CHAPTER 1The First Humans

EARLY HUMANS

Historians rely on documents and written records to create pictures of the past

Prehistory The period before writing developed

Archeology and science help provide answers to how prehistoric humans lived

Archeology Study of past societies through an analysis of what people have left behind

Archeologists examine artifacts, which can consist of tools, pottery, paintings, weapons, buildings, etc.

Anthropology Study of human life and culture

Anthropologists use artifacts and human fossils to determine how people lived

Archeologists and anthropologists have developed scientific ways to see how humans lived

Radiocarbon dating Scientists measure the amount of radioactive carbon on an object Only good for measuring objects no older than 50,000 years old

Microscopic and biological analysis Blood, hair, and plant tissues left on rocks, tools, and weapons is analyzed

EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENTS Australopithecines

Earliest humanlike creatures lived in eastern and southern Africa around 3 to 4 million years ago

They were the first hominids Creatures that walk upright

Homo erectus Second stage in human development, around 1.5 million years ago Made use of larger and more varied tools These were the first to leave Africa and move into Asia and Europe

and learnt how to use fire Homo sapiens

Means “wise human beings” Third stage of human development

Neanderthals First found in Neander Valley in Germany, dated between 100,000 and 30,000 BC Burial of death might indicate that they believed in an afterlife

Homo sapiens sapiens Means “wise, wise human beings”

SPREAD OF HOMO SAPIENS SAPIENS

By 30,000 BC, Homo sapiens sapiens replaced Neanderthals, who possibly died out as a result of conflict between the two groups

The spread of these modern humans was a slow process Around 2 to 3 miles beyond their old hunting grounds

per generation Difference between humans and other species is

the ability to make tools Paleolithic Age

Period of early human history (approx. 2,500,000 to 10,000 BC) in which humans used simple stone tools

THE HUNTER-GATHERERS OF THE OLD STONE AGE

Humans used to rely on hunting and gathering for daily food The people in this era were nomads

People who move from place to place Paleolithic people learnt what animals to hunt and what plants to eat Over time, tool technology evolved and smaller stone points and blades

were made First tools served a variety of purposes Roles of men and women

It’s probable that both were responsible for finding food Women probably stayed close to their camps

They probably played a role acquiring food by gathering berries, nuts, and grains Men did most of the hunting of large animals, which might be far from camp By passing their skills and trade, future generations learnt how to survive

Adapting to survive Paleolithic people found shelter in caves and eventually created tent-like shelter

using animal hides, wood, and animal bones

THE HUNTER-GATHERERS OF THE OLD STONE AGE

The Use of Fire As humans moved into colder regions, they learnt how to use fire to protect

them from harsh conditions Fire gave a sense of community for the people who gathered around the fire This allows humans to scare away wild animals away and flush animals out

of caves to hunt them Paleolithic people eventually made drill-like wooden devices to start fire,

and soon learnt that certain stones give off sparks when struck against a hard rock

The Ice Ages Most recent ice age began around 100,000 BC Sheets of ice covered large parts of Europe, Asia, and North America These conditions posed a serious threat to human life Use of fire allowed humans to adapt to harsh environments

Creating Art Art existed even in prehistoric times Paintings usually contained wildlife images These paintings were found in caves

NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION AND THE RISE OF CIVILIZATION

Neolithic revolution Greek for “New Stone” This period lasted from 8,000 BC – 4,000 BC Occurred after the end of the last Ice Age (8,000 BC) Systematic agriculture became a popular practice

The keeping of animals and growing of food on a regular basis

Animals would be domesticated (adapted for human use) Grains and plants would be planted This gave humans control of the environment Cultivation of wheat and barley spread from southwestern

Asia into the Nile Valley of Egypt

NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION AND THE RISE OF CIVILIZATION

Neolithic farming villages Growing of crops on a permanent basis gave rise to

permanent settlements Appeared in Europe, India, China, Egypt, Mesoamerica

Jericho (in Palestine near the Dead Sea) was one of the oldest and largest in existence (8000 BC)

