Early Civilizations in India and China 2500 – 256 B.C

Early Civilizations in Early Civilizations in India and ChinaIndia and China

2500 – 256 B.C.2500 – 256 B.C.

Chapter 3: Early Civilizations in Chapter 3: Early Civilizations in India and ChinaIndia and China

(2500 B.C–256 B.C.)(2500 B.C–256 B.C.)

Section 1: Cities of the Indus ValleySection 1: Cities of the Indus Valley

Section 2: Kingdoms of the GangesSection 2: Kingdoms of the Ganges

Section 3: Early Civilization in ChinaSection 3: Early Civilization in China

Cities of the Indus ValleyCities of the Indus Valley

How has geography influenced India?How has geography influenced India?

How has archaeology provided clues How has archaeology provided clues about Indus Valley civilization?about Indus Valley civilization?

What theories do scholars hold about the What theories do scholars hold about the decline of Indus Valley civilization?decline of Indus Valley civilization?

Geography of the Indian Geography of the Indian SubcontinentSubcontinent

The Indus Valley is located on the The Indus Valley is located on the subcontinentsubcontinent of India. of India.

The mountains in the north limited The mountains in the north limited contact with other lands and contact with other lands and helped India to develop a distinct helped India to develop a distinct culture.culture. The subcontinent is divided into The subcontinent is divided into three major zones: northern plain, three major zones: northern plain, Deccan, and coastal plains.Deccan, and coastal plains.

The rivers of India, particularly the The rivers of India, particularly the Ganges, are considered sacred.Ganges, are considered sacred.

The The monsoonmonsoon, or seasonal wind, , or seasonal wind, is a defining feature of Indian life.is a defining feature of Indian life.

Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley CivilizationThe earliest Indian civilization flourished for about 1,000 The earliest Indian civilization flourished for about 1,000 years, then vanished without a trace. Archaeologists years, then vanished without a trace. Archaeologists have only recently begun to uncover evidence of these have only recently begun to uncover evidence of these early people, whose civilization included the following early people, whose civilization included the following characteristics:characteristics:

Well-organized governmentWell-organized government Modern plumbing and sewer systemModern plumbing and sewer system Carefully planned citiesCarefully planned cities Most people were farmersMost people were farmers First people to cultivate cottonFirst people to cultivate cotton Covered largest area of any civilization until the rise of Persia Covered largest area of any civilization until the rise of Persia

1,000 years later1,000 years later Traded with distant lands, including SumerTraded with distant lands, including Sumer Polytheistic; honored mother goddess; worship of sacred Polytheistic; honored mother goddess; worship of sacred

animals influenced the later veneration of cattleanimals influenced the later veneration of cattle

Decline and Disappearance of Decline and Disappearance of Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley Civilization

No one knows for certain why the cities No one knows for certain why the cities were abandoned and forgotten. Scholars were abandoned and forgotten. Scholars have proposed a number of theories:have proposed a number of theories: Too many trees were cut down.Too many trees were cut down. A devastating earthquake destroyed the A devastating earthquake destroyed the

region.region. A volcanic eruption caused the Indus to flood A volcanic eruption caused the Indus to flood

the city.the city. Aryan invaders overran the region.Aryan invaders overran the region.

AssessmentAssessment

Which of the following is true about the Which of the following is true about the Indus Valley civilization? Indus Valley civilization?

a) Its people were monotheistic. a) Its people were monotheistic. b) Its people b) Its people were polytheistic. were polytheistic. c) Most people were c) Most people were merchants. merchants. d) Its people were the first to d) Its people were the first to grow corn.grow corn.


Which of the following is true about the Which of the following is true about the Indus Valley civilization? Indus Valley civilization?

a) Its people were monotheistic. a) Its people were monotheistic. b) Its people b) Its people were polytheistic.were polytheistic. c) Most people were c) Most people were merchants. merchants. d) Its people were the first to d) Its people were the first to grow corn.grow corn.


