Changes

:The Han empire was replaced by the Three Kingdoms until China was reunited under the Sui dynasty in A.D. 589.  

:The Han empire was replaced by the Three Kingdoms until China was reunited under the Sui dynasty in A.D. 589.  

2. List the major ancient empires of India, including the time periods and major leaders.

2. List the major ancient empires of India, including the time periods and major leaders.

:The first civilization in India was the Indus Valley or Harappan Civilization, 3000 B.C. to 1300 B.C. After that came the Vedic civilization, until about 500 B.C. The classical Indian empires were the Mauryan Empire (322-185 B.C., named after its founder Chandragupta Mauryan) and the Gupta Empire (A.D. 320-467, named after its founder, Chandra Gupta I). An important leader of the Mauryan era was Ashoka, who was a Buddhist but tolerated other religions.

:The first civilization in India was the Indus Valley or Harappan Civilization, 3000 B.C. to 1300 B.C. After that came the Vedic civilization, until about 500 B.C. The classical Indian empires were the Mauryan Empire (322-185 B.C., named after its founder Chandragupta Mauryan) and the Gupta Empire (A.D. 320-467, named after its founder, Chandra Gupta I). An important leader of the Mauryan era was Ashoka, who was a Buddhist but tolerated other religions.

3. Explain what this is:   

3. Explain what this is:   

<br>[[Image:Yin yang.jpg]]

<br>[[Image:Yin yang.jpg]]

:This symbol is called the "Taijitu" and represents "Yin" and "Yang", major principles or forces of the Taoist religion. "Yin" is seen as feminine, passive or negative and is represented by the dark side. "Yang" is seen as masculine, active or positive and is represented by the bright side. These principles are complementary, and their harmonization is the basic goal of Taoism.  

:This symbol is called the "Taijitu" and represents "Yin" and "Yang", major principles or forces of the Taoist religion. "Yin" is seen as feminine, passive or negative and is represented by the dark side. "Yang" is seen as masculine, active or positive and is represented by the bright side. These principles are complementary, and their harmonization is the basic goal of Taoism.  

4. Pick one of the religions in this week's lecture and discuss it, including where it fits in as to popularity and influence among all the world religions.

4. Pick one of the religions in this week's lecture and discuss it, including where it fits in as to popularity and influence among all the world religions.

:Christianity is one of the major religions in the world. It is the dominant religion in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Oceania, Africa (except for the Muslim countries in the north) and parts of East Asia. All the other major religions are more restricted geographically: Islam is dominant in North Africa, the Middle East and central Asia, Hinduism is important in India, Buddhism in parts of East Asia.  

:Christianity is one of the major religions in the world. It is the dominant religion in North and South America, Europe, Australia, Oceania, Africa (except for the Muslim countries in the north) and parts of East Asia. All the other major religions are more restricted geographically: Islam is dominant in North Africa, the Middle East and central Asia, Hinduism is important in India, Buddhism in parts of East Asia.  

5. Which intellectual insight or breakthrough discussed in this week's lecture is most important, and why?

5. Which intellectual insight or breakthrough discussed in this week's lecture is most important, and why?

:In general, I find it hard to pick superlatives - history and reality are rarely so clear cut that one can easily pick one "most important". I'll pick the discovery of the concept of zero by the Indians. Understanding "zero" is an essential prerequisite for higher mathematics. Without it, mathematics could not have developed as it has and our world would look quite different.  

:In general, I find it hard to pick superlatives - history and reality are rarely so clear cut that one can easily pick one "most important". I'll pick the discovery of the concept of zero by the Indians. Understanding "zero" is an essential prerequisite for higher mathematics. Without it, mathematics could not have developed as it has and our world would look quite different.  

6. Write an essay of 150 words or more on any topic related to this week's lecture, or enter 3 key terms in the Study Guide with descriptions.

6. Write an essay of 150 words or more on any topic related to this week's lecture, or enter 3 key terms in the Study Guide with descriptions.

H1. Write an essay as requested in question 6, but make it 500 or more words (or add 6 key terms in the Study Guide with descriptions).

H1. Write an essay as requested in question 6, but make it 500 or more words (or add 6 key terms in the Study Guide with descriptions).

:Upanishads, Vandals, Herodotus, Marcus Aurelius, Neolithic Age, Nerva

:Upanishads, Vandals, Herodotus, Marcus Aurelius, Neolithic Age, Nerva

H2. Discuss a difference between a belief system and a religion, in your view, and give some examples from this week's lecture.

H2. Discuss a difference between a belief system and a religion, in your view, and give some examples from this week's lecture.

:While homeschooling is undeniably very important today to counteract the biases and dangers inherent in the centralized public school system, I'm afraid I fail to see the importance of homeschooling in the case of Mark. After all, at the time that he was homeschooled there was no public school system as there is nowadays. The importance in his case was that he was schooled at all, which was certainly not the case for the majority of kids at the time. In Rome, I know that most of the kids in wealthy families were homeschooled, mostly by slaves, often of Greek origin. I suppose that the situation in Israel was similar, and that the majority of the poorer kids were not schooled at all. Hence, the principal merit of Mark's mother lies in the fact that she provided for any education for Mark at all, thus enabling him to write his marvellous Gospel.

:While homeschooling is undeniably very important today to counteract the biases and dangers inherent in the centralized public school system, I'm afraid I fail to see the importance of homeschooling in the case of Mark. After all, at the time that he was homeschooled there was no public school system as there is nowadays. The importance in his case was that he was schooled at all, which was certainly not the case for the majority of kids at the time. In Rome, I know that most of the kids in wealthy families were homeschooled, mostly by slaves, often of Greek origin. I suppose that the situation in Israel was similar, and that the majority of the poorer kids were not schooled at all. Hence, the principal merit of Mark's mother lies in the fact that she provided for any education for Mark at all, thus enabling him to write his marvellous Gospel.

:Being a teenager certainly helped John to adopt the teachings of Jesus because his mind was fresh and free of the prejudices that often impede older minds. He is also a prime example of what teenagers are able to achieve (compare Conservapedia's article on [[Great Achievements by Teenagers]]).

:Being a teenager certainly helped John to adopt the teachings of Jesus because his mind was fresh and free of the prejudices that often impede older minds. He is also a prime example of what teenagers are able to achieve (compare Conservapedia's article on [[Great Achievements by Teenagers]]).