AP World History 2012-2013
  • Unit 1
    • 1.1.3: Tools and Adaptation>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.3.9 & 1.3.2: New Religions & Geographies of Early Civs.>
      • Early Religions>
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
        • Works Cited
      • The Early Civilizations>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
        • Works Cited
    • 1.1.2: Humans and Fire>
      • 1.1.4: Economic Structures>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.3.6: Arts & Record Keeping>
      • Arts and Artisanship
      • Systems of Recordkeeping
      • Case Study: The Phoenician Alphabet
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.3.1-1.3.3: Early Culture & Systems of Rule>
      • Culture's Effects
      • Systems of Rule
      • Case Study: Hammurabi's Code
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.1-1.4 Early Human Innovation>
      • 1.1.1: Human Patterns of Migration>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.2.1-1.2.3: The Climate & The Neolithic Era>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.2.5-1.2.6: Reliable Food Sources & Innovation>
      • Case Study - The Plow
      • Works Cited
    • 1.3.1-1.3.2: Pastoralists & Early Architecture>
      • Introduction
      • Monumental Architecture And Urban Planning
      • Pastoralist Weapon Dissemination And Transportation
      • Pastoralist Tools
      • Basic
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Works Cited
  • Unit 2
    • 2.2.5-2.2.7 Social Hierarchy and Gender Roles>
      • Gender Roles>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Social Hierarchies >
        • AGMSPRITE
    • 2.2.4 Cities>
      • Trade>
        • Trade AGMSPRITE
        • Trade Case Study
      • Religious Rituals>
        • Religious Rituals AGMSPRITE
        • Religious Rituals Case Study
      • Public Administration>
        • Public Administration AGMSPRITE
        • Public Administration Case Study
    • 2.2.2 Orchestration of the Persian and S. Asian Empires>
      • Persia>
        • Imperial Administration and Legal Systems
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economic Integration and Regulation
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • South Asia>
        • Imperial Administration and Legal Systems
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economic Integration and Regulation
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 2.2.2 Orchestration of Rome and China>
      • China>
        • Imperial Administration
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economics
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Rome>
        • Imperial Administration
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economics
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 2.2.1: Growth of Empires & States>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 2.1.6 Cultures Of Second Wave Civilizations>
      • Sculptures
      • Architecture
      • Literature
      • A.G.M.S.P.R.I.T.E
      • Sources
    • 2.1.1: Religions as a Bonding Force>
      • The Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Case Study
    • 2.1.4 Buddhism and Hinduism Impact on Gender Roles>
      • Buddhism
    • 2.1.2 The Emergence of Religions>
      • Christianity
      • Confucianism
      • Greco-Roman Philosophy
      • Daoism
      • AGMSPRITE
  • Unit 3
    • 3.1.1 Third Wave Global Trade Routes>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.2 The Impact of trade on emerging trading cities>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.3. Spread of Islam Through Afro-Eurasia>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 3.1.4 Inter-Regional Travelers >
      • The Basic Gist
      • Compare and Contrast
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.5. Cultural Interactions and Art>
      • The Basic Gist
      • Cultural Traditions AGMSPRITE
      • Art AGMSPRITE
      • Literature AGMSPRITE
      • Case Study
    • 3.1.6: The Impact of Newly Spread Technologies and Scientific Knowledge>
      • Basic Gist
      • Movement of Gunpowder from East to West
      • Movement of Printing from East to West
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.7 Inter-Regional Conflicts>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
  • Unit 4
    • 4.1.1. - Influence of Tools Upon Transoceanic Trade>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 4.1.2: Maritime Reconnaissance>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 4.1.3 World Economies>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE analysis
      • Case Study
    • 4.1.4 The Colossal Impact of the Colombian Exchange>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study on Sugar
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis of the East
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis of the West
    • 4.1.5 Government and the Arts>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 4.2.3 Forced Migration of Africans Cause and Effect>
      • Basic Gist
      • Causes of the forced migration of Africans
      • Effects/Developments of the forced migration of Africans
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 4.3.2 Impact of Technology on state consolidation and imperial expansion>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
  • Unit 5
    • 5.3.1 US and Latin American Revolutions >
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 5.3.2b Hatian Revolution>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 5.3.2a: Causes and Effects of French Revolution>
      • Causes of the French Revolution
      • Effects of the French Revolution
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 5.3.2c Causes and Effects of the Mexican Revolution>
      • Basic Gist
      • Causes of the Mexican Revolution
      • Effects of the Mexican Revolution
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 5.3.3: The Winds of Change>
      • Case Study
      • The Conception of Nation-States
      • Nationalism on the Rise
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 5.3.4 Nationalism and Democracy >
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
      • 5.3.5 Enlightenment and European Despots>
        • Basic Gist
  • Unit 6
    • War and Peace in a Global Context>
      • Big Gist>
        • WWI vs WWII
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Changing Economics>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE
      • Case Study
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Demographic and Environmental Changes>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 20th Century Globalization>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Effects of Revolutions on Women>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • New Patterns of Nationalism >
      • Basic Gist
      • Independence of Vietnam Case Study
      • Effects of Communism Case Study
      • Chinese and Russian Revolutions
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Globalization of Science, technology and culture. >
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
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Confucianism
Impact on gender roles
Greco-Roman Philosophy
AGMSPRITE
Christianity
Daoism