Catal Huyuk (CHAH tuhl hoo YOOK) was an even larger village found in present-day Turkey

Walls enclosed 32 acres Shrines containing figures of gods and godesses

People grew fruits, nuts, and varieties of wheat People usually had a surplus of food

This allowed people to do things other than farming This led to the rise of artisans

Skilled workers who created weapons, jewelry, ships, and other things

NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION AND THE RISE OF CIVILIZATION

Consequences of the Neolithic Revolution Because people moved to permanent villages, people felt the need to

create permanent shelter (houses) Communities stored good, which led to trade People started specializing in crafts Men became more active in farming and herding animals, usually taking

them far from the settlement Women remained behind, caring for children and taking responsibility for

weaving cloth, turning milk into cheese Men started acquiring more of a dominant role

End of the Neolithic Age Use of metals marked a new level of human control over the environment

and its resources Craftspeople discovered that by heating metal-bearing rocks, they could

turn metal into liquid, which can be cast into molds to make weapons Copper was the first of these metals

Asia found that a combination of copper and tin created bronze, which is harder and more durable

This led to the Bronze Age

THE EMERGENCE OF CIVILIZATION

Culture is the way of life that people follow Simple culture was developed Civilization is a complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a

number of common elements Rise of cities

Cities are a chief feature of civilizations Cities were established along river valleys, where people could farm on a large scale A significant number of people lived in cities

Growth of Governments Growing numbers of people and the need to maintain the food supply and the need to

defend led to need for rule This need for rule led to need for government Monarchies were the main form of government

Religion Religion was developed to explain the workings of the forces of nature and existence itself Priests supervised rituals aimed at pleasing gods and goddesses

This gave priests special powers and important people Rulers claimed their power based on divine approval, and some rulers claimed to be divine

THE EMERGENCE OF CIVILIZATION

New social structure Rulers, upper class of priests, government officials, and warriors

dominated society Below this upper class was a group of free people, consisting of

farmers, artisans, and craftspeople Slaves were at the bottom

Use of writing Rulers, priests, merchants, and artisans used writing to keep

records Not all civilizations depended on writing to keep records

The Inca relied on well-trained memory experts to keep track of their important matters

Artistic activity Temples and pyramids were built as places of worship, sacrifice, or

burial Paintings and sculptures portrayed gods and goddesses or the

natural forces

CHAPTER 2Western Asia and Egypt

IMPACT OF GEOGRAPHY

Greeks talked about the land “between the rivers” Tigris and Euphrates in Mesopotamia This place was known as the Fertile Crescent

Area from the Mediterranean sea to the Persian Gulf Rich soil and abundant crops

Mesopotamia Sumerians were the first Mesopotamian civilization Received little rain Rivers would leave layers of silt, and when they overflowed,

they would enrich the soil with the silt Farming was done when people could control the rivers

Irrigation and drainage systems made it possible to grow crops on a regular basis

Irrigation = the bringing of water to fields through man-made canals

Abundance of food made it possible for people to live together in cities and specialize in different trades

CITY-STATES OF ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA

City-States = political unit made up of a city and its surrounding land

By 3,000 BC, Sumerians established a number of independent cities in southern Mesopotamia, including URUK

City-states were formed as cities expanded and acquired political and economic control over the region

Sumerian cities Surrounded by walls Mud bricks were easily shaped by hand and left to dry in the

hot sun for buildings They created the arch and the dome, and built some of the

largest brick buildings in thworld

CITY-STATES OF ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIA Most prominent building in a Sumerian city was the temple dedicated to

the chief god or goddess Temples were usually built atop ziggurats, which are massive stepped towers People devoted much wealth to build temples Temples and related buildings served as the center of the city (physically,

economically, and politically) Priests and priestesses had a lot of power

Played an important part in ruling Sumerians believed that the gods and goddesses ruled the city

