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China and India
Chapter 3
Geography
• Monsoons
• Indus and Ganges Rivers
Cities
• Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
– original Indian cities formed when Mesopotamia
was at its height
– mysteriously disappeared after about 1, 000 years
Caste System
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Brahmins: priests
Kshatriya: warriors nobles
Vaisya: traders, artisans
Sudra: laboring class, mixed blood people
Untouchables: lowest level
Religion of India
• Hinduism (Dominant Religion)
– Gods: Brahma=spirit in every living creature
Shiva=Destroyer Vishnu=preserver
– Goals
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Dharma: the religious and moral duties of an individual
Karma: acts of one life affect the next life
Reincarnation: rebirth of the soul until it is pure
Human soul must progress through caste system until it
is one with Brahma
Religion of India
• Buddhism
– started in India, but is primarily practiced in China and
Southeast Asia
– Founded by Siddartha Gautama
– 4 Noble Truths
• All life is full of pain, suffering and sorrow
• The cause of suffering is the desire for things that are really
illusions
• The only cure for suffering is to overcome desire
• The only way to overcome desire is to follow Buddha's eightfold path
– Nirvana is the escape from the cycle of rebirth
Ancient China
Government
• China was ruled by a series of powerful
dynasties
– Shang Dynasty: 1st Dynasty, developed written
language, demanded tribute
– Zhou Dynasty: mandate of heaven, feudalism,
bureaucrats
– Chin Dynasty: ruthless warrior emperors, Great
Wall of China built
– Han Dynasty: Silk Road allowed trade between
Middle East and China
Religion
• Buddhism: spread from India to China, Southeast
Asia, Korea and Japan
• Confucism: Confucius, China's greatest
philosopher taught morality
– 5 Relationships: ruler/subjects, father/son ,
husband/wife, older brother/younger brother,
community members -Confucian Virtues: intengrity,
loyalty, generosity, politeness
• Legalism: people are naturally evil so harsh laws
and strong gov't are necessary
• Daoism: "the unspoken way," stresses harmony
with nature
Social Structure
• Family more important than individual or
government
• Men superior to women
• Filial Piety: respect for parents and ancestors