SSWH 2 PresentationAncient World

SSWH 2

Identify the major achievements of Chinese and Indian societies to 500

CE/AD.

You are here

INDIA

CHINA

EgyptMesopotamia

China and India

SSWH 2

Identify the major achievements of Chinese and Indian societies to 500

CE/AD.

Where is India?

A.

Describe the development of Indian civilization, include: the rise and fall of

the Maurya and Gupta Empires.

Early India & Geography

• Early Indian civilizations developed in the Indus River valley– Ancient Indian cities and

towns were all located along the Indus River because of trade and transportation

INDUS RIVER

Early India & Geography• India is separated from the

rest of Asia by two major mountain ranges– Himalayas– Hindu Kush

HimalayasHindu

Kush

Indian subcontinent

• Invaders can only enter the Indian subcontinent over water or through a small number of mountain passes

HimalayasHindu

Kush

Indian subcontinent

•The most well-known mountain pass is the Khyber Pass.

Khyber Pass

Early India & Geography• Plains stretch south

from the mountains• There are two major

rivers on these plains– Indus– Ganges

Indus River

Ganges River

Aryan Civilization• Beginning in

1500 B.C.E., a group of peoples called Aryans invaded the Indus River valley

Aryan Civilization• The Aryans originated

from the area north of the Black and Caspian Seas

• The Aryans entered India through the Khyber Pass

Aryan Civilization• Nomadic at first, settled down into

agriculture in Indus Valley

• Each tribe led by a rajah (chief)

• Importance of cattle– Served as basis of diet, eventually

used as money

To provide social control and conformity

Caste System established

Mauryan EmpireThe Mauryas: ● Indian dynasty in the

fourth-third centuries BCE

● unified the subcontinent for the first time

● contributed to the spread of Buddhism

● Unified by Chandragupta Maurya

Chandragupta Maurya(321 - 297 BCE)

● Founded the Mauryan Empire

● united Northern India under his rule

● efficient and highly organized autocracy with a standing army and civil service

Ashoka Maurya(272 BCE - 232 BCE)

● Grandson to Chandragupta Maurya

● last major emperor in the Mauryan dynasty

● Following his successful but bloody conquest

○ renounced armed conquest

Ashoka Maurya(272 BCE - 232 BCE)

● After the adoption of Buddhism, Ashoka:○ Never again went to war

● publicity for his teachings/work:○ made them known by

engravings on rocks and pillars at suitable sites

Ashoka Maurya● Carved his laws on rocks

(Edicts of Ashoka)○ These laws let everyone

know of his conversion to Buddhism

● Established free hospitals and veterinary clinics

● Built roads with rest areas for travelers

Fall of the Mauryan Empire●Ashoka dies. Due to a period of decentralization

and waring kingdom creates roughly 500 years of years of turmoil.

1. Weak Successors2. Size of the Empire3. Foreign invasion4. Internal Revolt

Gupta Empire BeginningsLegacy of Strong Rulers Reunites India

Chandragupta I (319 CE - 335 CE)

● gains political power and military might

● makes the empire powerful

Gupta Empire BeginningsLegacy of Strong Rulers

Reunites India

Samudragupta (335 CE - 375 CE)

● military genius● continues growth of kingdom

Gupta Empire BeginningsLegacy of Strong Rulers

Reunites India

Chandragupta II (375 CE - 415 CE)

● Uses military conquest and diplomacy to rise to power

● Creates standing military

Gupta Empire

● Scientific achievement○ Medicine: made huge strides in the field of

surgery○ Astronomy: Discovered the earth turns on its

axis every day● Less centralized than Mauryan Empire- Involved

local people in the government

● “Golden Age” - peace, prosperity, focus on education and achievements

● arts, music, literature, and science grew

Gupta Empire● Charitable institutions, schools,

orphanages ● hospitals rest houses

● Healthy system of trade● Religious tolerance

B.Describe the development of Chinese

civilization under the Zhou, Qin, and Han.

You are here

INDIA

CHINA

EgyptMesopotamia

China and India

Where is China?

Ancient China• Early societies in China developed along the Yangtze and

Huang He (Yellow River)– It is the 2nd longest river in China.– It is the 4th longest river in the world.– Known as “China’s Sorrow” - because of its flooding– People lived here for 27,000 years

Zhou China (1100 B.C. – 250 B.C.)

