1. Chapter 2

2. Planned Cities on the Indus
Section 3
Planned Cities on the Indus

3. Geography
Subcontinent: a large landmass that sticks out from a continent
Himalayas separate India from other parts of Asia
Monsoons: seasonal winds that are strong, the winds off the Indian Ocean provide a lot of moisture
Indian Ocean to the south, Bay of Bengal to the east, Arabian Sea to the west

4. Rivers Indus Ganges One of the highest sediment carrying rivers
Was so critical to life in the Indus valley that a Hindu god was attributed to it

5. Planned cities Harappa Mohenjo-Daro Carefully planned
Built above ground level to protect from floods
Residential and public buildings in separate areas
Citadel: a fortress that held the most important buildings in the city that was at the highest point aka the most protected
Drainage (sewer) system
Canals to transfer water

9. River Dynasties in China
Section 4
River Dynasties in China

10. Rivers Huang He Yangtze North China Plain
Also called Yellow River or “The River of Sorrows” because the intense flooding disrupts life even today
Loess: the yellow silt (fertile soil) that the river deposits
Yangtze
Also called Chiang Jiang
South of yellow river
North China Plain
The land between the two rivers, has always been the heartland of Chinese civilization

15. Geography Gobi Desert: north of the Yellow river
Taklimakan Desert: West of Chinese heartland and north of India
South and East China Sea

16. Background Xia Shangdi: Word meaning “emperor” or “supreme deity”
The first Chinese dynasty which pre-dates the Sumerians
One of the leaders of this dynasty came up with irrigation/flood innovations to better succeed in the river valley
Shangdi: Word meaning “emperor” or “supreme deity”
The ultimate spiritual leader
A god at a higher level
Believed interacted with through lesser gods
Could be interacted with through the ancestors of royalty

17. Shang Dynasty
Shang
Around time Ancient civilizations collapse (Indus, Mesopotamia, and Egypt) they emerge
First to leave written records
Built palaces and tombs
Had impressive fortifications
Evidence they could mobilize workers quickly and efficiently

18. Oracle Bones Animal bones spiritual leaders would scratch questions on
When a hot poker was applied, the cracks were analyzed and said to be answers from the gods

19. Zhou Dynasty Overthrew the Shang but adopted much of their culture
First time idea of Mandate of Heaven appears
Feudalism
System where nobles are granted land use by the king and in turn they provide protection. There are also lower class people who work the land for food and money

20. Mandate of Heaven
Belief that royal authority comes from a higher power (heaven)
If you are a successful leaders then it must be due to approval from the gods, therefore individual has the Mandate of Heaven
If you are an unsuccessful leader (disasters, food shortages, war, etc.) then you do not have the approval of the gods and therefore do not have the Mandate of Heaven and need to be removed