Theocracy (rule by religion) Kingship was regarded as divine in origin

Kings, wives, and children lived in large palaces

Economy and Society Sumerians imported copper, tin, and timber in EXCHANGE for dried fish, wool,

barley, wheat, and metal goods The invention of the wheel in 3,000 BC led to wheeled carts, making

transportation of good easier 3 major groups were Nobles, Commoners, Slaves

Commoners worked for the temples, estates, farmers, merchants, fishers, and craftsmen

90 percent or more were commoners Slaves belonged to the palace officials who were used for building projects

MESOPOTAMIA

Conflict grew with the expansion of city states City-states fought for control of land and water Flat land in this area left city-states open to invasion

To the north of the Sumerian city-states, were the Akkadians Sargon, leader of Akkadians, overran the Sumerian city-states and

established the first empire ever Empire = large political unit or state, usually under a single leader that

controls many peoples or territories They are easy to create but difficult to maintain

Attacks from neighboring people caused this empire to fall around 2100 BC

In 1792 BC, a new empire came to control much of Mesopotamia Hammurabi from Babylon gained control of Sumer and Akkad

(regions) After his death, weak kings were unable to keep the empire united

THE CODE OF HAMMURABI

Made a collection of 282 laws, similar to the later Israelite codes This code provides insight into social conditions in Mesopotamia

Based on system of strict justice Penalties for criminal offenses were severe “an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” system was employed Largest category focused on marriage and family Parents arranged marriage and had to sign contract House builders held responsible for houses Patriarchal society

Male-dominated Women had fewer rights and privileges than men

Women would stay home If she failed to complete her duties, husband could divorce her

Complete obedience was expected

IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION

Extreme natural forces (floods, heavy winds, etc.) made Mesopotamians believe that supernatural forces controlled the world These forces were not kind or reliable Gods and goddesses permeated all aspects of

the universe Polytheistic religion

Belief in many gods Human beings were created to do manual labor

for the gods

CREATIVITY OF SUMERIANS Invented the oldest writing system (Cuneiform), dating to about 3,000

BC Wedge-shaped impressions would be made on clay tablets, which were then

baked on the sun This was used for record-keeping and passing down knowledge Becoming a Scribe was a successful career

(scribes were the writers) Only the wealthy people could become scribes Boys went to school where discipline was harsh (sunrise to sunset)

Misconduct was treated with canes or stick-beatings

The Epic of Gilgamesh Mesopotamian epic poem about Gilgamesh, a wise king with a perfect body He is part god and part human, and befriends a beast named Enkidu, with

whom they do many good deeds When Enkidu dies, Gilgamesh searches for immortality and fails

Lesson: only the gods are immortal

Technology Developed wagon wheel, potter’s wheel (to shape containers), sundial, and

arch Heavenly constellations were charted, devised a number system based on 60

(that’s why we have 60 seconds in a minute, and 60 minutes in an hour)

EGYPTIAN CIVILIZATION: GIFT OF THE NILE

Nile Begins at the heart of Africa and courses northward for more than 4,000 miles Longest river in the world Nile Delta is called Lower Egypt

Important cities developed here The land upstream (to the south) is called Upper Egypt

The yearly flooding of the Nile was a major event and was viewed as a miracle known as the “Gift of the Nile”

This left a deposit of rich soil/mud, making fertile land and called “The Black Land”

Surpluses in food made Egypt prosperous River served as a unifying factor

Trade , travel, and communication Egypt has natural barriers (unlike Mesopotamia, which is flat)

Desert, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea Egyptian life faced much stability due to lack of constant invasion

EGYPT

Religion Provided a sense of security and timelessness Polytheistic 2 main groups were Sun gods and Land gods

Sun was the source of life Sun god took on different names and forms

Atum (human body with head of a falcon), Re (human form) Land gods included Osiris and Isis Osiris was said to have brought civilization to Egypt

Seth, his evil brother, killed him and chopped him into pieces Isis, Osiris’ wife, resurrected him Osiris is regarded as the symbol of resurrection

The dead were placed in tombs Kings in pyramid tombs

EGYPTIAN HISTORY 3 Major periods: Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New Kingdom Old Kingdom

