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Ancient Asia
Ancient India
Geography
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Himalayas separate India
and China
Hindu Kush Mountains do
not provide complete
isolation because of
mountain passes
Monsoons (seasonal
winds that bring rain)
drenching the western
coast
2 River Valleys
Indus
Ganges
Ancient India
While Egypt were building pyramids, India were
planning cities along the Indus River
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Harappa
Mohenjo-Daro
Ancient India and Sumer
Both shared the
flooding of their rivers
Both traded with each
other around the time
of Sargon of Akkad
Both had polytheistic
religions
Ancient India Cities
Fortified walls
Very gridlike layout of cities
Created by oven-baked bricks
Plumbing systems rivaling 19th century cities
Ancient India
Early civilization on the Indus River
eventually ended and no one knows why
Could be a war, but no damage
River could move, but parts of cities still
there
People could have wore out the land, but
no proof
Aryans
Aryans
A group of Indo-Europeans called Aryans
invaded India by the use of the Khyber Pass
Destroyer Empire
Aryans
Sacred literature is
the Vedas
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Bible of the Aryans
Originally orally
passed down
4 collections of
prayers, magical
spells, and instructions
of rituals
Rig Veda most
important (1028
hymns)
Aryans start game
Caste System- social class structure
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Determines role in society
Permanent member of that caste
Cannot move up from your caste
4 classes
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Top is Priests (Brahmins)
Second is Rulers and Warriors (Kshatriyas)
Third is Peasants and Traders (Vaishyas)
Last is Laborers (Shudras)
Untouchables outside of caste
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Their touch would endanger the Hindus (pariah)
Aryans
Literature
Mahabharata
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Famous hero was
Krishna
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106,000 verses=
longest single poem
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Never written down for
hundreds of years
Epics-moral story
Written in Sanskrit
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Aryans Religion
Hinduism
Oldest Religion and polytheistic
Bible is the Vedas
Upanishads written later to help explain
Vedas
Aryans
3 gods and you get to choose which you worship
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Brahma (creator)
Vishnu (protector)
Shiva (destroyer)
Aryans
Reincarnation or rebirth of the soul
Karma-total good or bad deeds in your lifetime
Decides where you go in your next life
Aryans
Once you discover the perfect
understanding they will be released from
life
Aryans
Jainism
Founded by Mahavira
Everything has a soul and should not be
harmed=nonviolence
Sweep ants off the path and wear masks
so not to accidentally swallow insects
Tolerant of other religions, so not many
converts
Aryans
Buddhism
Created by
Siddhartha Gautama
(Buddha)
Prophecy
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Travel= spiritual leader
Do not travel= great
king
Aryans
Goal-Reach enlightenment (wisdom)
Know 4 Noble Truths
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Everything in life is suffering and sorrow
Cause of suffering is people’s desire for
temporary pleasure
Way to end suffering is to end desire
To overcome desire follow the Eightfold Path
Follow the Eightfold Path to reach Nirvana
(release of selfishness and pain)
Aryans
Believed in reincarnation and cycle world
Women could be Buddhists, but Buddha
feared women’s presence would distract
the men
China
China
Geography
Surrounded by the Himalayas
Gobi Desert
Pacific Ocean
Civilization started on the Huang He
(Yellow) River
China
Xia is a mythical dynasty under Yu who
controlled flooding
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No records exists of this dynasty
Shang Dynasty was the 1st dynasty
recorded
Anyang, a wooden city, with huge walls
was the capital
China
Social
Family was most important in Chinese
society
Elder men controlled family life
Girls have arranged marriages at 13-16
Spirits of their ancestors helped or
hindered the family depending on how
much you respect them
China
Writing
1st Writing was carving on bones or
tortoise shells
Later Chinese writing started using
characters for ideas (one could read
Chinese and not speak it)=10,000
characters
China
Technology
Shang had bronze for tools and weapons
Shang also made silk
China
Zhou Dynasty took over from the Shang
Started the Mandate of Heaven (divine
approval for just Chinese rulers)
Dynastic Cycle formed-rise, decline, and
replacement of Chinese dynasties
China
Zhou also created iron, however their
weak government led to a period of
warring states
China
For 500 years the
people of China were
fighting for control of
the empire
Qin Dynasty under
Shi Huangdi (first
emperor)
reconquered China
China
With executions, uprooting of noble
families Shi Huangdi unified China
Started autocracy (government where
ruler has unlimited power and uses it)
He started road and irrigation building
using peasants
China
He also built the Great Wall to protect China
from invaders from the north (1400 miles long)
China
Shi Huangdi died and the Qin dynasty with him
China
Yin and Yang
Two opposite forces that compliment each other
China
Scholar Confucius
urged harmony during
the warring years
He started
Confucianism which
is a social order
China
Confucianism
Talks about the 5 relationships
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Ruler and subject
Father and son
Husband and wife
Older brother and younger brother
Friend and friend
Told how to govern wisely
His lessons were put in Analects by his
students
China
Started bureaucracy (trained civil service)
Education was very important
China
Daoism
Created by Laozi who wrote The Way of
Virtue
His belief was “the Way” guides all things
No right or wrong, good or bad because
those arguments are pointless
Nature has no right or wrong=follow nature
Many are scientists
China
Legalism
Highly efficient and powerful government
Use punishment to enforce laws
Burn books that tell people to criticize the
government