Download Classical Era in the East Chapter 4 section 4 Chapter 7

Classical Era in the East
Chapter 4 section 4
Chapter 7
Essential Questions:
How did the caste system influence India?
How did Confucianism affect politics in China?
What were the major accomplishments of the civilizations of India and China
during the “Classical Era”?
How did these civilizations compare with the civilizations of the West?
What factors contributed to the rise and fall of empires and dynasties in the
East?
China and India Vocabulary
* Use post-it notes, write the term on the top,
the picture on the under side, and the
definition on the notebook under the post-it.
Bureaucracy
Confucianism
Hinduism
Islam
Civil service
Major Beliefs of Hinduism
Gods
Reincarnation
Karma
Sacred Objects
Hindus believe that
there are many gods
and goddesses. Each
of these gods,
however, is a
manifestation of on
Supreme Being.
Hindus believe that
at death, a person’s
soul is reborn as
another living thing.
This creates an
endless cycle of
rebirth for each soul.
It refers to a person’s
behavior in life,
which Hindus belief
determines that
person’s form in the
next life. People
who live a good life
will be reborn in a
higher caste. Those
who do not are
reborn in a lower
caste.
Hindus believe the
Ganges River is
sacred and has the
power to wash away
sin and evil. The cow
is also considered
sacred, and religious
Hindus do not eat
beef.
Caste system
Priests
Warriors
Landowners
Peasants
untouchables
Major Beliefs of Buddhism
• Basic Philosophy – Buddhism is based on the philosophy of self-denial
and meditation. Buddhists also believe in reincarnation.
• Gods and Holy Books – Buddhists do not believe in a single Supreme
Being. They also do not have a primary holy book. Their basic beliefs
are found in book called Sutras.
• Four Noble Truths – These truths explain life’s meaning. They explain
that pain and suffering is caused by human desires, such as the desire
for material wealth and selfish pleasures. Only by giving up wrongful
desires can a person find peace and harmony.
• Eightfold Path – To give up selfish human desires. Buddhists believe
one should follow this path: have the right goals, have the right
perspectives, be aware, act in a worthy manner, speak truthfully, live
righteously, respect all living things, and meditate.
• Nirvana – by following the Eightfold Path, an individual can escape the
soul’s endless reincarnations and achieve nirvana – a state of eternal
peace and bliss.
Indian Empires
• Create a Venn diagram comparing the
Mauryan and the Gupta empires.
• Which similarity do you consider most
important? Explain
Mauryan
Both
•Chandragupta used
spies
•Asoka followed the
teachings of Buddha
•Unified through
force
•Required high taxes
•Lasted for about
100 years
Gupta
•Defeated the
Shakas
•Period of great
cultural
achievements
•Invaded by Hunas
Indian Culture
Create the diagram below, list one or more
specific developments in Indian culture
Religion
Literature/Arts
Science/Math
Trade
Religion
Mahayana Buddhism
Hinduism became more personal
Literature/Arts Buddhist sculpture
Kalidasa wrote Shakuntala
Science/Math
The decimal system
Medical guides
Trade
Profited from Silk Roads trade
Traded with Rome, Africa, SE Asia, Arabia, and China
Major Beliefs of Confucianism
• Natural Order – there is a natural order to the universe
and to human relationships. Each person had a role in
society, which reflects his or her position in the universe.
• Role of Each Person – each person’s social role brings a
number of obligations. If everyone fulfills these roles by
meeting their obligations, people and society will be in
harmony.
• Relationships – in each relationship, there is a superior
and an inferior. The superior must show love and
responsibility, while the inferior must show loyalty and
obedience.
• Mandate of Heaven – if the ruler benefits his people and
provides them with food and protection, then the people
will obey their ruler, who will continue to hold the
Mandate of Heaven (the right to rule).
Chinese Ethical Systems
Confucianism
Daoism
Legalism
Social order, harmony,
and good government
should be based on
family relationships
The natural order is
more important than
the social order
A highly efficient and
powerful government is
the key to social order
Respect for parents and
elders is important to
well-ordered society
A universal force guides
all things
Punishments are useful
to maintain social order
Education is important
both to the welfare of
the individual and to
society
Human beings should
live simply and in
harmony with nature
Thinkers and their ideas
should be strictly
controlled by the
government
Strong dynasty establishes
peace and prosperity: it is
considered to have Mandate
of Heaven
The new dynasty gains
power, restores peace and
order, and claims to have
Mandate of Heaven
Dynasty is overthrown
through rebellion and
bloodshed; a new dynasty
emerges.
In time, dynasty declines
and becomes corrupt; taxes
are raised; power grows
weaker.
ROLE OF
MANDATE OF
HEAVEN
Disaster such as floods,
famines, peasant revolts,
and invasions occur.
Old dynasty is seen as
having lost Mandate of
Heaven; rebellion is
justified.
How to look at a Quote or a Document
1.
2.
3.
4.
Who is the author?
Who is the audience?
What is the time period?
What are the words you do not understand?
And what do those words mean?
5. Summarize or put into your own words what
the quote or document is saying.
Quote
• “Guide the people with governmental
measures and control or regulate them by the
threat of punishment, and the people will try
to keep out of jail, but will have no sense of
honor or shame. Guide the people by virtue
and control or regulate them by li (moral rules
and customs), and the people will have a
sense of honor and respect.”
Confucius, The Analects
Two Great Empires:
Han China and Rome
Han Dynasty 202 bce – 220ce
• Empire replaced rival kingdoms
• Centralized, bureaucratic
government
• Built roads and defensive walls
• Conquered many diverse peoples in
regions bordering China
• At its height – area of 1.5 million
square miles and population of 60
million
• Chinese became common written
language throughout empire
• Ongoing conflict with nomads
• Empire fell apart; restored by Tang
dynasty in 618ce
Roman Empire 27bce – 476ce
• Empire replaced republic
• Centralized, bureaucratic
government
• Built road and defensive wall
• Conquered many diverse peoples in
regions of three continents
• At its height – area of 3.4 million
square miles and population of 55
million
• Latin did not replace other written
languages in empire
• Ongoing conflict with nomads
• Empire fell apart; never restored
Classical China and India
Ideas and Instituions
Fundamental Ideas and Institutions
China
India
*Confucianism
*Civil Service, extensive bureaucracy
*Calendar based on the cycles of the sun 365 days in a
year
*Modern numerals, zero and the decimal system
*Hinduism
*Caste System
Classical China and India
Cultural Diffusion Patterns and Barriers
Culture Cultural Spread
Isolation
India
Spread of religions to
Himalayas Mountains
Asia
China
*Buddhism spread from The Great Wall
India
*Silk Road – opportunity
for diffusion
Classical Civilizations of India
Mauryan
Gupta
Location
Characteristics
Achievements
Location
Characteristics
Achievements
The Classical Civilizations of China
Qin
Han
Location
Characteristics
Achievements
Location
Characteristics
Achievements
Pulling It All Together
• Select 2 of the civilizations you learned about
in this unit. Describe two achievement or
contributions of these civilizations, and
explain why they are still important to our
world today.