Lasted from around 2700 BC to 2200 BC Age of prosperity and splendor Had a government bureaucracy

Administrative organization with officials and regular procedures The Vizier (steward of the land) became very important

The title of Pharaoh (meaning great house or palace)became common Breakdown in royal power meant that citizens were offending the gods

and weakening that order Pharaohs possessed absolute power

Complete, unlimited power Pyramids

Dedicated to the dead Egyptians believed that humans had two bodies (physical and spiritual)

The spiritual body could return and continue life in comfort Egyptians practiced mummification to preserve bodies Largest pyramid was built under King Khufu

Famous pyramid of Giza Great Sphinx guards the pyramid

Body of a lion and head of a human

Symbol of royal power

THE MIDDLE KINGDOM

After the Old Kingdom collapsed, there was chaos A new royal family came to power Lasted about 2050 BC to 1652 BC

Soon portrayed as the Golden Age because it was the age of stability Egypt began a period of expansion They conquered Nubia, south of Egypt

Fortresses were built to protect the new frontier Government sent armies to Palestine and Syria

During this period, pharaohs were regarded as shepherd of the people, as opposed to god0like

They were expected to provide for the public welfare They dug a canal to connect the Nile to the Red Sea

Increased trade and transportation

THE NEW KINGDOM Middle kingdom ended around 1652

Hyksos (people from western Asia) conquered Egypt Used horse-drawn chariots and overwhelmed Egyptian soldiers who fought using donkey carts They ruled much of Egypt for almost 100 years This led to Egyptians learning much, such as the use of bronze for weapons and tools Egyptians also mastered much of the military skills

New dynasty of pharaohs used new weapons to drive out the Hyksos and reunite Egypt

Egypt became the most powerful state in Southwest Asia Hatshepsut

First woman to become pharaoh Built Great Temple at Deir el Bahri, near Thebes Thutmose III soon took power

Led military campaigns and occupied Syria and Palestine Magnificent new buildings were then created

Amenhotep IV, soon named Akhenaton, angered the Egyptians by closing temples of other gods, only allowing the worship of the Sun God

King Tutankhamen restored the old gods after Akhenaton’s death

Ramses II eventually came to power and made Egypt an offensive force They conquered Palestine, however, were unable to reestablish boundaries as before Invasions from the “Sea Peoples” drove Egypt back to their land, and the Empire fell For thousands of years, Egypt was dominated by Libyans, Nubians, Persians, and

Macedonians Cleopatra VII tried to reestablish Egypt’s independence, but her involvement with Rome

led to her suicide and defeat. Egypt became a province in Rome’s mighty empire

EGYPT Society

Simple structure, organized like a pyramid God-King on top, Pharaoh surrounded by an upper class of nobles and priests

Members of ruling class managed their own estates, government, and provided much of wealth

Merchants carried active trade up and down the Nile Largest number of people worked on land

Daily Life Young girls and boys were married Husband was master of the house Wives were well respected

Women’s property stayed in THEIR hands Purpose of marriage was to produce children Only sons could carry out the family name, but daughters were not ignored

Writing and education Hieroglyphics

Meaning, “Priest Carvings” or “sacred writings” Used box pictures and abstract forms First carved into stones

Art and Science Architectural and artistic achievements Made advances in math (geometry to survey volume of flooded areas) 365 day Calendar based on movements of the moon and Sirius, the bright star Embalming (mummification)

MESOPOTAMIA AND EGYPT

Mesopotamia Egypt .Geography Fertile CrescentAfricaRivers Tigris Euphrates NileNat. Barriers Flat plains Deserts, seasReligion Polytheistic PolytheisticGovernment City-states Rural villages

Theocracy DynastiesKings ruled Divine kings

Social Structure Nobles, commoners Upper classesslaves merchants, artisanspeasants

Economy Farming, Trade Farming, TradeWritten Language Cuneiform Hieroglyphics.