● Nomadic tribe that defeated the Shang dynasty

● Established the idea of the “Mandate of Heaven” to validate their rule○ Mandate of Heaven: Authority

granted by heaven to deserving rulers - supernatural spirits

○ If you are fair and just you can continue to rule

Zhou China (1100 B.C. – 250 B.C.)

● Use of the Feudal System of government○ Emperor gives land to ‘lords’○ These leaders pledge loyalty○ These leaders give out jobs

and land

Fall of Zhou Empire● Use of feudal techniques to

manage a widespread empire○ regional leaders given

considerable control○ subjects became loyal to the

local power rather than to the Emperor

● Zhou Dynasty ended in wars and political upheaval… a time known as the Warring States Period

Qin China (221 B.C. – 206 B.C.)

● China was unified by Qin Shihuangdi following the Warring States period

● Utilized strong military power conquer their enemies

● Qin Shihuangdi destroyed the power of the nobles○ removed from their positions

and sent to live in the capital

● 213 B.C. - Shihuangdi burned thousands of books○ Afraid of scholars and writings that could

challenge his power● Believed in Legalism as a political philosophy

○ argued that humans were innately self-serving and destructive

○ societal order had to be maintained with strict laws and harsh punishments

● Control people through the use of more guards, strict rules, heavy penalties

Qin China (221 B.C. – 206 B.C.)

Achievements of the Qin• Standardized the Chinese language

and a system of measurement• Unified law code for China• Credit for unifying China

economically, politically, and culturally

• Created a legacy of centralized government unified under one ruler

• We get the modern day name for China from the Qin

Qin China (221 B.C.E – 206 B.C.E)

• Connected walls built along the northern border of China to form the Great Wall to protect from invaders

– It stretched 4,000 miles

End of Qin China

● Qin Shihuangdi died in 210 B.C.

● Son was weak leader● Hatred for Qin boiled over

into rebellion in 206 B.C.

Han China (206 B.C.E – 220 C.E.)

● End of rebellion: peasant named Liu Bang emerged as the new emperor of China and established the Han Dynasty

● maintained many of the policies of the Qin but relaxed the severity through use of Confucianism ○ required leaders to earn the

respect of the governed.

Han China (206 B.C.E – 220 C.E)

● maintained control of an empire even larger than the Qin

● the Han directed a vast bureaucracy organized into nine ministries and regional authorities○ staffed by educated civil

servants who received their appointments based on their score on a rigorous civil service examination

Achievements of Han China (206 B.C.E – 220 C.E)

● effective tax collection system● a postal service● built extensive roads, canals, and

defensive walls● protected the empire from the threat

of nomadic invaders

● security of the Han period led to a thriving economy that engaged in extensive internal and international trade

Collapse of Han China (206 B.C.E – 220 C.E)

● Han Dynasty eventually collapses due to:○ bureaucratic corruption and

infighting○ food shortages○ epidemic disease○ Banditry○ pressure from nomadic

invaders along the northern border

C. Explain the development and impact of

Hinduism and Buddhism on India, and Confucianism on China.

Hinduism● National religion of India● Based on variety of beliefs and

practices● Belief in dharma

○ Duties you are expected to perform. The ethical way in which you are supposed to behave.

○ Both of which are based off your station in life.

Hinduism● Belief in reincarnation (or

transmigration of the soul)○ The soul is reborn into

another body after death● Karma determines where

you are born○ Therefore your actions

determine your station in life

Hinduism● One can be born into a higher

caste or lower caste● Eventually, one can escape

the cycle and reach enlightenment○ Called moksha○ Prayer, rituals, self-denial

and rejection of worldly possessions can help achieve this

Hinduism

Three most important facets/aspects of Brahman:● Brahma – Creator

○ Continues to create new creations● Vishnu – Preserver

○ Preserves new creation, sometimes by traveling to earth if necessary

● Shiva – Destroyer○ Can be compassionate or destructive

● henotheistic: recognize existence of thousands of gods but believe in only one supreme god○ supreme god: Brahman – everything in the

world is considered an aspect of Brahman

HinduismSacred Texts

1. VEDAS2. Ramayana3. Upanishads4. Mahabrata

Buddhism● Founded by Siddhartha Gautama● Called Buddha

○ Means “Enlightened One”

● Legend:○ Born into luxury, became shocked when he drove around

in his chariot and saw poverty and sickness○ Left wife and newborn son to wander around India at age

29○ Lived as hermit for 7 years until finally finding

enlightenment

Buddhism● Based on variety of beliefs and practices

○ Karma determines where you are born■ Therefore your actions determine your station in

life● Belief in dharma

○ Duties you are expected to perform. The ethical way in which you are supposed to behave.

