animism

(noun)

The belief that spirits inhabit some or all classes of natural objects or phenomena, and that an immaterial force animates the universe.

Related Terms

  • oracle bones
  • divination
  • shamanism
  • idolatry
  • monotheism
  • polytheism
  • Ka'aba

(noun)

The worldview that non-human entities (animals, plants, and inanimate objects or phenomena) possess a spiritual essence; often practiced by tribal groups before organized religion.

Related Terms

  • oracle bones
  • divination
  • shamanism
  • idolatry
  • monotheism
  • polytheism
  • Ka'aba

Examples of animism in the following topics:

  • The Neolithic Revolution

    • The men hunted animals while the women gathered food, such as fruit, nuts and berries, from the local area.
    • It is not known why humans decided to begin cultivating plants and domesticating animals.
    • The domestication of animals provided a new source of protein, through meat and milk, along with hides and wool, which allowed for the production of clothing and other objects.
    • These animals were then domesticated together with planting of seeds.
    • Diseases jumped from animals to humans, and agriculturalists suffered from more anaemia, vitamin deficiencies, spinal deformations, and dental pathologies.
  • Shang Religion

    • Shang religion was characterized by a combination of animism, shamanism, spiritual control of the world, divination, and respect and worship of dead ancestors, including through sacrifices.
    • Shang religion was characterized by a combination of animism, shamanism, spiritual control of the world, divination, and respect and worship of dead ancestors, including through sacrifice.
    • The oldest surviving form of Chinese writing is inscriptions of divination records on the bones or shells of animals—so-called oracle bones.
  • The Three Sovereigns

    • According to legend, Chinese history began with a succession of three half-animal, half-human rulers.
    • During his reign he introduced the domestication of animals and founded the basic social structure of family life.
  • The Nomadic Tribes of Arabia

    • Pastoralists depend on their small herds of goats, sheep, camels, horses, or other animals for meat, milk, cheese, blood, fur/wool, and other sustenance.
    • Each member of the family had a specific role in taking care of the animals, from guarding the herd to making cheese from milk.
    • Some tribes traded with towns in order to gain goods, while others raided other tribes for animals, women, gold, fabric, and other luxury items.
    • Each member of the family had a specific role in taking care of the animals, from guarding the herd to making cheese from milk.
  • The Chavín Civilization

    • To avoid flooding and the destruction of the temple during the rainy season, the Chavín people created a successful drainage system with canals under the temple structure; the rushing water during the rainy season sounds like one of the Chavín's sacred animals, the jaguar.
    • The Chavín people domesticated camelids, such as llamas, which were used as pack animals, and for fiber and meat.
    • Artists depicted exotic creatures found in other regions, such as jaguars and eagles, rather than local plants and animals.
    • The Tello Obelisk is a huge sculpted shaft decorated with images of plants, animals, including caymans and birds, and humans, which may be portraying a creation myth.
  • Ancient Egyptian Art

    • This meant gods or the pharaoh were usually bigger than other figures, followed by figures of high officials or the tomb owner; the smallest figures were servants, entertainers, animals, trees and architectural details.
    • The side view of the person or animal was generally shown, and paintings were often done in red, blue, green, gold, black and yellow.
    • Colossal sculpture on the scale of the Great Sphinx of Giza was not repeated, but smaller sphinxes and animals were found in temple complexes.
    • Early tombs had small models of slaves, animals, buildings, and objects to provide life for the deceased in the afterworld.
    • Carvings  of vases, amulets, and images of deities and animals were made of steatite.
  • Ancient Egyptian Trade

    • By the Fifth Dynasty, trade with Punt gave Egyptians gold, aromatic resins, ebony, ivory, and wild animals.
    • Another route, the Darb el-Arbain, was used from the time of the Old Kingdom of Egypt to trade gold, ivory, spices, wheat, animals, and plants.
  • The Mythical Period

    • They also domesticated animals, such as pigs, dogs, and chickens.
    • Fuxi and his wife, Nüwa, were credited with introducing domesticated animals and creating the basic social structure of family life.
  • Introduction to the Shang Dynasty

    • These have included 11 major Yin royal tombs and building sites of palaces and rituals, as well as weapons and remains of human and animal sacrifices, and artifacts, including bronze, jade, stone, bone, and ceramic.
    • The oldest surviving form of Chinese writing is inscriptions of divination records on the bones or shells of animals—so-called oracle bones.
  • The Nazca

    • The geoglyphs of Nazca or "Nazca Lines" are a series of geometric shapes, extended lines that run for miles, and large drawings of animal figures (some as large as a football field) constructed on the desert floor in the Nazca region.
    • In terms of animal resources, the Nazca made sacrifices of llamas and guinea pigs at Cahuachi.
    • Llamas were also commonly exploited as pack animals, for their wool, and as a source of meat.
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