Download Chapters 2 and 3: The Classical Period in China and

Monday, February 2nd
Bell Work: Please pick up your notebook
and the handout from the back table. Take
a moment to copy down the EQ and WOD.
Then, use the first 15 minutes of class to
complete the Bumper Sticker activity as
directed. Make sure your work is neat and
easily readable.
Daily Agenda:
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Bell Work: Persia
Bumper Sticker
WOD  aloof
Discussion: Essay
Revisions
Activator: Pyramid
Review
Lecture: Classical
Asian Societies
Summarizer
Essential Question:
Why was centralized
rule more common in
Classical China than
India?
Homework: Read pgs.
189-201
standing near but apart
Pronunciation for Word
In the Great Gatsby, Fitzgerald initially portrays Jay Gatsby
as the ALOOF host of lavish parties given every week at
his ORNATE mansion. Although he is courted by powerful
men and beautiful women, Gatsby chooses to remain
distant and ALOOF
Meet the ALOOF Jay Gatsby
at one of his most extravagant
parties. Watch the video
Read-Aloud
2/2/2015, Block 1
Pyramid Review
Pyramid Review
Essay Revisions:
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Essays from your River Valley Civilizations
comparison essay have been scored and entered
into Skyward
The grade for your comparison essay will remain
the same unless you choose to edit/revise your
essay and resubmit it.
You may only resubmit your essay one time and
you will receive the new score (whether higher or
lower).
Essay revisions for Comparison Essay #1 due by
Feb. 17th (none will be accepted after this date)
Classical Age China
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Later Zhou Dynasty
Period of weak central government
Ca 600 BCE, only eight or nine large states
remained
Warring States Period
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Large population (There is no point in
history in which China has not been the
most heavily populated region.)
Large, conscripted armies led by
professional soldiers
Professional governing class developed
“The Period of the One Hundred
Schools” 551-233 BCE
The most creative period in Chinese
philosophy
All the major schools of Chinese philosophy
began
Confucianism
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Kung fu tzu 551-479
BCE
“Master Kung”
Born in province of Lu
Early successful
political career
Dismissed from
government service
Became itinerant
teacher
The Analects
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Confucius’ teachings,
recorded by his
students
What is the chief goal of
Confucianism?
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An orderly society
Hierarchy
Patriarchy
The Emperor is the father of his people
The past is the model for the present
The Shi
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An educated gentleman
Kindly to those beneath him
Obedient and respectful to those above
him
Criticism of those above is acceptable if
done politely
Shi-Bureaucrats
Jen
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Humaneness
Humanity, benevolence, goodness, virtue
Always follow the highest concepts of
behavior, even if impractical or foolish.
The Second Sage
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Mencius (Mong Ka)
372-289 BCE
The foremost student
of Confucius
Righteousness
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The humaneness (jen) you show to others is
influenced by the type of personal relationship
you have to that person.
Jen is displayed according to your positions and
to the obligations you owe to the other.
Relationships: Ruler to Subject, Father to Son,
Older Brother to Younger Brother, Husband to
Wife, Elders to Juniors (Friends)
Xunzi (298-238 BCE)
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The third great
Confucian scholar
Xunzi’s teachings are
called “Legalism”
People are
fundamentally
depraved, selfish,
greedy, and lustful
How can people be “made” to be
good?
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people could be made
good through
acculturation and
education
Xunzi’s pupil Han Fei Tzu
believed people are made
good by state laws
Laws should punish all
actions that harm others
or the state and reward
actions that benefit
others or the state.
Confucianism and Legalism
Compared
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To Confucius, power is to be wielded for
the benefit of the people.
To the Legalists, power was to control
individual selfishness
Legalism’s Influence
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Utilitarianism: people should have
occupations that materially benefit others.
“Rule of Law”: Law is supreme over every
individual, including rulers
Law must be uniformly applied, regardless
of social standings (equality before the
law)
Daoism
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Laozi 606-530 BCE
“The Teachings of the
Yellow Emperor and
Laozi”
Tao te ching
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The teachings of
Laozi
Daoism
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Behind all material things and all change
in the world lies one fundamental,
universal principle:
The Dao (The Way)
Characteristics of Daoism
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Passivity
Calm
Non-striving (wu wei)
Humility
Lack of Planning
A Daoist Government Would:
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Not wage war
Not be complex
Not interfere in people’s lives
Serve as a guide, not a governor
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Later Daoists
enocouraged
mysticism and magic
Many Chinese doctors
were Daoists
Feng Shui is a version
of Daoism popular
today.
