COT ESSAY SAMPLE
Question: Choose TWO of the areas below and analyze the developments of major
religious & philosophical ideas between 2000 BCE & 600 CE. Be sure to discuss
continuities as well as changes.
Europe
South Asia
Middle East
Thesis
The major developments in religion and philosophy in the period 2000 BCE to
600 CE were that religions moved from concrete, polytheistic and localized to abstract,
monotheistic and universal. In both the Middle East and Europe, especially after about
‘500 BCE, there was an increase in the use of logic, reason, and science to explain some of
life's most basic questions. Throughout the period, people in both regions remained
religious and continued to seek answers to questions such as their existence, after life
and natural phenomena, but the more complex the societies became and the more
dissatisfied they became with the polytheistic religions, the more they moved toward
monotheism and rationalism.
Beginning:
Religions at the beginning of the period were concrete, local to the culture and
polytheistic, Most societies explained natural phenomena and answered life's most
basic questions through their religion. The development of religion is older in the
‘Middle East than in Europe. ‘The first societies such as the Sumerians believed in many
gods and goddesses that were super humans, but had the same characteristics as man.
Not having the scientific knowledge to explain natural occurrences, these early
civilizations explained them through the actions of their gods. Because priests had
knowledge of and access to the gods they were powerful religious and political figures.
In Europe, the Greeks and early Romans also worshiped a plethora of gods and
goddesses. They were thought to control the heavens, the earth and the underworld.
‘They married, had children, and fought just as humans did. But these early religions
did not set out principles for “right conduct.” These religions became inadequate as the
societies became more complex and there was greater interaction between them.
Changes:
By 500 BCE changes in religion began to occur in both Europe and the Middle East as
the first monotheistic religion appeared in the Middle East, and in Europe the Greeks
began to develop a philosophy based on rationalism. The Hebrews returned from the
Babylonian captivity with a strong belief in a single monotheistic god who was not only
the god of the Hebrews, but a single universal god. The Hebrews also were the first to
have a religion that set out laws for living one’s life, as in the 10 Commandments. ‘The
Persians who were a much larger and more complex empire than the Hebrews, also
moved toward a religion, Zoroastrianism, that preached about judgment day, free will,
and the forces of good and evil. As trade and travel between civilizations increasedthere was interaction between different religious groups. Nestorian Christians traveled
west across the silk roads attempting to convert those of central Asia. The development
of Manichaeism, a syncretic blend of Buddhism, Zoroastrianism and Christianity, in
Persia revealed an increasing interaction between religious ideas from different societies.
In Greece, Athens was experiencing its golden age. To the educated, the polytheistic
religion of the past was no longer satisfactory for explaining natural phenomena
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle encourage the use of logic and reason in the search for
truth. Early Greek philosophers and Aristotle sought answers to the nature of things
such as the elements of the universe. The developments in science continued as
Alexander the Greek brought the ideas of the Greeks of Europe together with the ideas
of those in the Middle East. This interaction caused major developments in physics,
math and medicine. As the societies became increasingly more complex and there was
continued interaction between different cultures further changes in religious ideas and
philosophy developed.
Continuities:
Although changes in religion and philosophy continued into the Classical Era, the
people continued through out the time period to seek answers to their own existence,
proper conduct, and the nature of the universe.
closely tied to the state. In the period between the first century and sixth century, both
regions are brought together by the Roman Empire. Ethical monotheism continued its,
growth in the region with the development of Christianity. It first developed in the
Middle East and then spread into Europe. The spread of Christianity was helped by the
extensive roads, general peace and later, imperial support of the Roman Empire. The
Greek tradition of humanism—to glorify and honor man’s accomplishments continued
to be popular with the Romans. Philosophy also continued to develop with the Roman's
adoption of Stoicism and the work of people like the physician, Galen. Even after the
collapse of the Roman Empire, the Byzantines continued the legacy of Christianity and
Greco-Roman traditions. By the end of the Classical era, two monotheistic religions and
a philosophy of humanism and rationalism had developed in the regions.
Conclusion:
From the earliest of civilizations until 600 CE, religion played an important role in the
lives of those in Europe and the Middle East. Religion became more complex as the
societies developed and grew. All the major world religions and philosophies except
Islam had developed by the end of the period in question. Judaism, and Christianity
provided their believers with a guide for living life on earth and explanations for the
afterlife. Philosophies such as that of the Socratic philosophers pushed men to use
reason as well as faith as a path to the truth.