1. Ancient China

2. Geographical Influences
Mountains, sea, and desert provide some protection and isolation
Vulnerable to northwest
River valleys 1. Yellow(Huang Ho) earliest civilization - damaging floods 2. Yangtze- very important in unification- transportation- irrigation

3. Earliest Civilizations- most isolated
Earliest- Neolithic- Ban Po- similar to other parts of the world/ one of the oldest
Shang Dynasty BCE in No China along the Huang Ho- raised silk worms- silk part of lure and fascination of China, famous for bronze sculpture, daggers, jade jewelry paid homage to ancestors- family important
Chou (Zhou) longest-developed foundations for Chinese society-Mandate of Heaven, claimed that it ruled China

4. Ancient China Way of Life- Confucianism
Moral and ethical code highly developed treat everyone with consideration-duty and humanity
Advocated paternalistic government (family), family served as basic economic and social unit
Male supremacy was key element in social system
Value on family head- ancestor respect
Values- loyalty, righteousness, wisdom, sincerity, compassion and empathy
Confucianism- 2 main elements duty and humanity- work ethic,

5. Ancient Philosophies
About 500BCE Buddha, Confucius, Greek Philosophers and Chinese - Lao Tze
Called a flowering period
India more concerned with cosmos and soul
China more concerned with ethical life on earth

6. Contributions centralized the government- rid of feudal lords
constructed roads and canals
The Great Wall-
Paper
Magnetic compass
Printing
Gunpowder
Silk Road, trade

7. Aryans eventually moved in
Ancient India
Geographical Influences: emerged in river valleys of the Indus River, extends hundreds of miles
Aryans eventually moved in

8. Society-Caste System Society divided into 4 classes
Brahmans-top of society, in charge of the religious ceremonies
Kshatriyas-warriors
Varnas-peasants, artisans, laborers
Untouchables- 5% not considered human, degrading tasks

9. Hinduism-Religion *Vedas- collection of hymns and ceremonies
*Single force of the university-God (Brahman), it was duty of individual to seek the ultimate reality
*Reincarnation- soul is reborn in different form, after # of deaths, soul is ultimately united with Brahman
Idea of Karma- how the person will be reborn, system of reincarnation provided religious basis for caste system
Practice of Yoga/meditation

10. Buddhism *Founder was Sidharta Gautama “Enlightened One”
*Goal is to achieve Nirvana (ultimate reality)
*Four Noble Truths: ordinary life is suffering, suffering caused by desire to satisfy ourselves, end suffering is to end desire of selfishness, and way to end desire is to follow middle path
*Middle Path: 8 steps
*Buddha accepted reincarnation but rejected the idea of caste system

11. Contributions/Achievements
Astronomy, Mathematics, and Medicine
Ocean trade leads to advances in astronomy
Indian astronomers in Gupta Empire prove that the world is round.
Mathematicians develop the idea of zero and decimal system
Doctors write medical guides and make advances in surgery

12. The Spread of Indian Trade
India’s Valuable Resources
India has spices, diamonds, precious stones, and good quality wood

13. The Spread of Indian Trade
India’s Valuable Resources
India has spices, diamonds, precious stones, and good quality wood
Overland Trade, East and West
Trade routes called Silk Roads connect Asia and Europe
Indians build trading posts to take advantage of the Silk Roads

14. The Spread of Indian Trade
Sea Trade, East and West
Indian merchants carry goods to Rome by sea
Merchants trade by sea with Africa, Arabia, China, Southeast Asia

15. The Spread of Indian Trade
Effects of Indian Trade
Increased trade leads to rise in banking
Bankers lend money to merchants, careful of degree of risk
Increased trade spreads Indian culture to other places
Trade brings Hinduism, Buddhism to other lands