Download Empires of India and China

Empires of India and China
Chapter 8
Growth of China
Qin (pronounced
Chin) dynasty
221 BC to 206 BC
Unified the Chinese
Empire
The Qin Dynasty
Leader: Shi
Huangdi
Means “first
emperor”
Ruthless, cruel,
paranoid
Survived many
assassination
attempts
Shi Huang Di’s Tomb- the
Terracotta Army
Legalism
Legalism: idea that a powerful, efficient
government is the key to keeping order
and control over an empire
people are naturally bad
Harsh rule
Severe punishment
No criticism of government allowed
Qin Accomplishments
Great Wall of
China built
Keeps out invaders
from the North
Built by peasants
The Qin Empire
End of the Qin
Shi Huangdi died in 210 BC
Peasants and nobles revolt against
his harsh policies
Han Dynasty
Founded in 206 BC
Leader is Liu Bang
Ended Legalism
Brought back
Confucianism
Chinese Culture
Filial Piety – obedience to parents
and elders
Wealthy families sent sons to
Confucian academies
helped them to pass civil service tests
Chinese Trade
Silk Roads
Trade routes from China to India, the
Middle East, and Roman Empire
Caravans
Luxury items
Silk
Iron tools and weapons
Jade and bronze objects
Buddhism spreads to China
The Silk Roads
Han Achievements
Paper
Seismographs
acupuncture
Indian Empires: Mauryan
Mauryan Empire
300s BCE – India has
many small kingdoms
Chandragupta Maurya,
king of Magadha, unites
India in 326 BCE
Chandragupta was
inspired by Alexander the
Great and defeated
Seleucus I, one of
Alexander’s generals
Mauryan Empire
Had a strong central government
Chandragupta advised by Kautilya,
who wrote the Arthasastra
A guide for rulers – advice on when to use
spies, violate treaties, assassinate enemies
included
Mauryan Empire
Capital: Pataliputra
Efficient
government and
bureaucracy
Mauryan India
Ashoka
One of India’s greatest
rulers
Ruled 270 BC to
232 BC
Grandson of
Chandragupta I
Military leader –
expanded the
Mauryan empire
Ashoka
At first Ashoka was
a cruel conqueror
He converted to
Buddhism and
renounced
violence
Ashoka
Ashoka had pillars erected across
India
They encouraged Right Conduct and
religious tolerance
Worked to spread Buddhism
Improved the lives of his people
Built Buddhist monasteries, hospitals, wells
Planted shade trees
Created rest houses for travelers
Mauryan Empire
Mauryan Empire ended around 184
BCE
Multiple smaller kingdoms (Kushans,
Tamil) controlled parts of India for 400
years
Gupta Empire
320 – 550 C.E.
Founded by Chandra Gupta I (NOT the same as
Chandragupta Maurya!)
Other Gupta emperors included Samudra Gupta
and Chandra Gupta II
Gupta Empire
Religion:
Buddhism spread under Ashoka, but the
Gupta Empire supported Hinduism
Trade:
Silk Roads linked India to other regions
Cashmere, cotton, ivory, and spices
were traded for Roman glassware,
Chinese silk
Indian Society and Culture
Society
Caste system grew
more complex
Laws of Manu were
a Hindu legal code
that defined proper
behavior for people
according to their
caste
Indian Society and Culture
Sanskrit Literature
Kalidasa – great poet and playwrightauthor of Sakuntala
Panchatantra – “The Five Books” –
collection of stories that taught important
lessons
Indian Achievements
Hindu-Arabic numerals
Astronomy
Knew 7 planets
Predicted eclipses
Heliocentric theory