Zoroaster

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

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Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/zoroaster

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is Zoroaster known for?Founder of Zoroastrianism, a major ancient religion that influenced subsequent monotheistic traditions
2. What is the estimated period of activity?Scholarly estimates range from 1500 BCE to 6th century BCE
3. What is the geographic context?Ancient Iranian plateau, encompassing regions of modern-day Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia
4. Who was Zoroaster?Zoroaster was an ancient prophet from the Iranian plateau who taught about the difference between good and bad.
5. What did Zoroaster teach about good and bad?He said there are two forces: the good spirit Ahura Mazda and the evil spirit Angra Mainyu, and that we can choose between them.

Avesta: The collection of sacred texts of Zoroastrianism, containing hymns and teachings attributed to Zoroaster.
Cosmic Dualism: The belief in two opposing, fundamental forces (good and evil) that are in constant conflict.
Eschatology: The branch of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and humankind.
Henotheism: The worship of a single god while not denying the existence of other gods.