NEW CENTERS OF CIVILIZATION Role of Nomadic Peoples

People living in the present-day area of Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan Built mud-brick buildings Raised sheep and goats Utilized bronze tools System of irrigation to grow wheat and barley People depended on hunting, gathering, herding, farming

Pastoral nomads Domesticated animals for food and clothing Aided in long distance trade Passed on new technologies and

Provided strength to new civilizations (innovation/technological advancement)

Animals traded for grains and vegetables they were unable to grow People who lived in SETTLED communities viewed nomads as

barbaric/hostile/uncivilized Indo-Europeans were one of the most important nomadic

peoples Indo-European refers to a group of people who used a language

derived from a single parent tongue (Latin, Greek, Persian, Sanskrit)

THE PHOENICIANS

Lived near Palestine (along the Mediterranean) The fall of the Hittites and Egyptians gave the

Phoenicians new-found political independence Trade had been the basis of Phoenician prosperity This group produced purple dye, glass, and lumber Great international sea traders

Charted new routes in the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean

Best known for their alphabet Passed on to the Greeks

This is the alphabet we use today

THE “CHILDREN OF ISRAEL” Israelites

Organized into tribes Known for Judaism

Later influenced Christianity and Islam History and beliefs written in Jewish Bible (Torah)

Old testament

Migrated from Mesopotamia to Palestine (aka Canaan by the Hebrews)

They grazed flocks and herds Drought caused them to migrate to Egypt

They were enslaved up until Moses led them out of Egypt Moses also gave the commandments to the Jewish

They eventually returned to Palestine The United Kingdom

During King Solomon’s reign, Israelites had control over all of Palestine Jerusalem was made the capital of Israel King Solomon expanded government, army, and encouraged trade

He was viewed as a wise ruler who can administer justice

THE “CHILDREN OF ISRAEL”

The Divided Kingdom Tension between northern and southern tribes led to the

creation of 2 separate kingdoms Kingdom of Israel

Composed of the ten northern tribes, capital = Samaria In 722 BC, Assyrians overran the Kingdom of Israel The 10 tribes scattered and merged with neighboring peoples, gradually

losing their identity Kingdom of Judah

Composed of 2 tribes, capital = Jerusalem The Chaldeans defeated Assyria, conquered the Kingdom of Judah, and

destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC Babylonian captivity changed Judaism Became a stateless religion whereby God was the creator of the whole world

Eventually, the Persians destroyed the Chaldean kingdom, allowing the people of Judah to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their city and temple

Remained under Persian control until the conquest of Alexander the Great

SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS OF ISRAEL

There is only one God, known as Yaweh Monotheism (belief in only ONE god)

God rules the world All people are servants God created nature, but was not nature

The moon, rivers, etc. are not gods God is just and good God expects goodness from people Covenant between God and the Hebrew people

God will grant protection in exchange for keeping God’s commandments

Jewish believe that religious teachers (prophets) were sent by God to serve as His voice to His people

Prophets would cry out against social injustice Rich were condemned for causing poor to suffer

Jews would not accept the gods of their conquerors or neighbors

RISE OF NEW EMPIRES Assyrian Empire (700 BC – 612 BC)

Semitic-speaking people Exploited use of iron weapons Established empire by 700 BC Included Mesopotamia, parts of the Iranian Plateau, sections of

Asia Minor, Syria, and Palestine Internal strife/conflict led to the empire weakening At its height, king’s power was seen as absolute They were good at conquering others Army was large and well organized

Core of infantrymen, joined by cavalry and horse-drawn chariots who shot arrows

First large armies equipped with iron They used terror as a form of warfare

Set crops on fire, cut down trees, smashed dams, destroyed towns Committed atrocities to captives

“Many I took alive, from others I cut off their noses, ears and fingers, I put out the eyes of many soldiers”

PERSIAN EMPIRE (559 BC – 330S BC) Nebuchadnezzar II (Chaldean) made Babylonia the leading state in

western Asia after the collapse of the Assyrian Empire This civilization fell to the Persians

The Persians were organized into groups until one family unified them Indo-European people

Persians were primarily nomadic Cyrus created a powerful Persian state

Demonstrated much wisdom, compassion for the captured, organization, and a reputation of mercy

