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Lecture 4 – India and Meso-America - Civilization in Indus Valley in 2300-1750 BC - Hydraulic engineering, urbanization - Iron smelting, shipbuilding and textiles - Mauryan Empire (300 – 200 BC) o Water management for irrigation o Political centralization, bureaucracy, resource management, taxation and public works - Gupta empire (320-650AD) o Water management, political centralization, bureaucracy, trade regulation, rental revenues Religion - Vedic religious beliefs, microcosm and macrocosm - The Hindu, Buddhist and Jain religions o Transcendental, reality as illusion o Lack of interest in natural philosophy - Siddartha or the Buddha (565-483 BC) o Achievement of Nirvana - Islam expanded to India in the 8th century Class and Society - Four castes: warriors, priests, merchants, laborers - Priestly influence in education and politics Indian Science - Astronomy and Mathematics: practiced by priests, astronomers separate and competitive - Applications of astronomy (religion, agriculture, astrology) - Astronomy calculation based, not geometrical - 4th century expansion of astronomy, Aryabhata (476 AD) - Mathematics algebraic, geared to large numbers - Zero and decimal notation, 6th century - Alchemy: Medical and life-extending applications - Textile industry and alchemy - Four element theory and atomic theory - Medicine: advanced theory, health and balance - Herbal, mineral and animal remedies, surgery - Training, licensing and state patronage of doctors New World Civilizations (Maya, Aztec and Inca) Mayan civilization 100BC - 900AD - Scribes had extensive training, specialized occupation high status - Hereditary positions, political influence - Base 20 numerical system, architectural astronomy - Accurate solar and lunar year calculations o Astronomy used for agriculture, religion, astrology Aztec and Toltec Civilizations 900 AD – 1300 AD - Architecture and hydraulic engineering - Chinampas, agricultural plots - Bureaucracy, 5 million people, tax collection - Hereditary political power and education - Mathematics was used for trade and commerce - Medical and botanical pharmaceutical knowledge Incan Civilization 4th – 16th Century AD - Agriculture and irrigation - Astronomer priests, architectural astronomy, state support - Astronomy used for agricultural and ritual purposes - Botanical and medicinal knowledge, state supported