Adrian Avelin R.

Arcilla BM-2

Characteristics of civilization

A civilization is a complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a

number of common elements. Historians have identified the basix characteristics of
civilizations. Six if the most important characteristics are: cities, government, religion,
social structure, writing, and art and architecture.

Cities- Cities grew on rivers and bodies of water where people could carry on large
scale farming or could fish for food. As the population grew, villages became towns and
towns became cities, and surplus goods could be used in trade. Cities were centers of
population, culture, and trade.

Government- Government organizes and regulates human activity. Government

provides smooth interaction between groups and people. Early governments were led
by monarchs who organized armies to defend the people and they made laws to
regulate their subjects lives.

Religion- Religion explains the forces of nature and their roles in the world, why thing are the
way they are, and provide values for living. Early civilizations religions were connected to the
rulers who claimed that their power was based on divine approval or they themselves were
divine.

Social Structure- Social structure gives civilization a framework for peoples' roles in the
society. Rulers and an upper class of priests, government officials, and warriors
dominated the society. Below them a large group of free people - farmers, artisans, and
craftspeople - grew food and made necessary items for the society. The upper classes
wanted luxury items which encouraged artisans, and they bought food from the farmers.
The population growing created trade of goods for raw materials

Writing- Writing was used to keep records of history and important matters. Eventually
writing was also used for creative expression and produced literature.

Art and Architecture- Architecture was used to build temples for worship or sacrifice
and palaces and tombs for kings. Painters and artists portrayed stories of nature and
depicted gods and rulers.
Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization was an ancient civilization located in what is Pakistan
and northwest India today, on the fertile flood plain of the Indus River and its vicinity.
Evidence of religious practices in this area date back approximately to 5500 BCE.
Farming settlements began around 4000 BCE and around 3000 BCE there appeared the
first signs of urbanization. By 2600 BCE, dozens of towns and cities had been
established, and between 2500 and 2000 BCE the Indus Valley Civilization was at its
peak.

Two cities, in particular, have been excavated at the sites of Mohenjo-Daro on the lower
Indus, and at Harappa, further upstream. The evidence suggests they had a highly
developed citylife; many houses had wells and bathrooms as well as an elaborate
underground drainage system. The social conditions of the citizens were comparable to
those in Sumeria and superior to the contemporary Babylonians and Egyptians. These
cities display a well-planned urbanization system.

Dharma, Sanskrit dharma, Pali dhamma, key concept with multiple meanings
in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
In Hinduism, dharma is the religious and moral law governing individual conduct and is
one of the four ends of life. In addition to the dharma that applies to everyone
(sadharana dharma)—consisting of truthfulness, non-injury, and generosity, among
other virtues—there is also a specific dharma (svadharma) to be followed according to
one’s class, status, and station in life. Dharma constitutes the subject matter of
the Dharma-sutras, religious manuals that are the earliest source of Hindu law, and in
the course of time has been extended into lengthy compilations of law, the Dharma-
shastra.
In Buddhism, dharma is the doctrine, the universal truth common to all individuals at all
times, proclaimed by the Buddha. Dharma, the Buddha, and the sangha (community of
believers) make up the Triratna, “Three Jewels,” to which Buddhists go for refuge. In
Buddhist metaphysics the term in the plural (dharmas) is used to describe the
interrelated elements that make up the empirical world.
In Jain philosophy, dharma, in addition to being commonly understood as moral virtue,
also has the meaning—unique to Jainism—of an eternal “substance” (dravya), the
medium that allows beings to move.
“Dharma” means “protection”. By practising Buddha’s teachings we protect ourself from suffering and
problems. All the problems we experience during daily life originate in ignorance, and the method for
eliminating ignorance is to practise Dharma. Practising Dharma is the supreme method for improving the
quality of our human life. The quality of life depends not upon external development or material progress,
but upon the inner development of peace and happiness. For example, in the past many Buddhists lived
in poor and underdeveloped countries, but they were able to find pure, lasting happiness by practising
what Buddha had taught.

The Vedas (/ˈveɪdəz, ˈviː-/;[1] Sanskrit: वेद veda, "knowledge") are a large body of
religious texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts
constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the
oldest scriptures of Hinduism.[2][3] Hindus consider the Vedas to be apauruṣeya, which
means "not of a man, superhuman"[4] and "impersonal, authorless".[5][6][7]
Vedas are also called śruti ("what is heard") literature,[8] distinguishing them from other
religious texts, which are called smṛti ("what is remembered"). The Veda, for orthodox
Indian theologians, are considered revelations seen by ancient sages after intense
meditation, and texts that have been more carefully preserved since ancient
times.[9][10] In the Hindu Epic the Mahabharata, the creation of Vedas is credited
to Brahma.[11] The Vedic hymns themselves assert that they were skillfully created
by Rishis (sages), after inspired creativity, just as a carpenter builds a chariot. [10][note 1]
According to tradition, Vyasa is the compiler of the Vedas, who arranged the four kinds
of mantras into four Samhitas.[13][14] There are four Vedas: the Rigveda, the Yajurveda,
the Samaveda and the Atharvaveda.[15][16] Each Veda has been subclassified into four
major text types – the Samhitas (mantras and benedictions), the Aranyakas (text on
rituals, ceremonies, sacrifices and symbolic-sacrifices), the Brahmanas (commentaries
on rituals, ceremonies and sacrifices), and the Upanishads (texts discussing meditation,
philosophy and spiritual knowledge).[15][17][18] Some scholars add a fifth category –
the Upasanas (worship).[19][20]
The various Indian philosophies and denominations have taken differing positions on
the Vedas. Schools of Indian philosophy which cite the Vedas as their scriptural
authority are classified as "orthodox" (āstika).[note 2] Other śramaṇa traditions, such
as Lokayata, Carvaka, Ajivika, Buddhism and Jainism, which did not regard the Vedas
as authorities, are referred to as "heterodox" or "non-orthodox" (nāstika)
schools.[22][23] Despite their differences, just like the texts of the śramaṇa traditions, the
layers of texts in the Vedas discuss similar ideas and concepts.[22]