In 539 BC, he entered Mesopotamia, capturing Babylon He issued an edict permitting the Jews to return to Jerusalem He made use of Assyrian, Babylonian, and Egyptian designs and building

methods His son Cambyses successfully invaded Egypt Darius added a province in western India that extended to the Indus

River Darius’ moved into Europe, creating the largest empire the world has seen

STRUCTURE OF PERSIAN EMPIRE Darius divided the empire into 20 satrapies (provinces) A Governor (satrap) collected taxes, provided justice and security, and

recruited soldiers They established roads for easier travel King held power of life and death Soldiers were called the Immortals Struggles over throne weakened the monarchy (rule by king or queen)

Artaxerxes II had 115 sons Sons had little power, so they would plot ways as to how to gain the throne

Alexander the Great (Greece) soon conquered the Persians Religion

Zoroastrianism Monotheistic

Ahuramazda was the supreme god who brought all things into being Humans played a role in the struggle between good and evil Good person chooses the right way of Ahuramazda At the last judgment of the end of the world, Ahuramazda would triumph and

good and evil will be separated

CHAPTER 3India and China

EARLY CIVILIZATION IN INDIA India experiences the monsoon

Seasonal wind pattern Monsoon blows warm, moist air from the south-west during the

summer and another blows cold, dry air from the northeast during the winter

Major areas include Himalaya

Highest mountains in the world, north of India Ganges River

South of Himalaya Indus River valley

West of Ganges River Deccan

Plateau extending from the Ganges Valley to the southern tip of India Dry and hilly

Western and eastern coasts have lush plains, usually densely populated

FIRST CIVILIZATION (3000 BC TO 1500 BC)

Indus River Valley supported a flourishing civilization Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

At its height, Harappa had 35,000 inhabitants, Mohenjo-Daro had about 35,000-40,000 inhabitants

Broad north-south streets with smaller east-west streets Buildings constructed of mud bricks baked in ovens Public wells provided supply of water Bathrooms had an advanced drainage system Wastewater flowed out to drains located under streets then to sewage pits

beyond city walls Religion

Rulers based their power on “Divine Assistance” Religion and political power were closely linked

Economy was based on farming (like in Mesopotamia and the Nile region) Indus River flooded every year (like the other rivers) bringing rich soil

They carried extensive trade with city-states in Mesopotamia Textiles and food were imported from the Sumerian city-states in exchange

for copper, lumber, precious stones, cotton Much trade was carried by ships via the Persian Gulf

INDIA Arrival of the Aryans

Floods, earthquakes, and changes in climate weakened the Indus-River civilizations

Aryans brought the final end Aryans moved across the Hindu Kush mountain range into the planes

of northern India Aryans excelled in the art of war, gradually advancing east-ward

across the fertile plain of the Ganges They eventually extended their control throughout India A new society based on Aryan culture and institutions was created Aryans gave up pastoral way for farming Irrigation and iron tools allowed the people to turn dense jungles into

farmland Aryans developed Sanskrit by 1000 BC

This allowed legends and religious rituals and chants to be written down During 1500 and 400 BC, India was a world of warring kingdoms and

shifting alliances Rajas (princes) fought other chieftains seizing women, cattle, and

treasure

SOCIETY IN ANCIENT INDIA

Caste system Rigid social categories determining not only a person’s occupation and

economic potential, but his or her position in society (based on skin color) 5 castes

Brahmans (priestly class, top of social scale) Kshatriyas (warriors) Vaisyas (commoners, usually merchants or farmers) Sudras (made up bulk of Indian population, peasants) Untouchables (given menial, degrading tasks such as collecting trash and handling

dead bodies, were not considered human)

Family Ideal family was an extended family (grandparents, parents, children) Patriarchal family, oldest male held legal authority over entire family Only males were educated and inherited property Young, high-class men began their education with a guru (teacher) Children were important and expected to care for parents as they aged Women were held in disgrace if they did not perform the ritual of suttee

