Document 1- Buddhism

The Buddha said : “Should a man seek to do me harm, I will counter with compassion, calmness and joy; The more he approaches me with hate, the more I reach out with kindness. The forces of goodness will be with me, while harmful forces and repeated misfortune will be with the other.”

1. If a man tries to harm Buddha, what will his reaction be?

2. What mood does the sculpture capture?

3. What is one major message that the Buddha tried to spread to everyone, including rulers?

Document 2- Islam

As part of the Islam religion, all true Muslims must perform 5 duties, called the Five Pillars of Faith.

The Five Pillars of Faith

Once a Muslim, each member must carry out five essential duties, called The Five Pillars of Faith. They are listed below:

A. Shahadat - A Muslim must acknowledge that "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet"

B. Salat - A Muslim must pray five times daily facing Mecca: at dawn, at noon, in the midafternoon, at dusk, and after dark.

C. Zakaat or almsgiving - Each Muslim give charity and help the needy. Must pay a zagat to the government.

D. Sawm - A Muslim must fast for the month of Ramadan. During the fasting month, one must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset. E. Hajj - A Muslim must make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Every adult Muslim who is physically and financially able to do so must make this pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime.

1. What duties does each Muslim have according to the 5 pillars?

Document 3 - Christianity

The Roman government saw fit to persecute the Christians from time to time, especially during unsettled periods when a popular reform movement arose to return to the old Roman ways and values. Many condemned Christians to death in the arena or by formal execution for not sharing Roman beliefs.

The crowds who came to witness the games were a different matter altogether. Sometimes they became worked up into a frenzy of hate. They considered the Christians to be antisocial scum and clamored for a painful death for them in the arena, being mauled and torn apart by wild beasts or forced to fight gladiators who killed them for a public spectacle.

1. Who did the Romans persecute?

2. Why did they persecute them?

Document 4 – Silk Road

The business of trade provided the Ancient Culture to interact with people of Central Asia. The new foods such as grapes, walnuts, and garlic provided the people with a reason to trade. The exchange of goods gave rise to a major new trade route known as the Silk Road. The route ran from China to the Mediterranean Sea. It was not a single route, but a series of routes which covered more than 4,000 miles, which the equivalent of a road from Chicago to Hawaii! The road was very dangerous because of thieves and the environment. The road passed through mountains as well as deserts. To travel would be prosperous, but it was also very treacherous. The name “Silk Road” comes from the major good silk which was desired throughout Europe and Asia. China traded the silk which came from worms, for goods that ranged from jewels, horses, and linens. Along with the goods, ideas traveled to China. Buddhism and was brought to China based upon the trade with India. Trade was an important influence on the development of the Ancient Chinese culture.

1. Where did the trade route get the name “Silk Road” from?

2. What were some problems facing traders following the Silk Road?

3. How did trade help Ancient China to develop?

Document 5 - Buddhism Memorial on the Bone of the Buddha By Han Yu

Your servant begs leave to say that Buddhism is no more than a cult of the barbarian peoples, which spread to China in the time of the Latter Han. It did not exist here in ancient times. When Emperor Gaozu [first emperor of the Tang] received the throne from the House of Sui, he deliberated upon the suppression of Buddhism. But at that time the various officials, being of small worth and knowledge, were unable fully to comprehend the ways of the ancient kings and the exigencies of past and present, and so could not implement the wisdom of the emperor and rescue the age from corruption. Thus the matter came to naught, to your servant’s constant regret. Now Buddha was a man of the barbarians who did not speak the language of China and wore clothes of a different fashion. His sayings did not concern the ways of our ancient kings, nor did his manner of dress conform to their laws. He understood neither the duties that bind sovereign and subject nor the affections of father and son.

1. On what grounds does Han Yu criticize Buddhism? Are his arguments rational and valid?

2. If you were a Chinese Buddhist of the Tang period, how would you counter Han Yu’s arguments?

3. If you were not a Buddhist, but nonetheless disagreed with Han Yu, how would you counter his arguments?