, but there is not the distinction of Clergy and Lay people like in the Catholic Religion.

C. SacramentsCatholic: Sacraments: 7- Baptism, Confession,

Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick

▫ Protestant Sacraments: Varies. Generally Baptism and Communion- though this is ceremonial, sometimes Confirmation

IV. Christian SectsA. Catholic- teaching of Jesus based

on traditionB. Orthodox (Eastern Orthodox)-Great

Schism (1054) 3 Popes and much confusion, split Catholic into two creating their own church of the East

C. Protestant- large number of different churches grew from Reformation 1517

Connections1. Judaism- Abraham, Isaac, Jesus, Torah

2. Areas of influence- New Testament, fasting

3. Other connections…….

Islam

I. History

A. Located in Middle East/ Arabian Peninsula

B. 1.5 Billion Muslims

C. Background1. Muhammad was an Arab trader who was told by the Angel Gabriel to proclaim

2. Muhammad is the Prophet3. Muhammad is forced to flee Mecca to Medina because he is becoming to powerful

4. Comes back to Mecca and this pilgrimage becomes known as the Hajj

II. BeliefsA. Allah is the one and only God,

Muhammad is the Prophet B. Mecca is the holy city where

Muslims believe Abraham was tested by Allah to kill is son Ishmael.

C. The Kaaba marks this holy place.D. The Qur’an is the Holy Text written

by Muhammad’s followers after his death

III. WorshipA. The Five Pillars of Islam

1. Recital of the words2. Prayer- 5 times per day3. Charity/Alms giving4. Fasting- Ramadan5. Pilgrimage to Mecca- once during

lifetimeB. Mosque and ImamC. Must study/read the Qur’an

Halal• Islam has laws regarding which foods can and cannot be eaten and also on the proper method of

slaughtering an animal for consumption, known as dhabihah. However if there is no other food available then a Muslim is allowed to eat non-Halal food.[3] Surah 2:173 states:

• If one is forced because there is no other choice, neither craving nor transgressing, there is no sin in him. Indeed, Allah is forgiving, merciful

• [edit]Explicitly forbidden substances• A variety of substances are considered as harmful (haraam) for humans to consume and,

therefore, forbidden as per various Quranic verses:• Pork meat (i.e., flesh of pig)[Qur'an 2:173].• Blood[Qur'an 2:173].• All carnivores and birds of prey.• Animals slaughtered in the name of anyone but Allah. All that has been dedicated or offered in

sacrifice to an idolatrous altar or saint or a person considered to be "divine"[Qur'an 2:173] [Qur'an 5:3].• Carrion[Qur'an 2:173].• An animal that has been strangled, beaten (to death), killed by a fall, gored (to death), savaged

by a beast of prey (except that which you may have slaughtered while it was still alive)[Qur'an 5:3].• The fish must die out of water and because of natural suffocation in the free air, on the ground or

on the deck of the fishing boat. Otherwise, it's not halal.• Food over which Allah's name is not pronounced[Qur'an 6:121].• Alcohol and other intoxicants[Qur'an 5:90-91].• All these substances may be consumed as last options in life-threatening situations.

Light Green Sunni, Dark Green Shiite

 IV. SectsA. Sunni- 85%-90%B. Shiite- 10%-15% Iran and

Lebanon--Jihad- Literally Holy War

Connections