Jumping on the husband’s flaming body when he has died

HINDUISM

Hinduism has origins with Aryan beliefs Early Hindus believed in the existence of a single force in the universe

This ultimate God was named Brahman It was the duty of the individual self to seek to know this reality By knowing Brahman, one merges with Brahman after death

Reincarnation (soul is reborn in a different form after death) appeared by the 6th century BC

Karma, the force generated by a person’s actions that determines how the person will be reborn, is important to reincarnation

Dharma (divine law) rules the concept of karma Karma justified the caste system Yoga became important

Method of training designed to lead to one’s union with god Vishnu (the preserver) and Shiva (the destroyer) are other important

gods Hinduism is still the most prominent religion in India

BUDDHISM

Siddhartha Gautama, aka the Buddha or the “Enlightened one” is the founder

Siddhartha was the son of a ruling family in the foothills of Himalaya He became aware of the pain of illness/sorry of death and the effects of

old age He spent his life seeking the cure for human suffering He gave up his royal clothes, family, and shaved his head in search for

this cure He said that achieving wisdom brings one a step closer to achieving

nirvana (ultimate reality– the end of the self and a reunion with the Great World Soul)

Buddhism is seen as a philosophy rather than a religion Siddhartha preached reincarnation but rejected the caste system There are 4 noble truths and a Middle Path known as the Eightfold Path,

consisting of 8 steps

MAURYAN DYNASTY Hinduism and Buddhism developed out of the Aryan

culture in India Aryans brought little political unity to India Chandragupta Maurya ruled from 324 to 301 BC in

northern India This first Indian Empire was highly centralized Empire was divided into provinces ruled by governors

appointed by the king This empire had a large army and secret police This empire flourished under Asoka (grandson of

Chandragupta) Considered one of the greatest rulers in Indian history He had trees and shelters placed along the roads for weary

travelers The empire began to decline after Asoka’s death After the last Mauryan ruler was killed, India fell to disunity

KUSHAN KINGDOM AND THE SILK ROAD In 1st century AD, nomadic warriors seized power and

established the new Kushan kingdom in Bactria (Afghanistan)

This civilization prospered from the trade passing through this region

Trade between the Roman empire and China passed between the Silk Road It was called the “Silk Road” since China produced a lot of silk Connected Changan China to Mesopotamia Chinese merchants made large fortunes by trading luxury

goods, like silk, spices, teas, and porcelain They were exchanged for woolen and linen clothes, glass, and

precious stones The road also reached a port city named Antioch, where goods

from the West were traded for goods from the East

KINGDOM OF GUPTAS

Kushnan kingdom ended around 3rd century AD In 320 AD, a new state in the Ganges Valley was created by

Chandragupta (no relation to the others) This became a dominant political force throughout northern India Established loose control over central India A new age of Indian civilization was created This kingdom saw prosperity and tolerance of Buddhism Prosperity rose along trade routes Much prosperity came from pilgrims (people who travel to

religious places) Gupta rulers managed trade and made a lot of profit In the 5th century AD, they faced invading Huns who reduced

their power

INDIAN CULTURE Vedas (religious hymns) were passed down Sanskrit was used to write down vedas Mahabharata is the longest poem in any language

Describes war between cousins in Aryan society for control of the kingdom about 1000 BC

Architecture 3 main types of structures

Pillar Sculptures of lions were made, depicting the Buddha’s message

Stupa Meant to house a relic of the Buddha, like a lock of hair These usually became places for devotion

Rock chamber Carved out of rock cliffs Provide a series of rooms to house monks and serve as a hall for religious ceremonies

Science Great astronomers, charting movement of the heavenly bodies Recognized that the earth is spherical and rotates on an axis Introduced the concept of zero, and Aryabhata (scientist) used algebra

CHINESE CIVILIZATIONS

Huang He River (Yellow river) carries rich yellow silt all the way from Mongolia to the Pacific

Chang Jiang (Yangtze river) empties into the yellow sea

Area between these two rivers was very suitable for civilization

Chinese natural barriers (mountains, deserts) isolated the Chinese people from others

