EARLY INDIAChapter 4 Section 1

INDIA’s Geography Subcontinent: A large landmass that is part of a

continent. Most of the Indian subcontinent is occupied by the

country of India. The Indus River, home of one of the ancient world’s

great river valley civilizations, flows across the northwest edge of the Indian Subcontinent.

Three major geographic zones1. Far North are the Himalaya and Hindu

Kush(separate India from the rest of Asia)2. South is Deccan Plateau, receives less rain

that other parts of the subcontinent3. Northern Plains- where society first

developed in India.

3 rivers

1. Indus2. Ganges3. Brahmaputra

Enrich the soil of the plains, making it very fertile.

Monsoons

Heavy rains added to the fertility of the northern plains

Much of the rain was brought by seasonal winds/storms called Monsoons.

Summer months: monsoons winds from the southwest bring WARM air and heavy rains from the Indian Ocean.

**most of India’s annual rainfall occurs at this time**

Winter months: northeast monsoons blow cool, dry air from Central Asia, resulting in drier months.

Monsoons & First Civilizations

India’s first civilization depended upon the monsoons

Rain flooded rivers, which deposited fertile silt

Threat of devastation- how?

Historians date the beginnings of this civilization to 2500 BC

Two large cities discovered• Harappa• Mohenjo Daro “Mound of the Dead.”

First Civilizations

Indus settlements were well planned and carefully laid out

Streets ran in a grid pattern: NorthSouth, EastWest

CITADEL--a walled, elevated, fortress enclosed buildings such as granaries (A building for storing threshed grain), warehouses and meeting halls.

This planning suggests that a central authority held power over the civilization.

Economy & Society & Decline Relied on agriculture

and trade Traded goods with

nearby communities and distant civilizations

Civilization was a single society rather than a collection of independent city-states. (remember, what is a city-state?)

Indus Valley civilization thrived from 2500 BC to 2000 BC.

No one knows what led to the decline.

Evidence from Mohenjo Daro suggests that the city suffered repeated flooding.

The Vedic Period

• Sometime after 2000 BC, new people took control of India.

• This group is referred to as the Aryans: “Nobles”

• Vedas: Sacred writings• Include Aryan History and society• This time became known as the Vedic Period

• RAJAs: Leader of a group of villages banded together.

• - Primarily a war leader who was responsible for protecting the people.

• - Received payment for food and money.

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Varnas- Social Classes--Society was divided into 4 varnas—

Brahmins High Ranking, smallest, priests/teachers

Kshatriyas warriors and rulers

Vaisyas common people, traders, farmers, herders.

Sudras servants

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

• Over centuries, the four varnas were divided into hundreds of smaller divisions called CASTES

• Membership in a caste determined what jobs one could hold and whom one could marry.

• Social hierarchy developed in which some castes had more privileges than others.

• A group referred to as the UNTOUCHABLES: No protections of caste law and could perform only jobs that other castes did not, such as handling dead animals.

CHINA’S FIRST DYNASTIES Two Rivers:

Huang He & Yangzi

Both flow east to the

Yellow Sea

South: Rainy, rice North: Cooler/dryer,

wheat

SHANG Combination of rivers for

irrigation and fertile soils for planting allowed china to thrive

Relative isolation helped early civilization develop and grow

Based on archaeological discoveries, historians believe that civilization started around 9,000 years ago

1766 BCE Centered on Huang He

Valley

Ruled by strong monarchy Kings were surrounded by

a COURT: GATHERING OF

WEALTHY NOBLES Appointed governors to

distant parts of kingdom Large army, prevented

rebellions Largely agricultural

SHANG BELIEFS What we know comes from royal

tombs Most contained valuable items made

of bronze and jade Hundreds of sacrificed prisoners of

war buried with rulerStill needs riches and servants

SHANG BELIEFS ANCESTOR WORSHIP: OFFERED GIFTS

TO DECEASED IN ORDER TO KEEP THEM HAPPY AND FULFILLED IN AFTERLIFE

ORACLE BONES: INSCRIBED BITS OF ANIMAL BONE USED TO ATTAIN ADVICE FROM ANCESTORS

ZHOU DYNASTYTook over around 1100 BCE 1st period generally

peaceful Later, conflict moved the

kingdom east

Zhou concerned the Shang would not accept them, introduced idea of

MANDATE OF HEAVEN: GODS WOULD SUPPORT A JUST RULER, BUT NOT ALLOW ANYONE CORRUPT TO HOLD POWER

Shang overthrown because they had “lost gods’ favor”

Mandate of Heaven explained

DYNASTIC CYCLE: RISE AND FALL OF DYNASTIES IN CHINA

Adopted Iron Cities grew Canals,

transportation

NEW PHILOSOPHIES CONFUCIANISM

Treat others humanelyExpress love and respectConfucius sought to restore respect for

traditionRulers should treat subjects fairlySubjects should reward their ruler with

respect/loyaltyLed to rulers appointing well-informed

advisors

DAOISM DAOISM

Encourages people to retreat from laws of society

Yield to laws of natureDAO=THE WAY

○ Limitless force, part of all creation○ All things in nature are connected○ Find your place in nature, find harmony with

universeYin & Yang: balance, perfect harmony with

nature