Indus civilization Located in Indus River valley, present-day Pakistan Archaeologist believe 5 major cities Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro possible twin capitals Believed to be first people to cultivate cotton and use its fibers for cloth Believed to be polytheistic- viewed certain animals as sacred (buffalo and bull) Believed to have influenced later Indian beliefs By 1900 BCE quality of life was declining, archaeologists are unsure of exact reason for decline

Aryan civilization Between 2000 BCE & 1500 BCE people migrated to northwest India Combined cultural traditions of nomads and earlier Indian people Most of what we know comes from Vedas Aryan tribes were led by chiefs called rajahs Polytheistic-chief god was Indra-god of war 2 Epic poems tell us about Aryan life Mahabharata and Ramayana

Aryans structure society Society divided into ranked groups based on occupation Highest group: Brahmins-priests Kshatriyas- warriors Vaisyas- herders, farmers, artisans, and merchants Sudras- farmworkers, servants, and other laborers (had little to no Aryan heritage) Lowest group: Dalits- considered outside of caste system, did work others wouldn’t'

Guptas Ruled from 320 to c. 540 CE; India’s golden age Created a decimal system, numbers based on digits of 10 Ideal family was joint family structure Marriage customs consisted of a dowry being provided

Shang Dynasty 1766 BCE first Chinese dynasty took control, reigned until 1122 BCE Loyal princes and nobles governed most of the land; were heads of clans Society included royal family and noble warriors in highest class Majority of people were peasants

Zhou Dynasty In 1122 BCE Zhou over threw Shang dynasty, ruled until 256 BCE Mandate of Heaven-divine right to rule Established feudal state Gained knowledge of iron work and new crops

Confucius Philosopher in China Ideas on how to restore social order and maintain harmony with nature Developed philosophy concerned with worldly goals, not spiritual matters like salvation Five key relationships Ruler to subject, parent to child, husband to wife, elder brother to younger brother, and friend to friend Except friends, none of the relationships were equal Filial piety-respect for parents was above all other duties Confucianism had great influence over all of china for many years

Zheng (Shi Huangdi) In 221 BCE claimed himself Shi Huangdi or “First Emperor” Abolished feudalism Created uniformity in Chinese writing In the past feudal states built walls to defend themselves Shi Huangdi had them joined to create the Great Wall of China