SHANG DYNASTY

Farming society ruled by an aristocracy Upper class whose wealth is based on land and whose power is

passed on from one generation to another Huge city walls, royal palaces, large royal tombs Politics and Social Structures

Ruled by king Realm divided into territories governed by aristocratic warlords Early Chinese kings were buried with the corpses of their servants Rulers would communicated with the gods using oracle bones Great majority of people were farming peasants There was a small number of merchants, artisans, and slaves

Religion and Culture under Shang Strong belief in life after death Spirits of family ancestors could bring good or evil fortune to living

members, thus, spirits must be treated well Mastery of bronze casting

ZHOU DYNASTY Lasted almost 900 years, longest lasting Chinese Dynasty Head of government was king

King was the connection between heaven and earth Kingdom was divided into territories governed by appointees

Mandate of Heaven It was believed that heaven kept order in the universe through the Zhou king King is responsible for ruling people with goodness and efficiency It was the king’s obligation to protect the people

This, however, implies that the king can be overthrown if he is evil The king is only a representative of Heaven, but not divine himself

All new dynasties experienced a cycle They would gain power, rule successfully for many years, then decline

The Fall of the Zhou Dynasty Zhou began to decline intellectually and morally This kingdom was divided into small territories In 403 BC, a civil war broke out Foot soldiers and cavalry came into appearance Cavalry members were armed with powerful crossbow The Qin Dynasty soon took control and established its dynasty in 221 BC

CHINA Life during the Zhou Dynasty

Peasants worked on land owned by lords Peasants also had land of their own, which they used for their own use Artisans and merchants lived in walled towns under the direct control of the

local lord Economic and Technological Growth

Large scale water projects, such as irrigation, were set in motion to control the flow of rivers and spread of water

Changes in farming methods increased food production Far reaching trade networks Development of iron led to iron plowshares

Family in Ancient China Family served as the basic economic and social unit They practiced Filial Piety, duty of a members of the family to subordinate

their needs and desires to those of the male head of the family Children were essential, working in fields during early years Males were eventually in charge of the well-being of their parents and

physical labor Male supremacy was a key element

Provided food for family Wives of rulers played a part in court affairs

CHINA Written language

Chinese developed a simple script Composed of pictographs/picture symbols

Chinese Philosophies 3 major schools of thought

Confucianism It is the duty of human beings to work hard to improve life on Earth

Daoism True way to follow the will of Heaven is not action, but inaction

Legalism Human beings are evil by nature Harsh laws and stiff punishments can correct this evil

Chinese philosophers were concerned about the immediate world in which people lived and how to create a stable order in that world

QIN DYNASTY

Legalism was adopted as the official ideology The government was divided into 3 parts

Civil division, military division, censorate (inspectors who checked on government officials to make sure they’re doing their jobs)

Two levels of administration: provinces and counties Officials were appointed and dismissed by the emperor Qin Shihuangdi unified the Chinese world

Created a single monetary system, ordered the building of a system of roads

The Qin built the Great wall to defend China from the Xiongnu This group was separated into tribes but mastered the art of fighting

on horseback The first Qin emperor angered many Chinese

After his death, there was a civil war

HAN DYNASTY Emerged in 202 BC Founder was Liu Bang, a man of peasant origin Harsh policies from the Qin dynasty were discarded Confucianism was adopted as the state’s philosophy Government officials were chosen out of merit, rather than birth (as practiced by

the Qin Dynasty) School was created to teach Confucianism, Chinese history, and law Population rapidly increased Han emperors expanded the Empire, adding the southern region Society

Great prosperity, but taxes and demands on labor caused issues These taxes and duties led poor peasants to sell their land and become tenant farmers

Technology Iron casting technology led to the invention of steel Paper was developed Rudder and fore-aft rigging, ships could sail using wind

Power of central government began declining Wars and peasant uprisings brought the collapse of the dynasty

Qin and Han dynasty Known for cultural achievements, such as the philosophical schools Terra cotta army

Recreation of Qin’s imperial guard