Download Nile Civilizations 4

Ancient India and China-4
Mrs. Cox
Paisley IB
World History
Vocabulary
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1. subcontinent
2. monsoons
3. citadel
4. Vedas
5. rajas
6. varnas
7. castes
8. Hinduism
9. reincarnation
10. karma
Vocabulary
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11. moksha
12. dharma
13. yoga
14. Jainsim
15. ahimsa
16. Buddhism
17. Buddha
18. Four Noble Truths
19. Eightfold Path
20. nirvana
Vocabulary
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21. Middle Way
22. loess
23. oracle bones
24. Mandate from heaven
25. dynastic cycle
26. Confucianism
27. Daoism
Questions
 1. How did monsoons affect life in the Indus
valley?
 2. What development occurred as the Indus
civilization came about?
 3. What crafts were created and traded by the
Indus Valley civilization?
 4.How did castes affect life during the Vedic
period?
 5. Describe Brahman. Why can’t people
understand Brahman?
Questions
 6. Describe what Hindus believe happens to the
atman after death.
 7. What were the names of the people in the
Ramayana who are considered a model for Hindu
couples. What makes them the ideal couple?
 8. Name several epic Hindu poems and explain
how the epic poems different from the Vedas?
 9. Why did Jains break away from Hinduism?
 10. Where and when did Buddhism start?
 11. Why did Buddha believe that living according
to the Eightfold Path was important?
Questions
 12. Name three main Buddhist traditions.
 13. By what two means did Buddhism spread throughout
India and into the East and Southeast Asia?
 14. Name the two river valleys where the first Chinese
civilizations developed. What geographic features helped
the development of civilizations in China?
 15. How were oracle bones related to ancestor worship in
Shang China?
 16. What technological developments were made during
the Zhou dynasty? How did each benefit society?
 17. What does Confucianism have in common with the
religion practiced during the Shang dynasty?
India’s Geography
 One of the world’s greatest river valley
civilizations originated along the Indus River.
This river flows across the northwest edge
of the Indian subcontinent, a large landmass
that is part of a continent, Asia. The Indian
subcontinent is divided into three
geographic zones. In the far north, the
Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountains
separate India form the rest of Asia.
India’s Geography
 The Northern Plains cover the middle of the
subcontinent, where society first developed
in India. This area is covered by rich soil
deposited by floods from the Indus, Ganges,
and Brahmaputra rivers. The southern part
of the Indian subcontinent is the high, flat,
and dry Deccan Plateau.
India’s Geography
 Flooding in the Northern Plains is caused by
heavy rains. These rains are brought by
seasonal winds called monsoons. Monsoon
winds during the summer bring warm air
from the Indian Ocean, along with most of
the annual rainfall. In the winter, northeast
monsoons blow cool, dry air from Central
Asia.
India’s Geography
 India’s first civilizations depended on the
monsoons to bring water. Monsoon rains
flooded rivers, leaving behind fertile soil.
However, monsoons could also destroy
crops and homes. If rains came too late or
were not heavy enough, crops would not
grow. If that happened, famine became a
threat.
Indus River Civilization
 People have lived in the northern parts of the
Indian subcontinent for thousands of years. The
first people to live there were hunter-gatherers.
Later, people settled in farming communities. In
the Indus river valley, farming communities grew
into India’s first civilization. Historians believe this
civilization started around 2500 BC, when people
there developed a system of writing.
Indus Valley Civilization
 Ruins of this civilization were discovered in
the 1920s. Archaeologists found remains of
two large cities. Harappa and Mohenjo
Daro. The civilization is sometimes called
the Harappan civilization, after the first ruins
were found.
Indus Valley Civilization
 Indus settlements were planned and laid out
carefully, suggesting that a strong central
authority was in power. Streets ran in a grid
pattern and people shared wells and a
drainage system. In the largest cities, a
walled, elevated citadel, or fortress,
protected government buildings. Homes,
workshops, and shrines were built outside
the citadel’s walls.
Indus Valley Civilization
 The economy of the Indus civilization focused on
agriculture and trade. Most people farmed and
herded livestock. Others made pottery, metalwork,
and jewelry. Trade took place with nearby
communities and distant peoples. Scholars know
little else about Indus society because no one has
been able to read Indus writing. Some believe the
Indus civilization was a single society, not a group
of independent ones.
