chapter 3 early civilizations in india and china

Chapter 3Chapter 3

Early Civilizations in India and ChinaEarly Civilizations in India and China

Early Civilizations in India Early Civilizations in India and Chinaand China

The The Indus ValleyIndus Valley civilization is located civilization is located in the region known in the region known as South Asia or the as South Asia or the Subcontinent of India, Subcontinent of India, in Pakistan.in Pakistan.

A A subcontinentsubcontinent is a is a large landmass that large landmass that juts out from a juts out from a continent.continent.


Regions- The Indian region is divided into Regions- The Indian region is divided into three zones.three zones.

A) Well-watered northern plainA) Well-watered northern plain B) Dry triangular DeccanB) Dry triangular Deccan C) Coastal plains on either side of the C) Coastal plains on either side of the

DeccanDeccan


India’s India’s Northern PlainNorthern Plain is watered by the is watered by the GangesGanges and the and the BrahmaputraBrahmaputra rivers. rivers.

These rivers carry melted snow from the These rivers carry melted snow from the Himalaya mountains making agriculture Himalaya mountains making agriculture possible.possible.

Rivers are sacred in India in India, Rivers are sacred in India in India, especially the especially the Ganges riverGanges river, who is one , who is one of their goddesses. The word Ganges of their goddesses. The word Ganges means “means “mother of the peoplemother of the people..


Another region in India is the dry triangular Another region in India is the dry triangular Deccan Deccan PlateauPlateau, or raised area of level land, , or raised area of level land, which juts into the Indian Ocean.which juts into the Indian Ocean.

This area lacks the melting snows of the north This area lacks the melting snows of the north like India’s northern plain, as a result the area like India’s northern plain, as a result the area is dry and arid.is dry and arid.

India’s coastal plains are separated from the India’s coastal plains are separated from the Deccan Plateau by low-lying mountain ranges, Deccan Plateau by low-lying mountain ranges, the the Eastern and Western GhatsEastern and Western Ghats. Rivers and . Rivers and seasonal winds provide water for farmers.seasonal winds provide water for farmers.


A defining feature in Indian life is the A defining feature in Indian life is the monsoonmonsoon, a strong seasonal wind., a strong seasonal wind.

In October, the monsoon flows from the In October, the monsoon flows from the northeast, bringing a flow of hot, dry air northeast, bringing a flow of hot, dry air that withers crops. In late May or early that withers crops. In late May or early June, the wet summer monsoons blow June, the wet summer monsoons blow from the southwest, pick up moisture from the southwest, pick up moisture from the Indian Ocean and drench the from the Indian Ocean and drench the land with daily downpours.land with daily downpours.


Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley Civilization A) Emerged in the Indus River Valley, in A) Emerged in the Indus River Valley, in

present-day present-day PakistanPakistan, about 2500 B.C. , about 2500 B.C. B) Flourished for 1000 years, then disappeared B) Flourished for 1000 years, then disappeared

without a trace. without a trace. C) There were two main cities in this C) There were two main cities in this

civilization: civilization: Harappa and Mohenjo-DaroHarappa and Mohenjo-Daro. Each . Each city was laid out in a grid pattern. The homes city was laid out in a grid pattern. The homes had very modern plumbing systems and were had very modern plumbing systems and were built from uniform oven-fired clay bricks.built from uniform oven-fired clay bricks.


Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley Civilization A) Evidence shows that they had a well-A) Evidence shows that they had a well-

organized government.organized government. B) Leaders- B) Leaders- Priest-KingsPriest-Kings C) Rigid system of home building suggests C) Rigid system of home building suggests

government planners.government planners. D) Most citizens were D) Most citizens were farmersfarmers, who grew , who grew

a variety of crops. They were the a variety of crops. They were the firstfirst to to cultivate cultivate cottoncotton and weave it into cloth. and weave it into cloth.


Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley Civilization A) Some were merchants and traders. A) Some were merchants and traders.

Many had contact with the Many had contact with the SumeriansSumerians who may have stimulated Indus Valley who may have stimulated Indus Valley people to develop their own system of people to develop their own system of writing.writing.

B) Religion- they were B) Religion- they were polytheisticpolytheistic, a , a mother goddess was honoredmother goddess was honored


Indus Valley Civilization- Indus Valley Civilization- A) Declined in A) Declined in 1750 B.C.; no one knows why. 1750 B.C.; no one knows why. B) Decline may have been due to the local B) Decline may have been due to the local

environment; too many trees being cut down to environment; too many trees being cut down to fuel the ovens of brick makers; a volcanic fuel the ovens of brick makers; a volcanic eruption, or a devastating earthquake.eruption, or a devastating earthquake.

C) In 1500 B.C. the civilization completely C) In 1500 B.C. the civilization completely declined when declined when AryanAryan invaders invaders from southern from southern Russia conquered them with superior weaponry.Russia conquered them with superior weaponry.