The Gods and Goddesses

Sri Lakshmi: also called Sri or Sri Lakshni is an important goddess. Lakshmi is the god
of everything. She as the power behind Lord Vishnu, aids in the preservation of the
world.
Parvati: Parvati means a daughter of the Himalayas. The wife of Shiva, Shiva is one of
the three main gods of the Hindus. She rides on a tiger or a lion.
Saraswati: The goddess of speech and learning. She has four arms. In her hands, she
holds a book, a rosary, a pot of water, and a lute. In ancient times, there was also a
river named the Saraswati river. The river dried up long ago. This river was also
considered a form of this goddess.
Sita Sita: The most popular goddesses of Hindus. She is marred to Rama.
Radha: The goddesses of riches and success.
Durga Durga: Is one of the most powerful goddesses. She has the powers of all the
male gods combined.
Kali Kali: One of the main goddesses of Hindus. She is a very powerful goddess.
Sometimes she is also called Chandi. Durga and kali together killed many asuras
(demons) who used to hurt people.
The big three
God Brahma- creator of the entire universe
God Vishnu- The preserver of the universe
God Shiva- The destroyer and has the power of his 3rd eye

The Major Religions of Asia

Rank Religion Population (%)

1 Hinduism 25.3

2 Islam 24.3

3 Unaffiliated 21.2

4 Buddhists 11.9

5 Folk Religions 9.0

6 Christian 7.1

7 Other 1.3

Hinduism

Hinduism is one of the oldest and largest religions in Asia with over a billion followers.
Over 25% of the people living in Asia are followers of Hinduism. It is subdivided into
numerous denominations with the key ones being Shaktism, Smartism, Shaivism, and
Vaishnavism. Hinduism predates all recorded history and is believed to have begun
during the Indus Valley Civilization era. Hinduism does not have a single founder.
Instead, it is a blend of lineages, practices, and traditions which have been practiced for
centuries. Various significant religions like Sikhism and Jainism can trace their origin
from Hinduism. It is the main religion in Bali (83.5%), Nepal (81%), and India (80%) with
strong minorities in various Asian states like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Bangladesh,
Malaysia, Indonesia, and Bhutan.
Islam

Islam is the most prominent religion in Asia with over 1.1 billion followers. It is an
Abraham religion whose followers adhere to the teachings of Mohammad (God’s last
prophet). These teachings are articulated in the Qur’an. Southeast Asia and South Asia
are home to some of the most populous Islamic nations like Bangladesh, India,
Pakistan, and Indonesia with each having over a hundred million Muslims. In central
Asia; Uzbekistan and Afghanistan are the two countries with the largest Muslim
population, while the non-Arab nations of Turkey and Iran have the highest number of
Muslims in Western Asia. Some of the 23 major Muslim countries in Asia include
Lebanon, Oman, Yemen, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, and Qatar among others. Bangladesh is
90% Muslim, Pakistan is 97% Muslim, and Indonesia which has the largest Muslim
population is only 87% Muslim.

Buddhism

Buddhism is the third largest group in Asia which is practiced by about 11.9% of people
in Asia. It is the fourth largest religion in the world with over 520 million followers which
are about 7% of the global population. Siddartha Gautama (also called Buddha) is the
founder of Buddhism. Before the rise of Islamic, it was the most widely practiced
religions in Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Afghanistan and Central Asia. The largest
Buddhism population resides in South Korea (22.9%), Hong Kong (15%), Singapore
(33%), Vietnam (10%), Nepal (10.7%), Taiwan (35%), Japan (36.2%), and China
(18.2%). Buddhism is dominant in numerous states including Thailand, Sri Lanka,
Mongolia, Laos, Tibet, Burma and Bhutan among other places.

Other Religions in Asia

About 21% of the people living in Asia are unaffiliated, which means that one in every
five individuals do not associate with any religion while one in every ten people are
Buddhists. 9% of the people in Asia follow folk religions like Australian aboriginal and
Chinese folk religions. Approximately 1% of the people in Asia are Christians while
other minor religions make up less than 1% of the population.