1. SSWH2 The student will identify the major achievements of
Chinese and Indian societies from 1100 BCE to 500 CE.

2. MAURYAN EMPIRE: Location: India
Founder: Chandragupta Maurya (1st Indian Empire)
Well-organized bureaucracy
Built roads & harbors, collected taxes, justice was sought in court
Chandragupta’s rule was harsh but effective; had a brutal secret police
Specially trained women were warriors that guarded his palace

3. Asoka: Chandragupta’s grandson Converted to Buddhism, rejected violence paved the way for spread of Buddhism throughout Asia tolerant of other religions

4. FALL OF MAURYAN EMPIRE:
After Asoka’s death, unity throughout empire dissolved
Conquerors moved into India and the Mauryan Empire could not fight off invaders

5. GUPTA EMPIRE: Decline:
Pressure of weak rulers
Civil War
Foreign Invaders (Huns)
India splits into many kingdoms
Began 500 years after Mauryan Empire, united India again
Strong central government, promoted peace & prosperity; not as harsh as Maurya Empire
Golden Age: great cultural achievement
Trade & farming
Cloth, pottery, metalware
Education
Decimal System

6. HINDUISM: DEVELOPMENT: IMPACT: No founder; developed in India
Sacred text: Vedas
Polytheistic
Grew out of beliefs from diverse groups
One of world’s most complex religions
Helps create caste system
Through cultural diffusion, helps it spread throughout Asia
Created idea of karma

7. HINDUISM: All powerful spirit called brahman
Most important gods: Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Preserver), & Shiva (Destroyer); can take many different forms, human or animal
Ultimate goal of existence: moksha (union with brahman); cannot achieve in one lifetime but through reincarnation (rebirth of soul)
Accomplish moksha through karma
Believe in ahimsa (nonviolence)

8. HINDUISM: Caste System
-reflects how close a person is to reuniting with brahman
-the higher the class, the closer the person is
*Brahmins (Priests)
*Kshatriyas (Warriors/Rulers)
*Vaisyas (Skilled workers & farmers)
*Sudras (Servants)
*Pariahs/Untouchables
A person can only move up or down the caste system after death.

9. BUDDHISM: IMPACT: DEVELOPMENT: Created idea of meditation & nirvana
Through trade, allowed Buddhism to spread throughout Asia
DEVELOPMENT:
Founder: Siddhartha Guatma
Located in India
Grew out of Hindu beliefs (believe in reincarnation)
Born into wealthy family, shielded from bad parts of life (human suffering); left family to find end to suffering
Through mediations, he became the Buddha (“Enlightened One”)

10. Four noble truths: 1. All life is suffering/pain 2
Four noble truths: 1. All life is suffering/pain 2. Suffering is caused by desire 3. suffering can end if a person follows… 4. The Eightfold Path (moral code of Buddhism)

11. Chinese civilIzations: Zhou & qin

12. CHINESE CIVILIZATIONS
QIN
ZHOU
Shi Huangdi: Unified China and ended Warring States Period
Legalism: harsh punishments & strict laws to achieve order
Built the Great Wall of China
china
Fought in a battle to win control of northeastern China
Justified rebellion by Mandate of Heaven (divine right to rule)
Treated people very well
Included dynastic cycle (rise and fall of dynasties)
As long as a dynasty provided good government, it could stay
Economy grew
Ended due to a war (Warring States Period)

13. CONFUCIANISM: Founder: Confucius Location: China
NOT a religion, a philosophy
Confucius thought way to restore order was through social & political
harmony
5 basic relationships:
1. ruler & subject
2. father & son
3. husband & wife
4. older brother & younger brother
5. friend & friend
Civil Service Exams
-foundation for Chinese government
-government positions should be won by merit, not family ties

14. Indian subcontinent geography:. subcontinent: peninsula
Indian subcontinent geography: *subcontinent: peninsula *mountains: limit contact *rivers: fertile land *monsoons: seasonal winds