Buddhism

By: Karen Angeles

The Emergence of Buddhism

Buddhism emerged around the 6th century B.C.E. in India. It was founded by a Brahman Prince named Siddhartha Gautama. His father, King Shuddodana Gautama, did not allow Siddhartha to venture outside the palace walls for fear that he would become a “great sage” instead of a king. After Siddhartha was born, an augur predicted that Siddhartha would either become a great king or take up a religious life and become the savior of humanity. The king decided that in order to prevent his son from taking up a religious life, Siddhartha would only be exposed to beauty and health, and never to any form of suffering. Tired of his life and feeling like something was missing, Siddhartha ventured outside the palace, and saw for the first time the sick, the old, and they dying. Unhappy and dissatisfied with his privileged life, he left on a search to find a way to avoid suffering. After six years of wandering without finding a solution, he decided to sit under a fig tree for as long as it would take for the answers to come. For 49 days, he sat in deep concentration and in a state of mediation, and finally, “with the rising of the morning star,” Siddhartha understood the reasons for suffering and became the Buddha, or the “enlightened one.”

Picture
Siddhartha at the age of 35, being tempted by Mara, the evil one, while trying to reach enlightenment under the fig tree. Mara first sent an army of demons to frighten Siddhartha, then tried to tempt him by sending his beautiful daughters, and lastly tried to appeal to his pride, all with no avail.

Beliefs and Values

Buddhism is based on the idea of achieving nirvana. Nirvana is the state of liberation from suffering which can be achieved when an individual rids himself or herself from "attachment to desire and the self." Achieving nirvana frees and individual from the cycle of rebirth and reincarnation. Nirvana could be achieved in one lifetime unlike Hinduism, in which an individual can only achieve Moksha after several lifetimes.
The Four Noble Truths
The Four Noble Truths explain the reasons for human suffering.
1. Dukkha: Suffering is real and universal. All life is full of pain and sorrow.
2.  Samudaya: The cause of suffering is negative deeds and mindsets.
3. Nirodha: Suffering can be overcome by letting go of any desires and cravings.
4. Magga: To en suffering, one must follow the Eightfold Path
Picture

The Eightfold Path

One of the Buddha’s principle teachings was the Eightfold Path, which describes the path to achieving nirvana. The Eightfold path calls for:
1. Right Understanding of the Four Noble Truths
2. Right thinking; following the right path in life
3. Right livelihood; support yourself without harming others
4. Right conduct by following the Five Precepts
5. Right speech: no lying, criticism, condemning, gossip, harsh language
6. Right Mindfulness: Become aware of your body, mind and feelings
7. Right Effort: promote good thoughts; conquer evil thoughts
8. Right Concentration: Meditate to achieve a higher state of consciousness

Social Structure

While Buddhism emerged alongside Hinduism, the Buddha did not approve of a social hierarchy. A person whom in Hinduism would belong to the Sudras (servants, laborers, farmers,etc.) had the same chance in Buddhism to achieve nirvana as an elite in the Hindu Brahmin class. This idea of no social classes attracted those in the lower  castes of Hinduism who could only be reborn into  a higher caste if they performed their caste duties well during their lifetime.

Women were another group that was highly attracted to Buddhism because they too could become nuns, unlike Hinduism in which they had little participation in religious rituals. At first, Siddhartha was reluctant to allow women to become Buddhist nuns, but he relented and allowed women to be a part of the Sangha. Buddhism gave women some sort of religious equality  and importance to men, which was rare during those times.

Picture
The social pyramid of Hinduism.

The Spread of Buddhism

There are two main sects of Buddhism: The Theravada and the Mahayana. The Theravada, or the " Traditions of the Elders" saw that Buddha as a man and as an example to follow. The sacred texts of Buddhism, called the Tripitaka, and the monastic rules, known as the Ten Precepts were established by the Theravada. The Theravada spread from India to Southeast Asia towards Thailand and Vietnam. While the Theravada was adapted by different cultures, its basic elements and ideals  remained the same. The  Mahayana, known as "The Great Vehicle" saw the Buddha as a divine man, and they claimed to "provide greater means for reaching Buddhism's goal." The Mahayana spread mostly to the north towards China and Korea.



Picture
Map whowing the spread of Buddhism from India.
Picture
Map showing the spread of Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism.

Sources

"Beyond Perception." Beyond Perception. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://beyondperception86.blogspot.com/>.

Boeree, George C., Dr. "Siddhartha Gautama." The LifeSiddhartha Gautama. Shippensburg University, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/siddhartha.html>.

"Buddhism's Core Beliefs." N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2012. <http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism1.htm>.

 "Organization of Buddhism." Buddhist Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Nov. 2012. <http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/religionet/er/buddhism/BORGS.HTM>.

Strayer, Robert W. "Chapter 5." Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martins, 2011. N. pag. Print.

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