Which geographical feature helped Which geographical feature helped India to develop a distinct culture? India to develop a distinct culture?

a) river a) river b) plain b) plain c) c) mountains mountains d) plateaus d) plateaus


Which geographical feature helped Which geographical feature helped India to develop a distinct culture? India to develop a distinct culture?

a) river a) river b) plain b) plain c) c) mountainsmountains d) plateaus d) plateaus

Kingdoms of the GangesKingdoms of the Ganges

What were the main characteristics of What were the main characteristics of Aryan civilization in India?Aryan civilization in India?

How did expansion lead to changes in How did expansion lead to changes in Aryan civilization?Aryan civilization?

What do ancient Indian epics reveal about What do ancient Indian epics reveal about Aryan life?Aryan life?

Aryan CivilizationAryan Civilization

Nomadic Warriors

Built no cities and left no statues.Felt superior to the people they conquered.

Polytheistic

Religious teachings from the Vedas.People born into castes, or social groups, which they could not change.

Aryan CivilizationAryan Civilization

Expansion led to change in Aryan civilization because they:Expansion led to change in Aryan civilization because they:

mingled with the people they conquered;mingled with the people they conquered; gave up their nomadic ways and settled into villages to farm and gave up their nomadic ways and settled into villages to farm and

breed cattle;breed cattle; learned such skills as ironmaking and developed crafts of their learned such skills as ironmaking and developed crafts of their

own;own; fought to control trade and territory;fought to control trade and territory; moved toward the idea of a single spiritual power;moved toward the idea of a single spiritual power; some rajas, or tribal chiefs, became hereditary rulers;some rajas, or tribal chiefs, became hereditary rulers; developed the written language of Sanskrit.developed the written language of Sanskrit.

Epic LiteratureEpic Literature

Two great epic poems, the Two great epic poems, the MahabharataMahabharata and and the the RamayanaRamayana, tell us about Aryan life and , tell us about Aryan life and values.values.

The The MahabharataMahabharata celebrates battle and celebrates battle and reflects important Indian beliefs about the reflects important Indian beliefs about the immortality of the soul.immortality of the soul.

The The RamayanaRamayana celebrates a daring and celebrates a daring and adventurous hero and portrays the ideal adventurous hero and portrays the ideal woman as loyal and obedient to her woman as loyal and obedient to her husband. husband.


Which of the following is Which of the following is notnot true of the true of the early Aryans?early Aryans?

a) They built magnificent palaces and a) They built magnificent palaces and temples.temples.

b) They were nomadic warriors. b) They were nomadic warriors.

c) They organized people into castes. c) They organized people into castes.

d) They believed in many gods.d) They believed in many gods.


Which of the following is Which of the following is notnot true of the true of the early Aryans?early Aryans?

a) They built magnificent palaces and a) They built magnificent palaces and temples.temples.

b) They were nomadic warriors. b) They were nomadic warriors.

c) They organized people into castes. c) They organized people into castes.

d) They believed in many gods.d) They believed in many gods.


What is one way that expansion changed What is one way that expansion changed Aryan civilization?Aryan civilization?

a) People settled into villages and took a) People settled into villages and took up farming. up farming. b) The Aryans isolated themselves from b) The Aryans isolated themselves from the people that they conquered. the people that they conquered.

c) The Aryans stopped trying to gain c) The Aryans stopped trying to gain

additional lands. additional lands. d) The Aryans developed a more complex d) The Aryans developed a more complex religious system, which involved the religious system, which involved the

worship of many more gods.worship of many more gods.


What is one way that expansion changed What is one way that expansion changed Aryan civilization?Aryan civilization?

a) People settled into villages and took a) People settled into villages and took up farming.up farming. b) The Aryans isolated themselves from b) The Aryans isolated themselves from the people that they conquered. the people that they conquered.

c) The Aryans stopped trying to gain c) The Aryans stopped trying to gain

additional lands. additional lands. d) The Aryans developed a more complex d) The Aryans developed a more complex religious system, which involved the religious system, which involved the

worship of many more gods.worship of many more gods.

Early Civilization in ChinaEarly Civilization in China

How did geography influence early How did geography influence early Chinese civilization?Chinese civilization?

How did Chinese culture take shape under How did Chinese culture take shape under the Shang and the Zhou?the Shang and the Zhou?