Indus Valley Civilization
 The Indus Valley civilization thrived from
about 2500 BC to 2000 BC. Repeated
flooding, the disappearance of a river that
ran through the valley, invasion, and disease
may have been factors in the decline of the
civilization.
The Vedic Period
 After 2000 BC, a group known as the Aryans
ruled nearly all of India. The word Aryan
comes form a Sanskrit word meaning
“noble.” Much of what is known about Aryan
history and society comes from sacred
writings called the Vedas. The Aryan period
is sometimes called the Vedic period.
The Vedic Period
 According to the Vedas, early Vedic people
settled in villages much smaller than the
cities of the Indus Valley. Later, groups of
villages banded together. Regional leaders
known as rajas protected groups of villages
in exchange for food or money.
The Vedic Period
 Vedic society was divided into four social
classes called varnas. Each Varna played a
particular role in society. Later, the varnas
were divided into hundreds of smaller
groups called castes. A person’s caste
determined what job they could hold and
whom they could marry.
The Vedic Period
 People in Vedic society prayed to many
aspects of a single eternal spirit. The Vedas
describe fire sacrifices and the chanting of
sacred hymns. Over time, the religious
rituals became more complicated and the
priests became powerful.
2- Basic Teaching of Hinduism
 Most people in India today practice
Hinduism. One of the oldest religions in the
world. Hinduism has no single founder.
Instead, it evolved over thousands of the
years and was influenced by many cultures.
Basic Teachings of Hinduism
 One of the most basic teachings of
Hinduism is the belief in Brahman, the
eternal spirit that created and preserves the
world. Hindus believe that because
Brahman makes up all of creation, the
human mind is not capable of understanding
it.
Basic Teachings of Hinduism
 Hindus also believe that each person has an
atman, or soul, that is part of Brahman. The atman
shapes personality and cannot be destroyed, even
by death. Most Hindus believe that various
aspects of Brahman called devas help maintain
order in nature. The widely recognized devas are
Ganesha the lord of wisdom, Lakshmi the grantor
of wealth, Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the
Preserver, and Siva the Destroyer.
Basic Teachings of Hinduism
 Hindus believe that the universe and
everyone in it are part of a continual pattern
of birth, death, and rebirth. They believe that
after death the atman is released from the
body and reborn in another. This process is
called reincarnation, or samsara. A person’s
karma determines the nature of the new life.
Karma is the sum effect of a person’s deeds
and actions during life.
Basic Teachings of Hinduism
 People who behaved well have good karma.
They will be reborn into a better station.
Those with bad Karma will have a lower
station.
 The ultimate goal of Hindus is moksha,
escape from the cycle of rebirth. When a
person achieves moksha, the atman
reunites fully the Brahman.
Basic Teachings of Hinduism
 Hindus look forward to this release from the
cares and difficulties of life on Earth. They
believe they can achieve moksha by fulfilling
their dharma, or spiritual duties and
obligations.
Sacred Texts and Practices
 Sacred writings have directed the evolution of
Hinduism over the centuries. The Vedas are
among the earliest Hindu texts. They include
sacred hymns of praise. Some of the Vedas date
back more than 3,000 years. They are considered
the core of Hinduism even today. The Upanishads
are sacred texts that built upon the Vedas. They
deal with the nature of the world and the meaning
of life.
Sacred Texts and Practices
 Hindus believe the Vedas and the
Upanishads were not written, but were
revealed. Other sacred texts that shared
themes with the Vedas are believed to have
been composed by people. Two important
texts are epic poems, the Ramayana and
Mahabharata. The Ramayana tells of the
relationship between Rama (Vishnu in
human form) and his wife, Sita.
Sacred Texts and Practices
 Because of their devotion to each other and
obedience to their dharma, Rama and Sita
are considered a model for Hindu couples.
The Mahabarata teaches about dharma and
proper behavior through a story about two
warring families.
Sacred Texts and Practices
 The Bhagavad-Gita is found within the
Mahabarata. It is a dialogue between the
warrior Arjuna and Krishna, again Vishnu in
human form, regarding Hindu belief and
philosophy. It is considered the most sacred
of all Hindu texts.
