Ancient Asia

Ancient India Geography Himalayas separate India and China Hindu Kush Mountains do not provide complete isolation because of mountain passes Monsoons (seasonal winds that bring rain) drenching the western coast 2 River Valleys Indus Ganges

Ancient India While Egypt were building pyramids, India were planning cities along the Indus River Harappa Mohenjo-Daro

Ancient India and Sumer Both shared the flooding of their rivers Both traded with each other around the time of Sargon of Akkad (found Indian seals in Sumer) Both had polytheistic religions

Ancient India Cities Fortified walls Very gridlike layout of cities Created by oven-baked bricks Plumbing systems rivaling 19th century cities

Ancient India Early civilization on the Indus River eventually ended and no one knows why

Aryans

Aryans A group of Indo-Europeans called Aryans invaded India by the use of the Khyber Pass

Aryans start game Caste System- social class structure 4 classes Determines role in society Permanent member of that caste Cannot move up from your caste 4 classes Top is Priests (Brahmins) Second is Rulers and Warriors (Kshatriyas) Third is Peasants and Traders (Vaishyas) Last is Laborers (Shudras) Untouchables outside of caste Their touch would endanger the Hindus (pariah)

Aryans Religion Hinduism Oldest Religion and polytheistic Bible is the Vedas Upanishads written later to help explain Vedas

Aryans 3 gods and you get to choose which you worship Brahma (creator) Vishnu (protector) Shiva (destroyer)

Aryans Reincarnation or rebirth of the soul Karma-total good or bad deeds in your lifetime Decides where you go in your next life

Aryans Literature Mahabharata 106,000 verses= longest single poem Written language = sanskrit Epics-moral story

Aryans Jainism Founded by Mahavira Everything has a soul and should not be harmed=nonviolence

Aryans Buddhism Created by Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)

Aryans Goal-Reach enlightenment (wisdom) Know 4 Noble Truths Everything in life is suffering and sorrow Cause of suffering is people’s desire for temporary pleasure Way to end suffering is to end desire To overcome desire follow the Eightfold Path Follow the Eightfold Path to reach Nirvana (release of selfishness and pain)

Aryans Believed in reincarnation and cycle world Women could be Buddhists, but Buddha feared women’s presence would distract the men

China

China Geography Surrounded by the Himalayas Gobi Desert Pacific Ocean Civilization started on the Huang He (Yellow) River

China Xia is a mythical dynasty under Yu who controlled flooding No records exists of this dynasty Shang Dynasty was the 1st dynasty recorded and their capital was Anyang

China Social Family was most important in Chinese society Elder men controlled family life Girls have arranged marriages at 13-16 Spirits of their ancestors helped or hindered the family depending on how much you respect them

China Writing 1st Writing was carving on bones or tortoise shells Later Chinese writing started using characters for ideas (one could read Chinese and not speak it)=10,000 characters

China Technology Shang had bronze for tools and weapons Shang also made silk

China Zhou Dynasty took over from the Shang Started the Mandate of Heaven (divine approval for just Chinese rulers) Dynastic Cycle formed-rise, decline, and replacement of Chinese dynasties

China Zhou became weak = period of Warring States This is 500 yrs of fighting for the Mandate of Heaven

China Scholar Confucius urged harmony during the warring years He started Confucianism which is a social order

China Confucianism Talks about the 5 relationships Ruler and subject Father and son Husband and wife Older brother and younger brother Friend and friend Told how to govern wisely His lessons were put in Analects by his students

China Started bureaucracy (trained civil service) Education was very important

China Daoism Created by Laozi who wrote The Way of Virtue His belief was “the Way” guides all things No right or wrong, good or bad because those arguments are pointless

China Yin and Yang Two opposite forces that compliment each other

China Legalism Highly efficient and powerful government Use punishment to enforce laws Burn books that tell people to criticize the government

China Qin Dynasty under Shi Huangdi (first emperor) reconquered China

China With executions, uprooting of noble families Shi Huangdi unified China Started autocracy (government where ruler has unlimited power and uses it)

China He also built the Great Wall to protect China from invaders from the north (1400 miles long)

China Shi Huangdi died and the Qin dynasty with him