Ancient Civilizations: India and China. I. Ancient Indian Civilization.

Ancient Civilizations: India

and China

I. Ancient Indian Civilization

India

Ancient Indian Civilization begins in the Indus River Valley

Saudi Arabia

Indian climate

• Monsoon-seasonal wind that brings large amounts of rain to India

Harappa-earliest Indian Valley

civilization(Pakistan)

3300 BC

Harappan Writing2500 BC

Mohenjo-Daro- largest early Indian valley civilization

• Near Pakistan• Had furnaces,

sewers, running water

• 3-4 story apartment houses

The great bath at Mohenjo-Daro

3000 BC

Citadel- a fortress placed higher than the surrounding area

The Indo-Aryans in North India

Came into India from the North Mountain

passes and

conquered

the

Original

inhabitants

Caste System

• People are divided into different classes

• Brahmins at top of caste system

• Untouchables at the bottom of class system

Sanskrit- one of the

earliest written

languages -developed by people in India

The Vedas- sacred and

holy writings of the

ancient Indians

• Monism –all is God and God is all• Reincarnation-rebirth of the soul• Karma-what you do affects the next life• Brahma, Vishnu, and

Shiva – 3 main gods

Hinduism

Buddhism-another “Indian” religion

Buddha’s teachings

• The “enlightened One”

• 4 Noble truths• The eightfold path• Deny self• Nirvana is non-

existence• Did not accept

Hindu polytheism

The Spread of Buddhism along the Silk Road

Mauryan Empire

Emperor Asoka - renounced

war after almost

unifying India because he became a Buddhist

Indian culture

• Suttee and polygamy• Lower castes live short, difficult lives• Upper classes are well off, well fed,

educated, have more rights• Valued Education Math – used Phi, number system of 1-9 Medical- used inoculation and antiseptics

Suttee- last recorded case in 1987

II. Ancient Chinese Civilization

Gobi desert

The Huang He or Yellow River- powerful, life giving and life taking

Chinese ancient civilizations

• China’s history is dominated by rivers: Huang He, Wei, Yangtze

1. Started off as Neolithic tribes farming in river valleys 2. Small towns and cities developed 3. Grew into Five Kingdoms ruled by a single

family which is called a Dynasty

How to Outline Notes on 5 Chinese Dynasties

1. Xia Dynasty

• Until 1959, was considered a myth

2. Shang Dynasty

Invented silk Learned to use kaolin clay

to make ceramics or “china” Writing based on pictures Calligraphy Spread Chinese

culture

across “China”

Shang artifacts

3. Zhou Dynasty

• Mandate of Heaven-

God gives the

Emperor

the right to rule

• Iron plow invented

Zhou warrior

4. Qin or “Chin” Dynasty

• Shi Huangdi, established the first

centralized empire by

conquering all who objected• Code of Qin• Built Great Wall of China• Brutal and harsh autocracy (dictatorship)• “China” comes from his name

Shi Huangdi210 BC

Great Wall of China

5. Han Dynasty

• Emperor Wu Di - expanded

Chinese empire

into other parts

of Asia• Established Civil

Service system• Pax Sinica• The Silk Road

Han fashion

Xia Shang Zhou Qin or Chin

Han

Was thought to be a myth

Silk. china Mandate of Heaven

Built great wallBrutal

Silk Road

calligraphy Plow “China” comes from Chin

Civil service

5 Chinese Dynasties

Chinese Philosophy

• Yin and Yang• Dualism – two sides • Strive for Balance and Harmony • Three main philosophies to

deal with yin and yang

have come out of China

Confucius

Wrote “The Analects” which was about creating Order And Harmony among people andgovernments

1. Family relations are number one2. Respect one’s elders3. Reverence for the past and one’s

ancestors4. Government should be virtuous

551 BC

Daoism

• Laozi-the first Hippie• Contemplation of nature• Cease striving and strife• Rejection of politics

and materialism• Art as a means

to harmony and

balance

Legalism

• Riches and power matter and should be sought by any means available

• People are basically wicked and only harshness will be effective when dealing with them

• Severe laws and punishment are necessary to maintain peace

Chinese Science

First accurate 365 days per year calendarDiscovered sunspotsInvented seismographInvented paper, sundial, water clock,

printing, Acupressure and acupunctureExcellent embalmers

Seismograph

Lady Dai

• Best preserved mummy in the world

• Died of heart attack

• “Elixir of immortality”

440’s BC

The End