The Origins and Diversity of Axial Age CivilizationsShmuel Noah Eisenstadt This book presents a new and original analysis of the great ancient civilizations, focusing on the breakthroughs and their institutionalization in Greece, Israel, China, and India. The conditions under which these civilizations developed are systematically explored. For comparative purposes, the civilization of Assyria, where such a breakthrough did not take place is analyzed. Attention is given to the transformation of modes of thought and symbolism. Special focus is brought to the development of the great religions and the perception of tension between the transcendental and mundane orders and between rulers and other elites. |
Contents
V | 40 |
VI | 65 |
VIII | 92 |
XII | 111 |
XIV | 127 |
XV | 135 |
XVI | 169 |
XVII | 183 |
XXIV | 291 |
XXV | 306 |
XXVI | 325 |
XXVII | 360 |
XXVIII | 374 |
XXIX | 393 |
XXX | 407 |
XXXI | 427 |
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Common terms and phrases
Aeschylus ancient Assyrian autonomous Axial Age Axial Age civilizations Babylon Babylonian basic became biblical Brahminical Brahminical intellectuals Buddhist century B.C.E. China Chinese Christian civilisation classical conception Confucian Confucius cult cultural divine doctrine early Eisenstadt elites emergence emperor empire Epic Esarhaddon ethical gnostic gods Greece Greek groups Heaven Hinduism human Ibid idea ideological important Indian institutional institutionalization Islamic Israel Jewish Judaism king knowledge later Lord magical major Marduk Max Weber means Mencius Mesopotamian monotheism monotheistic moral Mozi mundane order myth Nabonidus nature orientations origin other-worldly pagan Pāli period philosophical Plato political prophecy prophets rational relations religion religious ritual role royal rule ruler S.N. Eisenstadt sacred sacrifice sages Second Temple second-order thinking Sennacherib Shang social society soul sphere śruti structure symbolic Temple tension texts thought Tian tradition transcendent transcendental transcendental vision transformation University urban Vedic Vinaya