Download Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture

Chapter 7 Notes: India and China Establish Empires
Section 2: Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture
In the time period between the Mauryan and Gupta Empires, Hinduism and Buddhism were changed to support
more followers.
Buddhism
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Worshiped the Buddha as a god
Tried to save humanity through good works
Hinduism: Three major gods
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Brahma: creator of the world
Vishnu: preserver of the world
Shiva: destroyer of the world
Achievements of Indian Culture: Gupta Empire Golden Age
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Literature (Writing and poetry)
Astronomy (round earth)
Mathematics (decimal system, concept of zero, pi)
Surgery (setting of bones)
New textiles
Spread of Indian Trade
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India has precious resources
Middlemen in Silk Road trading between China and Rome
Sea trade also between Asia and Rome
Section 3: Han Emperors in China
Civil war broke out in China after the death of the first emperor, Shi Huangdi, and the end of the Qin Dynasty.
The Han Dynasty ruled China afterward for over 400 years (dynastic cycle)
The people of China followed the Han Emperors because of the Mandate of Heaven.
China had a complex bureaucracy that employed more than 130,000 people in civil service jobs (Confucianism).
Han Technology, Commerce and Culture
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Invented paper which was cheaper for books and led to increased education
Plowing technology
Government established monopolies on salt, iron, and silk
Han Culture in China
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Conquered peoples were assimilated into Chinese culture.
Written histories
Women’s roles were mostly limited to the home