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Axial Age
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Axial Age

ancient era
Also known as: Axis Age
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Quick Summary

The Axial Age, roughly spanning from 800 to 200 BCE, was a transformative period where major intellectual, philosophical, and religious systems emerged across the globe. This era saw a shift from localized concerns toward concepts of transcendence, focusing on the cosmos, the nature of thought, and humanity's relationship with the divine and the universe.1

Key developments included:
* Ancient Greece: Philosophers like Socrates and Plato emphasized reason and the investigation of truth.1
* India: Thinkers developed concepts of karma and liberation (moksha), influencing Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.1
* China: Confucianism and Daoism offered ways to guide human society and life.1
* Persia: Zoroastrianism introduced a cosmic struggle between good and evil.1
* Hebrew Prophets: Viewed their God as the creator of all and the shaper of destiny.1

These traditions, though diverse, shared a concern for universal human problems and offered solutions for humankind as a whole. The Axial Age laid the foundation for many subsequent high religions and philosophical traditions, including Christianity and Islam.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
  1. The Axial Age: 5 Fast Facts
  2. Islamic world - The Nile-to-Oxus region

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