What were key cultural achievements in What were key cultural achievements in early China?early China?

The Geography of ChinaThe Geography of China

China was the most isolated of the civilizations studied China was the most isolated of the civilizations studied thus far.thus far.

Long distances and physical barriers separated China Long distances and physical barriers separated China from Egypt, the Middle East, and India.from Egypt, the Middle East, and India.

Isolation contributed to the Chinese belief that China was Isolation contributed to the Chinese belief that China was the center of the earth and the only civilization.the center of the earth and the only civilization.

As in Egypt and Mesopotamia, Chinese civilization As in Egypt and Mesopotamia, Chinese civilization began in a river valley, the Huang He.began in a river valley, the Huang He.

Chinese civilization took shape under the Chinese civilization took shape under the Shang and Zhou.Shang and Zhou.

Shang DynastyShang Dynasty(1650 B.C.–1027 B.C.)(1650 B.C.–1027 B.C.)

Gained control of corner of Gained control of corner of northern China along Huang northern China along Huang He.He.

Drove off nomads from Drove off nomads from northern steppes and deserts.northern steppes and deserts.

Held complex religious beliefs.Held complex religious beliefs.

Developed written language Developed written language used by all Chinese people. used by all Chinese people.

Zhou Dynasty Zhou Dynasty (1027 B.C.–256 B.C.)(1027 B.C.–256 B.C.)

Overthrew the Shang.Overthrew the Shang.

Promoted idea of Mandate of Promoted idea of Mandate of Heaven.Heaven.

Set up feudal state. Set up feudal state.

Economy and commerce grew. Economy and commerce grew.

Population increased.Population increased.

The Dynastic Cycle in ChinaThe Dynastic Cycle in China

Cultural AchievementsCultural Achievements

The Chinese made progress in many areas during the The Chinese made progress in many areas during the Shang and Zhou periods.Shang and Zhou periods.

Discovered how to make silk thread. Discovered how to make silk thread. Silk became China’s most valuable export.Silk became China’s most valuable export. Trade route to the Middle East became known as Silk Road. Trade route to the Middle East became known as Silk Road.

Made the first books from wood or bamboo. Made the first books from wood or bamboo.

Studied the movement of planets and recorded eclipses of the Studied the movement of planets and recorded eclipses of the sun. sun.

Developed accurate calendar with 365 1/4 days.Developed accurate calendar with 365 1/4 days.

Made remarkable achievements in the art of bronze making.Made remarkable achievements in the art of bronze making.


What does the dynastic cycle explain? What does the dynastic cycle explain?

a) why the Chinese had developed complex a) why the Chinese had developed complex religious beliefs religious beliefs

b) why there are floods and famine b) why there are floods and famine

c) why there are peasant revolts c) why there are peasant revolts

d) why dynasties rise and falld) why dynasties rise and fall


What does the dynastic cycle explain? What does the dynastic cycle explain?

a) why the Chinese had developed complex a) why the Chinese had developed complex religious beliefs religious beliefs

b) why there are floods and famine b) why there are floods and famine

c) why there are peasant revolts c) why there are peasant revolts

d) why dynasties rise and falld) why dynasties rise and fall


Why was the development of silk making Why was the development of silk making so important? so important? a)a) It gave the peasants something to do. It gave the peasants something to do.

b) b) Silk became China’s most valuable export. Silk became China’s most valuable export.

c)c) It provided a way for the Chinese to get rid It provided a way for the Chinese to get rid of annoying silkworms. of annoying silkworms.

d) d) Chinese experts traveled to foreign Chinese experts traveled to foreign countries to teach silk making techniques. countries to teach silk making techniques.


Why was the development of silk making Why was the development of silk making so important? so important? a)a) It gave the peasants something to do. It gave the peasants something to do.

b) b) Silk became China’s most valuable export.Silk became China’s most valuable export.

c)c) It provided a way for the Chinese to get rid It provided a way for the Chinese to get rid of annoying silkworms. of annoying silkworms.

d) d) Chinese experts traveled to foreign Chinese experts traveled to foreign countries to teach silk making techniques. countries to teach silk making techniques.

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Early Civilizations in India and China 2500 – 256 B.C