○ But in this case, it is all based off the teachings of Buddha telling you how to act/live

Buddhism● Belief in reincarnation (or

transmigration of the soul)○ The soul is reborn into

another body after death

● Differs: Rejection of caste system

Buddhism• To get rid of suffering, taught:

– Four Noble Truths:

1. All people suffer2. People suffer because of their material desires 3. Suffering could end by eliminating desires 4. Following the Eightfold Path one could eliminate

desires

Buddhism• Eightfold Path

1) Know truth2) Resist evil3) Say nothing to hurt others4) Respect life5) Work for the good of others6) Free your mind from evil7) Control your thoughts8) Practice meditation

Buddhism

● Purpose: To reach nirvana ○ To attain enlightenment

■ (attainment allows escape)● More philosophy than religion, but can be considered

both or either● The Middle Way is important

○ Away from extremes○ Moderation

Diffusion of Buddhism

• Ashoka was the first ruler to send out Buddhist missions to convert other nations, helping the religion spread

Diffusion of BuddhismThe Silk Road played the largest part in the diffusion of Buddhism.

Buddhism offered an alternative to the sometimes oppressive nature of Hinduism's caste system and patriarchal traditions

Ashoka made it state policy to promote the spread of Buddhism. These policies ensured that Buddhism would endure as a major world religion.

Buddhist nuns and monks established monasteries in remote areas along major trade routes.

Diffusion of Buddhism

Confucianism• Founded by Kongfuzi

(551-479 B.C.)– (anglicized as Confucius)

• Confucius was an important Chinese philosopher.

• stressed the importance of order to achieve harmony.

Confucianism● believed that if people

knew and did what they should do, then harmony would occur

● Believed humans were innately good and that if treated with respect would obey righteous leaders

Confucianism● Belief system included:

○ traditions of respect for elders and the Mandate of Heaven held the key to social order

○ the family served as a model for society as a whole■ The eldest male of the family held a moral

obligation to lead and care for his household● each member of the family was obliged to

obey.

Social Classes in Chinese Society● Older generations

were highly respected.

● Merchants were not seen as working for the good of society

● Lived in strict social groups● people were expected to behave according to their social

position

Patriarchal Family• Family members were not equals• Top – oldest male (father), followed by males in

chronological order, then female• Women's’ role in society was to produce a male heir• Role of the Father

– Determined education, career and marriages for his children

– Controlled finances– Rewarded or punished as he saw fit

D.

Explain how geography contributed to the movement of people and ideas,

include: Silk Roads and Indian Ocean Trade.

Silk Roads● Central Asia was home to many

nomadic societies○ relied on farming/grazing

● made these societies experts on the use of pack animals

● “transport technologies” combined with the trade in silk, cotton cloth, horses, spices, perfumes and slaves led to the rise of the Silk Road

● Spread Chinese inventions

Silk Roads● functioned primarily as a relay

system ○ with each merchant only

traveling a portion of the full length of the road

● individuals rarely traveled the full length of the trade routes, elements of culture and technology did

● There was cultural exchange between China and the West

Silk Roads

● examples of this include:○ Buddhism spread from

India to China○ Christianity spread to the

east○ New crops were introduced

to China (alfalfa, grapes) ○ Rome (peaches, apricots)○ Middle East (rice,

sugarcane, and cotton)

Indian Ocean Trade● predictable nature of the

monsoon winds of the Indian Ocean made navigation easier

● led to the rise of a vast network of trade between East Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China

● New technologies begin to develop to make sailing and trading more efficient

Indian Ocean Trade● seasonal nature of the

monsoon winds forced long stays by sailors in their various ports of call ○ Created temporary

communities all over the trading network where the temporary culture would leave an impact