Qin Dynasty China 256-206 BCE
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Shi Huangdi became
“First Emperor”
Conquered most of
northern China by
221 BCE
Qin Developments
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Centralized government under Legalist
principles
Standardized weights and measures
Public works and building programs
Great Wall constructed to prevent
invasions by Hsiung-nu
The Great Wall
Qin Cavalryman and horse
Bronze Chariot and Horses of Shi
Huangdi
Tomb of Shi Huangdi
Diagram showing tomb as originally
constructed
Fall of the Qin Dynasty
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“Ruthless efficiency” led to harsh,
Legalistic rule (book burnings, murder of
educated elites, conscription, etc.)
Peasant Revolts over heavy taxation,
forced labor
Qin collapsed in 206 BC, four years after
the death of the First Emperor
Establishment of Han Dynasty
202 BCE - 220 CE
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Liu Bang - leads
peasant revolts after
death of Shi Huangdi
202 BCE - Liu Bang
has eliminated almost
all of his competition
through military might
and diplomacy
Han Dynasty 202 BCE-220 CE
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The Classical Period in Chinese history
Legalism replaced by Confucianism
“Shi-Bureaucrats” ran centralized
government
Standardization of coinage, weights and
measures
Han Wudi 141-85 BCE
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Greatest and most
powerful Han
Emperor
Defeated Hsiung-nu
Expanded Chinese
territory
Increased Chinese
influence in Central
Asia
Helped lead to
establishment of the
Silk Road
Han Society
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Some lower classes allowed into bureaucracy
Strict emphasis on family relationships
Women
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Patriarchal
Some could gain influence through male relatives
Three main groups:
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Landowners & educated bureaucrats
Peasants and Artisans
“Mean People” - merchants, actors, musicians
Han Politics/Government
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Centralized administration, with less brutality than
Qin dynasty
Improved bureaucracy
Attacked warlords/regional princes
Focused less on military buildup
Emphasized Confucianism - education for
bureaucrats
Wu Ti - most famous emperor (140-87 BCE)
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Brought peace to much of Asia
Expanded territory
Civil Service Examination
Han Interactions
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Expansion into Korea, Vietnam and Central
Asia
Expanded contact/trade with India and Persian
empires
Later with Roman Empire
Han Culture
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Treated Confucianism as religion-shrines
constructed
Gov’t promoted philosophy
Continued construction of Great Wall
Innovations - Seismograph, anatomical research,
hygiene
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Animal collars
Pulleys and gears
Increased production of textiles
Water-power mills
Paper
Han Economy
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Taxes lower than Qin, but get higher as dynasty
progresses
Copper coins
Required people to work on gov’t projects
Gov’t influenced and controlled parts of economy
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Iron and Salt production
Weights and Measures
Trade - silk, jewelry, leather goods, agricultural goods
Public works programs - canal systems
Store surplus of rice and grain
Classical Age India
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Culturally, linguistically, and ethnically
diverse
14 major languages (most Indo-European)
Indian culture synthesis of Harappan,
Aryan, and other influences
We owe a lot to the Indians, who
taught us how to count, without
which no worthwhile scientific
discovery could have been made.
Albert Einstein.
India is the cradle of the human race,
the birthplace of human speech, the
mother of history, the grandmother of
legend and the great grand mother of
tradition.
Mark Twain.
If there is one place on the face of
earth where all dreams of living men
have found a home from the very
earliest days when man began the
dream of existence, it is India .
French scholar Romain Rolland.
Religions of South Asia
Hinduism
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Early Aryan history
known as the
“Rig-Vedic” Period
(1700-1000 BCE)
Rig-Vedas are the
earliest religious texts
of Hinduism
Written in Sanskrit
Monotheism or Polytheism?
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Over 3000 gods and goddesses
All considered aspects of Brahma, the
overall
The Hindu Caste System
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Brahmin (priests)
Kshatriyas (warriors
and rulers)
Vaisyas (merchants)
Sudras (peasants and
laborers)
Untouchables (people
without caste,
Chandala)
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The four varnas (castes) originated in the
sacrifice of the macrocosmic, primeval
man, according to the Rig Veda.
Brahmans: Head
Kshatriyas: Shoulders
Vaisyas: Thighs
Sudras: Feet
Traditional Functions of the Castes
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Brahman: priests, thinkers, intellectuals
Kshatriyas: rule, protect, maintain order
Vaisyas: commerce and agriculture
Sudras: more menial tasks
Untouchables: work with polluting
substances: leather, excrement, filth
Castes and Hierarchy
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Hierarchical rank according to purity and
pollution
Rituals and ceremonies in each caste
serve as caste identifiers
Ultimate punishment: excommunication
from your caste
Consequences of the Caste System
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Individuals are judged by their caste, not by
their abilities. Caste interaction discouraged
Benefits the top castes to the detriment of the
lower castes
Some caste mobility through Sanskritization:
groups within castes can gradually raise their
status by emulating higher castes over several
generations
Caste System Legacy
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The system has survived for centuries,
meaning Hindu society remains stable
Modern India has legal equality for all and
guarantees basic human rights, but
cultural discrimination against lower castes
and untouchables continues
Hindu Religious texts
Ramayana
 Mahabarata
 Upanishads
 Written in
Sanskrit
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Siddhartha Gautama ca 563-483
BCE
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Born the son of a
Kshatriya chief
At age 29 assumed an
ascetic lifestyle in
search of Nirvana
(Enlightenment)
Known as Buddha
“The Enlightened
One”
The Four Noble Truths
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1. All human life is suffering
2. All suffering is caused by
desire
End suffering by ending desire
End desire by following the
Eightfold Noble Path: right
understanding, right thought,
right speech, right action, right
livelihood, right effort, right
mindfulness, and right
concentration.