Sacred Texts and Practices
 Hindu worship takes place in temples,
shrines, and in homes. Hindus at home
might offer food or gifts to a deva. They also
say special prayers or meditate. To help
them meditate, some Hindus practice a
series of physical and mental exercises
called yoga. Yoga teaches people to focus
their bodies and minds.
Sacred Texts and Practices
 Many Hindus make a pilgrimage to a holy
place at least once during their lives. Hindus
believe the water of the Ganges River,
thought to flow from the feet of Vishnu and
over the head of Siva, is sacred. Many
believe that bathing in the Ganges will purify
them.
Jainism
 Around 500 BC, a group of Hindus broke
away from the religion and founded Jainism.
The Jains believed that rituals were
unnecessary. Instead, people could achieve
moksha by giving up their possessions and
controlling their actions. One of Jainism’s
central ideas is ahimsa, or nonviolence.
Jainism
 Jains avoid harming any living creature,
even insects. They promise to be truthful, to
avoid the emotions of anger, greed, and
prejudice, and to avoid stealing. The most
devout Jains become monks or nuns.
3 The Life of Buddha
 Buddhism, another of the world’s major
religions, originated in ancient India. It was
founded by a single person, called the
Buddha. Buddhist writings tell of a prince
named Siddhartha Gautama who was born
in the 500s BC. His life was so sheltered
that he did not know suffering existed until
he was almost 30.
The Life of Buddha
 When he did learn of sickness and death, he left
his palace to try to find a way to end human
suffering.
 For six years, Gautama sought enlightenment, or
spiritual understanding. He lived alone in the
forest, then with gurus who taught him meditation,
and finally with monks who denied themselves
basic necessities. Gautama decided that neither
the gurus nor the monks could teach him the way
to enlightenment.
The Life of Buddha
 He decided to sit under a tree until he found
the way to end human suffering. After
meditating for a long time, he was
transformed: he had found enlightenment.
He then became known as the Buddha,
which means “Enlightened One.”
The Teachings of Buddhism
 After he achieved enlightenment, the Buddha set
out to spread what he had learned to other people.
His lessons became the basic teachings of
Buddhism. Buddha is said to have learned the
Four Noble Truths while meditating. The Four
Noble Truths are: suffering is a part of human life,
suffering comes from desires for pleasure and
material goods, overcoming desire brings suffering
to an end, and desires can be overcome by
following the Eightfold Path.
The Teachings of Buddha
 The Eightfold Path includes right view, right
attitude, right speech, right action, right
livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and
right concentration.
 The Buddha taught that those who followed
the Eightfold Path could attain nirvana.
Nirvana is a state of peaceful existence free
from suffering.
The Teachings of Buddha
 Those who do not reach nirvana will be
reborn to live through the cycle of suffering
again. The Eightfold Path is also called the
Middle Way. It calls for living in moderation,
and avoiding extremes of comfort or
discomfort in the search for enlightenment.
 After the Buddha died, three main Buddhist
traditions formed-Theravada, Mahayana,
and Tibetan Buddhism.
The Teachings of Buddha
 Theravada is based on the oldest known Buddhist
writings. Theravada teaches that the best way to
attain nirvana is to become a monk or a nun and
spend all of one’s time in meditation. Mahayana
teaches that people can help each other find
enlightenment. Bodhisattvas, people who have
found enlightenment but have not yet passed on to
nirvana, are said to remain on earth to help others
find their way to nirvana.
The Teachings of Buddha
 The third Buddhist tradition, Tibetan
Buddhism, shares many teachings with
Mahayana. However, Tibetan Buddhists also
believe that they can use special techniques
to harness spiritual energy and achieve
nirvana in a single lifetime.
The Spread of Buddhism
 Unlike Hinduism, which largely remained an
Indian religion, Buddhism spread to other
parts of the world. Today, more than 350
million people are Buddhists, most of them
in Asia. Relatively few people in India are
Buddhists today.
 After his death, the Buddha’s followers
spread his teachings. These teachings were
not written down until the first century BC.
The Spread of Buddhism
 Buddhism reached its peak in India in the
200s BC during the reign of the emperor
Ashoka. Ashoka helped spread Buddhism
into all parts of India. He encouraged
missionaries to carry the Buddha’s message
to lands outside of India.
 Trade also helped to spread Buddhism
beyond India into Central Asia and China.
