1. 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

2. 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

3. 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'

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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