Indus river valley

2. Indian sub-Continent • Climate – High temperatures marked by seasonal monsoons • High mountains in the north made passage difficult. • Harappan Civilization 2500 BC • Known for the strong central fortress known as a Citadel. Indus river valley

8. 1750 BC, Indo-Aryans began to cross into northern India from Europe. • They were skilled warriors and conquered most of Northern India • Created great works of literature known as the VEDAS • Originally passed on orally • Later through SANSKRIT (a writing system) Indo-aryan migrants

10. Indo-Aryan Religion • Polytheistic beliefs with gods drawn from nature • Special priests called Brahmins performed complicated rituals • Culture & Society • Indo-Aryans were physically different than the early inhabitants which set a complex social order that eventually became very important in Indian society.

11. Caste System • Social order where people were put into four distinct Varnas (classes) • Rulers/Warriors, • Brahmins/Priests/Scholars, • Merchants/Traders/Farmers • Field-working Peasants • Untouchables (Pariahs) • People considered too low for placement in a class • Time broke the classes into sub-classes called Jati. • People are born and marry within their Jati • India has banned the Caste system officially but it is still practiced.

12. HINDUISM

13. Hinduism Beliefs • Brahma represented in three parts: • Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, Shiva the Destroyer • The world we see is an illusion (Maya) • Recognize & Reject Maya for Salvation • Experience in this life can help you in the next. • The idea that you are re-born in another life is called REINCARNATION • Dharma – moral duty • Karma – good/bad force created by your actions • People can move up the Caste through rebirth with good Dharma/Karma – Bad will bring them down • Nirvana • Perfection in Dharma/Karma • Reincarnation complete – United with Brahma

14. Buddhism

16. Founder Siddhartha Gautama • Lived around 563 BC to 483 BC • Left his Palace and discovered human suffering • Vowed to discover why • The Great Renunciation • Became the Buddha (The Enlightened One)while meditating. • He suddenly understood the truth of life

17. Beliefs • To reach Salvation • Four Noble Truths • All human life involves suffering • Desire for pleasure leads to sorrow • Renounce desire to attain Nirvana • Follow the Eightfold Path • Eightfold Path • Right Views; Right Intentions; Right Speech; Right Action; • Right Living; Right Effort; Right Mindfulness; Right Concentration

18. India’s Classical Age

19. The Mauryan Empire • Emerged around 500 BCE • King Asoka (269 BCE – 232 BCE) converted from Hinduism to Buddhism. • He felt bad about his brutal tatics • Decreed that all religions should live peacefully • Encouraged education • Empire began to fall after King Asoka’s death

20. The Gupta Empire 320 to 535 • Emerged in northeastern India • United territory around the Ganges River • Encouraged peace & prosperity • Supported the Arts & literature • Composed poems & plays (In Sanskrit) • The two centuries of Gupta rule is referred to as the Golden Age of Hindu Culture • Developed the concept of zero (Mathematics)

30. Huang he (yellow) river valley

31. Chinese culture grew up in the river valleys of the Huang He and the Yangzi. • Geography - Mountains, deserts, jungles, and an ocean – isolated Chinese culture. • Because of this, Chinese believed their culture was the center of the Earth, so they called it “Middle Kingdom.” • Ethnocentrism • Despite isolation, China traded with other cultures, and their goods reached the Middle East and beyond.

32. About 1650 B.C., a Chinese people called the Shang gained control of northern China The Shang set up the 1stdynasty (ruling family) in China

34. CHINA’S CLASSICAL AGE 中国

35. Zhou Dynasty • Zhou Dynasty (ruling family) 1027 B.C.E – 221 B.C.E. • 1027 BCE conquered the Shang • United people living around the Huang He & the Yangtze River Valleys • Believed their ruler was chosen by God • Mandate of Heaven • Later Chinese rulers will continue this idea

37. The Zhou controlled over a feudal system • Land was given in exchange for service from Warrior States • Eventually the rulers of these lands grew too much power • By 400 B.C. the Zhou had no real power • One Warrior State rose to power

38. The Qin (Ch’in) Dynasty 221 BCE to 206 BCE • 221 B.C.E Shih Huang-ti began new dynasty • Shih believed people were not good and need a strong ruler to keep control. • Was so harsh that dynasty ended upon his death • Established a strong central government • Built roads • Introduced a uniform system of writing & measurement

41. The Western name “China” is derived from the Qin Dynasty. • The Qin like earlier rulers built walls to protect against invaders. • Later Dynasties added to these walls

42. The Great Wall of China • Protected China from nomadic people of the northwest • During the Qin, the wall was 1,500 mile, it stood 22 feet high & 15 feet thick.

47. 8,099 life-size terracotta figures of warriors and horses were buried in a tomb that was built over two thousand years ago to protect its occupant, Qin Shi Huangdi, Emperor of Qin.

49. The Han Dynasty 206 BCE – CE 220 • Kept China unified for over 400 years • Established examination to select people for government jobs • Civil service examination • Merchants established over-land trade routes to other centers of civilization • The Silk Road • Went through Central Asia connecting China, the Middle East & Rome