Buddhist Practices
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Selflessness
Disapproval of
violence, meat eating,
animal sacrifice, and
war
Four Cardinal Virtues:
friendliness,
compassion, joy, and
equanimity
Buddhism and Hinduism Compared
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Belief in reincarnation, the Brahma or
“Universal Soul”
Buddhism more egalitarian, no caste
system
Buddhism less patriarchal, women have
equal chance to achieve Nirvana (can
become monks as well)
Two Types of Buddhism
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Theravada Buddhism: philosophy rather
than religion. Buddha a man, not god,
practiced primarily in Sri Lanka
Mahayana Buddhism: salvation religion.
Buddha became a god, good and devout
people can become bhoddisatvas:
potential future Buddhas.
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Mahayana Buddhism
spread through India
to China, East Asia
Emphasis on
repetition of prayers
and devotions: prayer
flags, prayer wheels,
printing.
Buddhism in the
Subcontinent
Buddha’s
head :
2c Pakistan
Mandala: Wheel of Life
Motif
Indian Contact with outside World
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Hinduism encouraged
pilgrimages
Mixing of Aryans with
indigenous cultures
encouraged
syncretism
331 BCE Alexander
the Great marched to
the edge of India
Greek and Indian
culture began to
intermix
Chandragupta Maurya 321-297 BCE
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Conquered Northern
India, Indus Valley
Established Mauryan
Dynasty
Ashoka 272-232 BCE
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Last of the great
Mauryan Emperors
Aggressive, cruel
conqueror in early life
After the bloody
conquest of Kalinga,
Ashoka converted to
Buddhism
Ashoka’s India
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Ashoka became a vegetarian and
renounced warfare
State would rule by right or law, not might
Religious toleration
Better treatment of women and lower
castes
Encouaged Buddhist expansion throughout
India and Asia
Asoka’s law code
 Edicts scattered in
more than 30 places
in India, Nepal,
Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
 Written mostly in
Sanskrit, but one was in
Greek and Aramaic.
 10 rock edicts.
 Each pillar [stupa] is 40’-50’ high.
 Buddhist principles dominate his laws.
One of
Asoka’s
Stupas
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During Ashoka’s reign Buddhism became
dominant in India and threatened to wipe
out Hinduism
After Ashoka’s death, Hinduism revived
and Buddhism declined
Reasons for India’s Religious Shift
After Ashoka
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Hindu syncretism: Brahmins accepted
Buddha as god, encouraged devotional
cults and small sacrifices (personal
worship and prayer), loosened caste
restrictions and enhanced the role of
women
Buddhist withdrawal to monasteries, less
active lives within India
Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta India
 Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the
Silk Road and visited India in the 5c.
 He was following the path
of the Buddha.
 He reported the people to
be happy, relatively free of
government oppression, and
inclined towards courtesy and
charity. Other references in
the journal, however, indicate
that the caste system was
rapidly assuming its basic features, including
"untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest
class that is doomed to menial labor.
India Under The Gupta Dynasty
320-550 CE
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Hinduism dominant
Heavy rice cultivation in Ganges valley
Economic expansion due to Silk Road and
Indian Ocean trade
Cultural Flowering
Indian cultural influence on Southeast Asia
International Trade Routes
during the Guptas
Extensive Trade:
4c
spices
gold & ivory
Gupta
Art
Greatly influenced
Southeast Asian art & architecture.
500 healing
plants identified
Printed
medicinal guides
Plastic
Surgery
Gupta
Achievements
1000 diseases
classified
Kalidasa
Literature
Medicine
Inoculations
C-sections
performed
Decimal
System
Gupta
India
Mathematics
Concept
of Zero
PI = 3.1416
Solar
Calendar
Astronomy
The earth
is round
Cave temple at Elephanta
Kalidasa, Gupta India’s greatest
writer
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Greatest of India’s
Sanskrit Writers
Famous for 3
plays and 2 Epic
Poems
Mauryan and Gupta Similarities
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“Theater-State” System: Reign down
riches on those areas most loyal
25% Agricultural Tax to finance govt.
Government monopolies over key
industries (ship building, iron metallurgy,
armaments, etc.)
Both dynasties fade off into decentralized
states (though not a decline in India)