Religions:
Buddhism- founded circa 500B.C. Buddhism, a religion focused on finding your way to Nirvana (their heaven) by escaping their samsara (process of rebirth) became popular throughout ancient India and China. Buddha or Gautama Siddharta placed a law or guideline of how to reach nirvana, the 4 Noble Truths and the Eightfold path. The 4 Noble Truths are; to live is to suffer, You suffer because you attach yourself, give your worldly attachments up, follow the eightfold path. The eightfold path are THE RIGHT VIEW, THE RIGHT INTENTION,THE RIGHT SPEECH,THE RIGHT ACTION,THE RIGHT LIVLIHOOD, RIGHT EFFORT,RIGHT MINDFULNESS,RIGHT CONCENTRATION. The middle way is the practice of non-extremism.
Hinduism- Hinduism, a religion founded circa 500 B.C. was split up into a caste system causing much separation throughout the area. Each caste had people who were financially and standard wise equal. There were 5 castes, first the Brahmins who were composed of priestly men, then came the Kshatriyas who were fierce warriors and leaders, next the vaisyas who were known as the common class today people who work for money and have skills. Next were the sudras who were unskilled workers and/or were slaves. The untouchables were not even part of the caste system cause they were deemed unworthy mostly because of their professions. Which were butchery or prostitution. Your karma was a tally of good versus bad deeds and actions, which in the end would affect your dharma (your status). Having a good dharma would lead to moksha, liberation from the stages of life. The Ramayana was a sacred Veda read by many many Hindus. Vedas were sacred texts as believed by the hinds.
Taoism- Lao Tzu the believed founder of Taoism, a popular religion in East Asia, who set out for a journey at the age of 980-. He traveled out to western China (present day Tibet) were he was saddened at the men who were unwilling to follow the path to natural goodness. Then at Hank Pass (a border) a guard asked for Lao Tzu to write down his thoughts so the guard can keep it to treasure, so Then Lao Tzu wrote down all his teachings in 5,000 characters. The scroll is now called Tao Te Ching (The Way and Its Power). Wu wei means natural actions, which can be represented like the earth revolves around the sun. The tao can be represented through its commonly found symbol, Yin and Yang. Those stories are known.
Zoroastrianism- Can be compared towards Christianity. Heaven vs. Hell, God vs. Devil. Also every man can change his path through free will. One of the few religions that believe in that.
Jainism- In Jainism a religion that flourished circa 500 B.C. one was to follow ahimsa which meant to not injure or kill other living creatures and Asceticism which meant you were to never indulge your self in food and eat only what is needed, also never to eat meat. Mahavira was a mathematician from the 9th century B.C. who practiced and spread Jainism throughout India. The Five Great Vows are to never steal, never attach yourself to something, to be truthful, never kill fellow creatures and to be pure.
Confucianism- The Analects were codes and laws written by Confucius himself. They mention scenarios and what to do when in them.