The Spread of Buddhism
 In China, Buddhism slowly spread and
blended with native Chinese philosophies.
From there, Buddhism went to Korea and
Japan, making it the leading religion in all of
East and Southeast Asia.
 As Buddhism encountered other religious
traditions outside of India it continued to
change and develop.
The Spread of Buddhism
 Because of this blending, various smaller
traditions outside of India it continued to
change and develop. Because of this
blending, various smaller traditions
developed within Theravada and Mahayana.
A branch of Mahayana known as Zen
emphasizes self-discipline and mediation.
Buddhism today is a very diverse religion
with wide range of adherents and practices.
4 China’s Geography
 The first Chinese civilizations grew in river
valleys created by the Chang Kiang river,
also known as the Yangzi, and the Huang
he, or Yellow River. Annual floods left behind
rich soil in both valleys. The Huang He
valley also benefited from loess, a find dusty
soil carried into china by desert winds.
China’s Geography
 Mountains, hills, and desert protected early
Chinese civilizations from invaders.
Historians believe Chinese civilization began
in the Huang He valley, where people
started growing crops about 9,000 years
ago. According to legend, this civilization
was ruled by the Xia (SHYAH) dynasty.
The Shang Dynasty
 Because no evidence of the Xia dynasty has been
found, most historians date Chinese civilization to
the beginning of the Shang dynasty around 1766
BC. Shang Kings ruled from their capital of
Anyang where they were surrounded by a court, or
gathering of wealthy nobles. Shang rulers
appointed governors to keep order in distant parts
of the kingdom. The king’s army fought invaders
and prevented rebellions.
The Shang Dynasty
 Most people in Shang China were farmers.
Sometimes, they had to serve in the army or
build tombs, palaces, or walls. The wealthy
had time for leisure, such as hunting for
sport. Much of what historians know about
the Shang comes from studying royal
tombs.
The Shang Dynasty
 Most of these tombs contained valuable
items made of bronze and jade, as well as
sacrificed prisoners of war. From this
evidence, historians have concluded that the
Shang believed in the afterlife in which a
ruler would still need his riches and
servants.
The Shang Dynasty
 Shang religion centered on ancestor
worship. The Shang offered gifts to keep
their ancestors happy in the afterlife. Oracle
bones made of inscribed bits of animal bone
or turtle shell were used to seek advice from
dead ancestors. The earliest Chinese
writings are questions written on oracle
bones. Picture symbols were used to
represent objects or ideas.
The Shang Dynasty
 The Shang became skilled at making items
out of bronze and they learned to build huge
structures, such as tombs. In addition,
Shang astronomers created a precise
calendar based on the cycles of the moon.
The Zhou Dynasty
 The Shang ruled until about 1100 BC, when
an army of the Zhou invaded. The Zhou
convinced the Chinese people to accept
them as rulers by saying that they ruled by
the Mandate of Heaven.
 The Zhou learned to make objects from iron,
which could be cast more cheaply than
bronze, and produced stronger weapons.
The Zhou Dynasty
 New farming techniques created a surplus of food.
Cities grew, canals and roads were built, and
transportation improved. The Zhou introduced
coins and pioneered the use of chopsticks.
 Conflict in the later years of Zhou rule weakened
the kingdom. Rebellions waged from 403 BC to
221 BC, called the Warring States Period.
Eventually, the Qin dynasty arose, ending both the
Warring States Period and the Zhou dynasty.
New Philosophies
 Among the many new philosophies
developed during the late Zhou period were
Confucianism and Daoism. Confucianism is
based on the teachings of Kongfuzi, also
known as Confucius. It stresses treating
others humanely and with respect,
practicing traditional rituals, and honoring
one’s ancestors.
New Philosophies
 His teachings on how to improve society
were collected in a book called the Analects
and had a lasting impact on China.
Confucius taught that a ruler should be
advised by qualified people, so China’s
emperors selected their advisors based on
merit.
New Philosophies
 Daoists believe in the dao, or the way, a
limitless force that connects all things in
nature. Daoism teaches that finding one’s
place in nature leads to harmony. Daoists
embrace the Chinese concept of yin and
yang, the balancing aspects of nature.
Among the first people to write about Daoist
teachings was Laozi, who wrote the Dao De
Jing.