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Humanities

Describe how a culture’s belief system is reflected in these various other features of the culture, i. e. social order, legal system, and especially in the various forms of artistic expression, from architecture to painting, sculpture, literature, etc. When the Babylonians of Semitic origins invaded Mesopotamia near the end of 2000 BC, as the civilization reached its imperial turning point, these ancient Amorites bore significance on the aspect of science through the belief of over sixty thousand gods. Babylonian priests discerned much about the stars and other heavenly bodies and profoundly believed beyond mere embodiment that every planet was a god – Jupiter being Marduk, the god of war, Mars pertaining to Nergal or the god of death for instance, as well as the sun that was also known as Shamash (Babylonian). Religion thus enabled Babylonians to earn recognition in the field of astronomy and astrology which helped establish the twelve zodiac signs on which most cultures to this day depend, accepting the possibility that man’s destiny can be governed by the stars and the planets (Babylonian). In the similar manner, the Egyptian history had documented a belief system which shaped the early minds to materialize cultural and architectural insights into physical structures crafted according to the religion which regarded truth in life after death. Hence, Egyptians have since managed to live with a burial custom that bathed and embalmed corpses, widely known as ‘ mummies’ which were then entombed in pyramids – a tradition thought to prepare the dead for life in another dimension (Resurrection). By having a theocratic form of government besides that, ancient Egyptian civilization sought the ‘ rule of god’ through the pharaoh whose power was absolute. With the belief that a pharaoh had equivalent might and authority with those of a god, he assumed full control over his entire dominion ruling in terms of the executive, legislative, judiciary, as well as military aspects all throughout (The Ancient). On the other hand, the Caste System of India which has been the prevalent form used in social stratification originated from Hinduism. With the transmigration of the soul, the Hindus believed that a good soul is granted rebirth in a human being of higher intellect whereas the bad counterpart becomes reincarnated in the creature of lower status. Bearing a chief influence upon social order, such principle of Hindu religion classified the Hindus into four stiff classes the top of which are the Brahmins or the priests and scholars down to the Sudras or the laborers and slaves, excluding the untouchables (The Caste). So the ancient Indian culture began looking up to the highest status in the that order, claiming that the state of Brahma is achieved only by a blameless soul according to the Hindu doctrine. Moreover, the underlying principles of other religions – Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism which brought forth concepts of yoga, vegetarianism, and karma helped as well in developing philosophical systems created by Indian thinkers during ancient times. Most of the philosophies that formed the civilization of old India adopted yoga or a type of spiritual training that places discipline and balance between the mind and the body (Bharati). Also, because Indian people worshipped several gods especially with heightened devotion in the past, correspondingly, Indian art has often reflected it in the earliest modes of pornography and varying expressions of making love as conveyed by the romantic stories of these gods. This flourishing knowledge was further carried on to enhance the founding of both the religious and non-religious edifices that yield to designs particularly made sensible with a spiritual vision. Through the architecture of certain artistic constructions as the Taj Mahal, Kailasha Temple, and the Mogul palaces, inlays of precious metals and very fine adornments of such structures made this cultural feature manifest how passionate were the early Indian societies toward their reverence for the gods and the value or reward sought after striving to attain good living. Works Cited “ Babylonian Astrology.” 22 Jan 2007. http://www. astrozoom. com/astrologer/astrology/babylonian-astrology/. 14 Jan 2011. “ Resurrection and Everlasting Life.” 2010. http://library. thinkquest. org/26223/After%20died. htm. 16 Jan 2011. “ The Ancient Egypt Government.” 2008. http://www. ancient-egypt-online. com/ancient-egypt-government. html. 16 Jan 2011. “ The Caste System and the Stages of Life in Hinduism.” 2010. http://www. friesian. com/caste. htm. 18 Jan 2011. Bharati, Swami J. “ Six Schools of Indian Philosophy.” 2010. http://www. swamij. com/six-schools-indian-philosophy. htm. 15 Jan 2011.

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