Empires of the Ancient World Christian Tessman Charles Bias

Darius/Bureacracy/Royal Road Quick Links Click on one of the links below to go to a review topic OR Click anywhere else to go through the entire presentation. Chinese Philosophies Confucianism Legalism Daoism/Taoism Chinese Dynasties Han Dynasty Qin Dynasty India Hinduism Buddhism Gupta Empire Asoka Persia Cyrus and Cambyses Darius/Bureacracy/Royal Road Xerxes

Chinese Philosophies Confucianism: Founded by Confucius, a scholar and teacher. Founded on the belief that man is naturally good, and that respecting your elders and having strong ethics was needed to live a good life. Had five key relationships of respect: son to his father, younger brother to older brother, subject to ruler, wife to husband, and younger friend to older friend. Believed that education will improve a civilization, and that rulers need to not only enforce laws but also follow them and set an example. Only books are the Analects, records kept by Confucius’s followers of his teachings. A portrait of Confucius, c. 700. Back To Quick Links

Chinese Philosophies Legalism: Founded by Li Si and Hanfeizi, two philosophers. Founded on the belief that man is naturally evil, and that the only way to keep order is to impose strict laws and harsh punishments. Believed that only the ruler had total authority, known as autocracy. Had no writings, and burned all books that had ideas which did not comply with those of Legalism. One major follower was Qin Shi Huangdi, who started the Great Wall of China. Back To Quick Links

Visual presentation of yin and yang. Chinese Philosophies Daoism/Taoism: Founded by Laozi, a philosopher. Founded on the belief that man needs to seek harmony with nature and there is a natural rhythm of life, known as yin and yang. Believed that the government should not play a role in your personal life. Only book of teachings is the Dao De Ching. Visual presentation of yin and yang. Back To Quick Links

China – Han Dynasty Important Leaders: Liu Bang and Wudi Followed the Qin Dynasty after they fell and came to power when China fell into civil war. Had many inventions, including paper (105 CE), the collar and harness for farming, a better plow, the wheelbarrow, and a water wheel for grinding grain. Created and traded silk. The Silk Road – Trade route from China to Africa - All kinds of goods traded. - Extended into India and other parts of northern Europe. - Helped to spread goods, culture, religion, and ideas across the world. Achievements of Wudi: Created a civil service – specialized workers for the government. THey had to pass a test to be allowed to take the job. A map of the Silk Road. Back To Quick Links

China – Qin Dynasty Important Leaders: Qin Shi Huangdi Came to power by stopping internal battles in China and then driving back outsiders. He then crushed resistance to his dynasty and moved noble families to the capital to reduce threats of rebellion. Burned books that had ideas that went against Legalism, killed Confucius scholars, and forced peasants into labor. United China by building a 4000 mile highway system inside the country. Started the Great Wall - Stretched from the Yellow Sea in the east to the Gobi Desert in the west. - Kept invaders out of China for protection The Great Wall of China at Jinshanling Back To Quick Links

India - Hinduism Back To Quick Links Developed by the blending of beliefs and customs of many religions. Has no definite origin or founder. The world’s united soul is the Brahman, and each person’s individual soul is known as an atman. Goal of Hinduism is to attain enlightenment, or moksha, which could take several lifetimes. Believes in reincarnation, the rebirth of one’s soul until achieving moksha. Believes in karma, which can be described as the circumstances of one’s life are based off of previous actions, whether they are good or bad Has a caste structure, which affects who someone associates with, what they wear, how they eat, and almost everything else in their lives. Has three important gods: - Brahma, the creator - Vishnu, the protector - Shiva, the destroyer Sanskrit writing. Back To Quick Links

Sanskrit palm leaf manuscript of the Buddha. India - Buddhism Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha, who sat under a tree for 48 days until he reached enlightenment. The final goal of Buddhism is to attain enlightenment, or nirvana Have sacred books known as the Jatakas, which are the Buddha’s past reincarnations, his teachings, and his readings Once Gautama died, Buddhism was spread across Asia along trade route to East Asia. Buddhist merchants spread it to those they met on their travels. Gautama established the Eightfold Path, a way of living and code of ethics for reaching enlightenment. Gautama created the Four Noble Truths: 1. Everything in Life is suffering 2. Suffering is caused by desire 3. To end suffering one must end all desires 4. Follow the Eightfold Path Sanskrit palm leaf manuscript of the Buddha. Back To Quick Links

India – Gupta Empire Achievements of the Gupta Empire: An improved calendar was created. It was based off sun cycles instead of moon cycles, had a seven day week, and divided days into hours. Astronomical achievements include the using of stars to help find positions at sea and the observation that the earth was round, as seen by watching a lunar eclipse. Mathematical achievements includes the calculation of pi to four decimal places and the calculation of a solar year being approximately 365.35 days. Two major medical manuals were published. They detailed over 1000 diseases and 500 medicinal plants, as well as documenting many surgical procedures. Borobudur in Java, Indonesia. Architecturally influenced by Gupta empire style architecture. Back To Quick Links

The Asoka Chakra, known as the “wheel of righteousness”. India - Asoka Ruler of India from 269 BCE to 232 BCE. He was originally bad tempered and angry, building torture chambers and ruling his people cruelly. Waged a destructive war against Kalinga, conquering it, but regretted his decision after seeing the many deaths it caused. This caused him to convert to Buddhism and follow its ideals. He wrote many edicts in stone and spread them across the country, spreading moral and ethical ideals. Tolerated all religions and attempts to blend them with politics, saying all religions have the same goal: to reach enlightenment. The Asoka Chakra, known as the “wheel of righteousness”. Back To Quick Links

Persia – Cyrus and Cambyses Cyrus – Ruled from 550-530 BCE. Expanded the empire from Anatolia to the Indus River in 12 years Considered a political and military genius. Practiced religious tolerance, and did not allow his soldiers to loot or burn the places they conquered. In particular he allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. Allowed the inhabitants of the places he conquered to live the way they did before, as long as they remained loyal to Persia in the end. Cambyses – son of Cyrus, takes over when Cyrus dies Did not practice religious tolerance and was harsh to his subjects Conquered Egypt Cambyses capturing the pharaoh Psamtik III. Stone relief of Cyrus the Great. Back To Quick Links

Stone relief of Darius in Persepolis. Persia – Darius Darius – comes to power after Cambyses, rules from 522-486 BCE Was not related to the previous kings – was a leader of the Ten Thousand Immortals, the king’s bodyguards. Used them to help him gain power. Created an imperial bureaucracy to help govern the empire. This meant he divided the kingdom into 20 provinces and appointed a satrap, or local governor, to look after the province. Royal Road – a 1600 mile road that cut across the heart of the Persian empire. United the empire and increased the efficiency of trade, travel, and military movement. Expanded the empire further, but could not defeat the Greeks. Stone relief of Darius in Persepolis. Back To Quick Links

Stone relief of Xerxes, from Hadish Palace at Persepolis. Persia – Xerxes Xerxes – Son of Darius, crowned after his death. Ruled from 486-465 BCE. Continued Darius’s war against Greece, fighting through the country and eventually capturing Athens. Fought against the Greek King Leonidas and his 300 Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae, one of the most famous last stands in history. Had to leave Greece to quell rebellions and uprisings in Persia, losing the war in Greece. Finished construction projects started by his father, completing palaces and maintaining the Royal Road. Assassinated by Artabanus, the commander of his royal bodyguard, in 465 BCE. Stone relief of Xerxes, from Hadish Palace at Persepolis. Back To Quick Links