AP test-page 1

Question 1

Who is the founder of Hinduism, how old is it, where is it, and is it polytheistic or monotheistic?

Answer 1

No known founder, oldest continuing religion (2500 BCE), mostly in India. Most say it is polytheistic, but some are mono because Brahman is kind of like a god.

Question 2

What are the Hindu and Buddhist ideas of karma and reincarnation

Answer 2

Karma=rewards or punishments based on your actions
Reincarnation=being born again. A new life’s status is based on previous karma.

Question 3

What is Moksha about and how does it relate to the idea of Brahman?

Answer 3

Moksha is the goal of all Hindus. Reincarnation stops and one’s spirit is one with Brahman

Question 4

What was India’s caste system about?

Answer 4

Rigidly structured society based on occupation but commonly identifiable by skin color. People were expected to live, work, and marry within their caste. (Priest, warrior, farmer/merchant, laborer/peasant, outcastes)

Question 5

Who is the founder of Buddhism, how old is it, where did it spread to, and is it poly or mono?

Answer 5

Siddhartha Guatama, around 530 BCE, spread mostly through trading routes from India to Southeast Asia and East Asia, only major religion that doesn’t have any gods

Question 6

How does a Buddhist reach enlightenment?

Answer 6

Accept the 4 noble truths (life is suffering) and the noble eightfold path(free one’s self from desires)

Question 7

What are some differences between branches of Buddhism?

Answer 7

Mahayana: compassion is the ultimate virtue, no one can become enlightened until we all are, Buddha was more than a man
Theravada: Buddha was just a man, wisdom is the ultimate virtue, only monks can become enlightened, monks wear orange
Vajrayana: lots of mysticism, Dalai Lama is the leader of the yellow hat sect, monks wear red
Zen: silent meditation, believe in sudden enlightenment

Question 8

Who is a bodhisattva?

Answer 8

Someone who can reach enlightenment but chooses to help others out of compassion, like Buddha

Question 9

Who is the founder of Judaism, how old is it, and is it poly or mono?

Answer 9

Abraham was the first prophet, 1800 BC, mono

Question 10

Why are the 10 commandments important to Judaism?

Answer 10

If the Hebrew/Jewish people follow the commandments, they will be protected by God

Question 11

Who is the founder of Christianity, how old, poly or mono?

Answer 11

Jesus Christ, 33 AD, mono but has 3 parts

Question 12

What does the Bible consist of, how are the parts different, who wrote it?

Answer 12

Old testament (written by Jews), new testament (written by Christians). Old testament=destructive, punishing god. NT=loving and forgiving god. At least 40 authors wrote it

Question 13

What do Christians believe in the afterlife, and how do you get to each?

Answer 13

Heaven(accept Jesus, get required sacraments, be forgiven of sins or breaking commandments), purgatory (holding ground), hell

Question 14

Why has Christianity been so popular over the years?

Answer 14

Communicate to God through prayer
Loving and forgiving god
Promise of heaven/fear of hell
People are equal in the eyes of God
Easy to become
Sense of purpose in life
Motivated missionaries

Question 15

What was the political relationship between the Roman empire and Christianity?

Answer 15

Jesus was Jewish in the outer reaches of the Roman empire
Some Roman emperors saw Christianity as a threat and persecuted them
In 313, emperor Constantine legalized Christianity with the Edict if Milan
In 380, emperor Theodosius required Christianity

Question 16

When was the medieval/middle ages

Answer 16

476 CE (fall of rome and western Roman empire)-1453(fall of Constantinople/Byzantine/Eastern roman empire)

Question 17

In medieval Europe, it is said that men either fought, prayed or worked. What do each mean?

Answer 17

Fought: Knight-2% of population. Had to be in nobility
Prayed: Church worker-10%
Worked: peasants and skilled people-80%

Question 18

What was the labor system of serfdom about?

Answer 18

Serfs had to work on a plot of land for their lord in exchange for food, shelter, and military protection. Black plague ended it in Western Europe, but it continued until the 1800d in Eastern Europe/Russia

Question 19

Based on loyalty, what was the social system of feudalism like in medieval Europe?

Answer 19

Monarch: king/queen - owns land
Lords/nobility: oversees lands in exchange for providing military service
Serfs: live in nobles’ land in exchange for housing, food and protection

Question 20

European Knights’ code of chivalry?

Answer 20

Committed to a warrior code which committed them to practice Christianity, protect woman and the weak, and we’re to act like gentlemen. These were the ideals but also lots of corruption

Question 21

What sorts of people were picked on in medieval Europe?

Answer 21

Jews, witches, heretics, lepers

Question 22

Why did Europeans often target Jews?

Answer 22

Minority and couldn’t defend themselves
“Traitors” who didn’t accept Jesus as the son of God and were seen as untrustworthy
Used as scapegoats
“Greedy” and practiced usury (loans with interest). Banking was sinful to Christians
Blood libel and other false rumors about Jewish practices

Question 23

How did the Catholic church get so powerful by the late middle ages in Europe?

Answer 23

Tithe
Donations of money and land
Payment to monks or nuns for prayer
Each sacrament required a priest and money
“Good works” were required and money/land was a common substitute
“Indulgences” the late middle age were sold to bypass purgatory and go to heaven