The Axial Age

Karl Jaspers's term for the simultaneous flowering of thought in Greece, India, China, and the Middle East.

Specifications & Metrics

era

c. 800 – 200 BC

Core Principles & Analysis

• Karl Jaspers coined the term for the period when foundational traditions arose across Eurasia.
• Buddhism, Confucianism, Greek philosophy, and Hebrew prophecy emerged within these centuries.
• Debates continue over whether the parallel timing reflects real connection or coincidence.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Axial Age