The Aryan conquerors The Aryan conquerors migrated from Europe migrated from Europe and Asia.and Asia.

Early Aryans built no cities and left no statues. Early Aryans built no cities and left no statues. What we know of them comes from the What we know of them comes from the VedasVedas, , a collection of prayers, hymns and other a collection of prayers, hymns and other teachings.teachings.

In the Vedas the Aryans appear as In the Vedas the Aryans appear as warriorswarriors who fought in chariots with bows and arrows. who fought in chariots with bows and arrows.

They were nomadic herders who They were nomadic herders who valued cattlevalued cattle. . During the neolithic age they still valued cattle.During the neolithic age they still valued cattle.


The The VedasVedas states that the Aryans felt superior states that the Aryans felt superior to the to the DravidiansDravidians, the people they conquered., the people they conquered.

Dravidians are believed to be descendants from Dravidians are believed to be descendants from the original inhabitants of the Indus Valley. the original inhabitants of the Indus Valley.

Aryans Aryans divideddivided people by people by occupationoccupation.. The three basic groups were the The three basic groups were the BrahminsBrahmins, or , or

the priests, the the priests, the KshatriyasKshatriyas or warriors, and the or warriors, and the VaisyasVaisyas or herders, farmers, artisans, and or herders, farmers, artisans, and merchants.merchants.

The fourth group, the The fourth group, the Sudras, Sudras, were people who were people who farm workers, servants, and laborers. farm workers, servants, and laborers.


The differences between the Aryans and non-The differences between the Aryans and non-Aryans would give rise to the Aryans would give rise to the castecaste system, system, which are social groups into which people are which are social groups into which people are born and which they born and which they cannot changecannot change..

The Vedas shows that the Aryans were The Vedas shows that the Aryans were polytheisticpolytheistic and their gods and goddesses and their gods and goddesses embodies natural forces such as fire. embodies natural forces such as fire.

IndraIndra, their god of , their god of warwar, was the , was the chiefchief Aryan Aryan deitydeity. Indra’s weapon was the thunderbolt. . Indra’s weapon was the thunderbolt.


Indra- Aryan God ofIndra- Aryan God of

War, and storms War, and storms


Varuna- God ofVaruna- God of Order and creationOrder and creation


BrahmanBrahman- - collective namecollective name of the many of the many godsgods of of the Brahmans that resided within all things.the Brahmans that resided within all things.

MysticsMystics- people who devote their lives to - people who devote their lives to seeking seeking spiritual truthspiritual truth. The Mystics achieved . The Mystics achieved communion with divine forces through communion with divine forces through meditation and yoga.meditation and yoga.

RajahsRajahs- skilled - skilled war leaderwar leader, elected to his , elected to his position by an assembly of warriors. He ruled position by an assembly of warriors. He ruled with the advice of a council of leaders made up with the advice of a council of leaders made up by the heads of families. by the heads of families.


By 500 B.C. the Dravidians and the By 500 B.C. the Dravidians and the Aryan culture merged, a process called Aryan culture merged, a process called acculturationacculturation..

By this time they developed their written By this time they developed their written language, language, SanskritSanskrit. Priests were then . Priests were then able to write down the sacred texts.able to write down the sacred texts.


Geography of China-Geography of China-

The ancient Chinese called their land the The ancient Chinese called their land the Middle KingdomMiddle Kingdom. .

China was an China was an isolatedisolated kingdom, as a result kingdom, as a result the Chinese saw their kingdom as the the Chinese saw their kingdom as the center of the Earth and source of center of the Earth and source of civilization. civilization.


There are several geographic barriers to the There are several geographic barriers to the west and southwest of China; the west and southwest of China; the Tien Shan Tien Shan and the Himalayasand the Himalayas. To the North, the Gobi . To the North, the Gobi desert blocked the movement of people.desert blocked the movement of people.

To the Southeast, thick To the Southeast, thick junglesjungles divided China divided China from Southeast Asia. from Southeast Asia.

To the east, the To the east, the Pacific OceanPacific Ocean blocked blocked movement. movement.


Occasionally, the Chinese encountered Occasionally, the Chinese encountered nomadic invaders but they were usually nomadic invaders but they were usually absorbedabsorbed into society. into society.

China is divided into different regions:China is divided into different regions: Heartland- lays along the east coast and Heartland- lays along the east coast and

valleys of the valleys of the Huang HeHuang He or or Yellow RiverYellow River. . This region held a large population due to This region held a large population due to the fertile nature of these rivers. the fertile nature of these rivers.


