The Axial Age

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The Axial Age was a time period in history in which many new religions came about. Each religion brought unique ideas about the meaning of life, such as the four noble truths, karma, dharma and moksha. Hinduism and Buddhism were two of many religions that brought new ideas about the meaning of life, which brought about the Axial Age, a period of dramatic change. The religion of Hinduism believed that the meaning of life was based on karma, dharma and moksha. Everyone in the Hindu religion had a dharma, a role and purpose for life. In order to receive good karma, a person needs to be the best in their dharma. For example, if a person is a blacksmith, then their dharma is to be the best blacksmith that they could be. If a person achieves their dharma, then that person will have good karma and will be reincarnated for a higher task in their next life. If a person does not achieve their dharma, then they will receive bad karma and when they are reincarnated, it will be a lower task. Once a person fulfills their dharma, they reach moksha, a peaceful bliss and calm, which is the ending point of their life. Hinduism was one of the many religions that introduced new ideas about the meaning of life and made this period, a period of change. Hinduisms way of social organization was through the caste system. The caste system was a system of different classes such as, Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. The Brahmans were at the very top and had the jobs of priests, scholars and philosophers. Kshatriya, the second highest class, were the warriors and rulers. Third came the Vaishyas who were traders and merchants. The lowest class was the Shudras, the laborers and servants for other classes. If one has fulfilled their dharma, they would be promoted to a higher class. But, if one did not fulfill their dharma, they would be part of the lower class. In the primary source,

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