VNU UNIVERSITY OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS

TROY PROGRAM

WORLD CIVILIZATION HISTORY TO 1500

Mid-term Exam (Fall 2021)
Duration: 180 minutes

Question 1: What are the main beliefs of Buddhism? How do you explain the influence
of Buddhism in Vietnam and other Asian countries? (6 points)
a. There are four main beliefs of Buddhism:
 Existence is suffering (dukkha).
 Suffering has a cause, namely craving and attachment (Trishna).
 There is a cessation of suffering, which is nirvana.
 There is a path to the cessation of suffering, the eightfold path of right views, right
resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness,
and right concentration.
b. The influence of Buddhism in Vietnam and other Asian countries:
 In Vietnam:
With a humanistic philosophy expressed through thoughts of compassion,
selflessness, and altruism, it is very suitable for the Vietnamese people, so
Buddhism has quickly grown, adapted, become a part of the Vietnamese people's
life, and thrived since its introduction. Buddhism has demonstrated its ability to
exist and impact when it arises in practically every sector of politics, economy,
and so on, and has made contributions and had a good effect on Vietnam.
With a history of more than 2,000 years, Buddhism in Vietnam has also proven its
important contributions to the cause of building, defending, and defending the
country. Through many feudal dynasties, many Buddhist kings/mandarins have
applied the quintessence of Buddhist thought and philosophy to serve the country's
revival. Along with the spirit of self-reliance, independence, and heroism of the
nation, the Dinh, Le, Ly, and Tran dynasties affirmed the spirit of Buddhism
associating with the religion and the nation.
After its introduction, Buddhism influenced the formation of ideas in Vietnam.
The rational values of Buddhist thought in our country: Firstly, the integration of
the spirit of compassion, joy, and equanimity with the patriotic spirit of Vietnam.
Second, the influence of Buddhist ethics in behavior and communication
relationships. Third, the influence of Buddhist ethics on fairness and equality.
Fourth, the influence of Buddhist ethics on honesty. Fifth, influence in kindness,
affection, and love. Sixth, enjoy with a generous heart. Seventh, influence in the
spirit of self-reliance and self-control of each person.
 In Asian countries:
In Asia in general, Buddhism also has a certain influence. Specifically, it must be
mentioned that Thailand is also known as the "country of pagodas", although
Buddhism is an ancient religion, it is still related to modern life in Thailand and
society. Thai society is connected by Buddhism. Not only that but religion is also
mentioned and protected in the country's Constitution, contributing to building a
better society, because the spirit of Buddhism is to reduce desire and know
enough, helps those in need towel.
 Or in China, although Buddhism is an imported religion, coexisting with China's
Confucianism, the philosophy in Confucianism and Buddhism have many
similarities, but the Confucian-Buddhist philosophy is very similar in humility,
mutual respect, and both in favor of collectivism, for the common good of the
community. Therefore, the spirit of Buddhism promotes peaceful and harmonious
coexistence with other religious beliefs in Asia such as Hinduism, Islam, and
Christianity.
Question 2: Why was the Egyptian civilization called “the gift of the Nile”? (4 points)?
It is a fact that without the Nile, Egypt would not exist.
 Geographically, Egypt is mainly a desert, without the Nile River, there would be
no water to survive. The arable land is mainly around the area of the Nile and this
is also where the Egyptians settled around. The rest, with the exception of a few
oases, are sandy or rocky deserts where nothing really grows. It is not possible to
grow crops or raise animals there. Not only that, but the Nile will enrich the soil,
making it more productive. The Egyptians were also able to accurately predict
when and how the Nile would flood, so they planned to cultivate and harvest
fertile areas, just in time before the water rose.
 Historically, the Nile River was the factor to create a civilization, a rich history
spanning more than 2500 years for Egypt.
Therefore, it must be recognized that the Nile is the gift, the source of the Egyptian
civilization