Outlying Regions of Xinjiang Mongolia, Outlying Regions of Xinjiang Mongolia, Manchuria:Manchuria:

The terrain of this region is The terrain of this region is rugged and rugged and has a harsh climatehas a harsh climate. Also, this region . Also, this region constantly attacked and plundered cities constantly attacked and plundered cities in this region. At times the Chinese were in this region. At times the Chinese were the invaders took over the Himalayan the invaders took over the Himalayan region of Tibet .region of Tibet .


Chinese history began in the Chinese history began in the Huang He valley. Huang He valley. The The Shang Shang region dominated this area until region dominated this area until 1027 B.C.; Chinese civilization 1027 B.C.; Chinese civilization took shapetook shape during the during the Shang Shang period.period.

Evidence from a Shang kings burial place show Evidence from a Shang kings burial place show that the that the noblewomennoblewomen had considerable had considerable statusstatus during this time. during this time.

Shang kings only ruled a small area of land; Shang kings only ruled a small area of land; princes and noblesprinces and nobles ruled the rest of the land. ruled the rest of the land. They were likely the heads of They were likely the heads of clansclans, or groups , or groups of families who claimed a of families who claimed a common ancestorcommon ancestor. .


Social Classes-Social Classes- Most peopleMost people in Shang China were in Shang China were peasantspeasants, that lived , that lived

in farming villages.in farming villages. They worked in the fields and had They worked in the fields and had rough lives. rough lives. Gods and Goddesses- Gods and Goddesses- Shang DiShang Di, and a mother , and a mother

goddesses. The goddesses. The kingking seen as a seen as a linklink between the between the people and people and Shang Di, Shang Di, later on other classes shared in later on other classes shared in the ritual.the ritual.

The Chinese called on the spirits of their The Chinese called on the spirits of their ancestorsancestors to to bring good bring good luck luck to their families. To honor their to their families. To honor their ancestors they offered them ancestors they offered them sacrificessacrifices of of foodfood and and other necessities. other necessities.


Chinese writing system- used Chinese writing system- used pictographs, and pictographs, and ideogramsideograms, signs that expressed thoughts or , signs that expressed thoughts or ideas.ideas.

Oracle Bones-Oracle Bones- Example of Example of Chinese writingChinese writing; ; used bones of animals or turtle shells. Shang used bones of animals or turtle shells. Shang priests wrote questions on the boznes to the priests wrote questions on the boznes to the gods or spirits of an ancestor. Priests then gods or spirits of an ancestor. Priests then heated the bone or shell until it heated the bone or shell until it interpreted the interpreted the pattern of crackspattern of cracks cracked. They then. cracked. They then.


Chinese language contains over 10,000 words Chinese language contains over 10,000 words and is difficult to learn. and is difficult to learn.

Chinese scholars wrote in Chinese scholars wrote in calligraphy, or fine calligraphy, or fine handwriting, handwriting, which was an art form. which was an art form.

This language fostered unity.This language fostered unity. In 1027 B.C. the Zhou invaded and defeated In 1027 B.C. the Zhou invaded and defeated

the Shang. the Shang. To justify their rebellion, the Zhou promoted the To justify their rebellion, the Zhou promoted the

idea of the idea of the Mandate of Heaven, or the divine Mandate of Heaven, or the divine right to rule.right to rule.


Dynastic Cycle-Dynastic Cycle- the the riserise and and fallfall of dynasties. If of dynasties. If a ruler was a ruler was goodgood then the empire would then the empire would standstand, , if a ruler wasif a ruler was bad bad his empire would his empire would fallfall..

The Zhou rewarded their supporters by The Zhou rewarded their supporters by granting them control over different regions. granting them control over different regions.

FeudalismFeudalism- a system of government in which - a system of government in which local lords governed their own lands but owed local lords governed their own lands but owed military service and other forms of support to military service and other forms of support to the ruler. the ruler.


During the Zhou period, China’s During the Zhou period, China’s economy grew. Knowledge of economy grew. Knowledge of ironworkingironworking reached China in 500 B.C. reached China in 500 B.C. They created iron axes and tools that They created iron axes and tools that helped them produce more food. helped them produce more food.

Commerce expandedCommerce expanded and they used and they used money for the first time. This led to an money for the first time. This led to an increase in the population. increase in the population.


Mathematics and Science- used the decimal Mathematics and Science- used the decimal system, helped develop our present-day system, helped develop our present-day mathematical system. mathematical system.

Silk-making- Invented in 1,000 B.C. from the Silk-making- Invented in 1,000 B.C. from the cocoons of silkworms. Silk became their cocoons of silkworms. Silk became their most most valuable exportvaluable export. The trade route that linked . The trade route that linked China to the Middle East was the China to the Middle East was the Silk RoadSilk Road..

They created the first books, made of wood They created the first books, made of wood and bamboo. and bamboo.

chapter 3 early civilizations in india and china

Documents

early civilizations

subcontinent of india

deccan slide

honored slide

china regions

indus river valley

china indias northern

stimulated indus valley