Achievements of Ancient Chinese and Indian Civilizations

1. 2. Ancient Asian Civilizations • Standard: Identify the major achievements of Chinese and Indian societies from 1100 BCE to 500 CE. • Essential Question: What were the major achievements of Chinese and Indian societies from 1100 BCE to 500 CE?

2. China You are Here India

3. India • Element: Explain how geography of the Indian Subcontinent contributed to the movement of people and ideas.

4. India • the geography of India is very diverse • core regions include: • mountain ranges • river valleys • dry interior plateau • fertile coastal plains

5. Indian Subcontinent • a large area of land that is part of a continent but is also separated from the continent • modern countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bhutan Indian subcontinent

6. Indian Mountains • India is separated from the rest of Asia by two major mountain ranges • Himalayas • Hindu Kush Hindu Kush Himalayas Indian subcontinent

7. Indian Mountains • Himalayas • the tallest mountains in the world • Northeast of India • Hindu Kush • Northwest of India • Impact: • mountains protected the Indus valley from invasion Hindu Kush Himalayas Indian subcontinent

8. Khyber Pass Hindu Kush Himalayas • Invaders can only enter the Indian subcontinent over water or through a small number of mountain passes Indian subcontinent • The most well-known mountain pass is the Khyber Pass.

9. Indian Rivers • Plains stretch south from the mountains • There are three major rivers on these plains • Indus • Ganges • Brahmaputra Brahmaputra River Indus River Ganges River

10. Indian Rivers • Indus: flows southwest from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea • Ganges: drops from the Himalayas and flows eastward across northern India to join the Brahmaputra River as it flows into the Bay of Bengal • link interior to the sea • irrigation and silt

11. India’s Climate • Monsoon • a wind that changes direction • creates two seasons • also can mean heavy rain • dominates India’s climate

12. India’s Climate • Winter or Northeast (November to March) • Brings dry air from mountains • Summer or Southwest (June to September) • Brings wet air from the ocean

13. Indian Societies • Element: Describe the development of Indian civilization to include the rise and fall of the Maurya Empire, the “Golden Age” under Gupta, and the emperor Ashoka. • Vocabulary: Mauryan Empire, Ashoka, Gupta Empire

14. Early Civilizations Description: • developed in the Indus River valley • known as Harappan or Indus civilization • 3000 to 1500 B.C. • ruins of two dominant cities at Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

15. Early Civilizations Achievement: • planned cities • sewer system

18. Aryans Description: • nomadic • Indo-European • living in central Asia • 1500 B.C. moved south across the Hindu Kush

20. Aryans Achievement: • excelled at war • conquered the Harappans • Magadha: the first Aryan kingdom to control almost all of India • Caste System

21. Caste System Description: • hierarchy of classes • determined a person’s occupation, economic potential, and social status • five major classes/castes

23. Major Caste • Sudras • most of the population • peasants, artisans, manual labor • had limited rights • Untouchables (Pariah/Dalits) • not considered part of the caste system • 5 percent of the population • had an extremely difficult life • performed tasks that other would not accept • not considered human • other classes considered their presence harmful

25. Maurya Empire Rise: • 324 to 183 B.C. • Unified by Chandragupta Maurya • Overthrew the king of Magaha • Skilled administrator • Developed efficient postal system

27. Maurya Empire Asoka: • 269 to 232 B.C. • considered the greatest Indian ruler • converted to Buddhism • governed in accordance with Buddhist ideals

28. Mauryan Empire (321 - 184 B.C.) Achievements: • After the adoption of Buddhism, Ashoka: • Never again went to war • Carved his laws on rocks and placed them throughout the kingdom • Established free hospitals • veterinary clinics • Built roads with rest areas for travelers connected to the Silk Roads

29. Maurya Empire Silk Roads: • extensive trade route (about 4,000 miles) • Changanin China to Mesopotamia, then to Antioch, and finally to Greece and Rome • luxury goods from West traded for luxury goods to the East

31. Maurya Empire Fall: • declined after Asoka’s death in 232 B.C.

32. Gupta Empire Development: • AD 320 to the end of the fifth century • Built by Chandragupta I • no relation to Chandragupta Maurya • Called the “Golden Age” of India • Built many Hindu temples • Reached height under Chandragupta II (A.D. 375 – 415)

33. Gupta Empire: Achievements Folktales & Drama: • Panchantantra– folktales to teach moral lessons through stories of animals • Kalidasa, famous playwright – wrote Shakuntala – about the love between a king and forest maiden

34. Gupta Empire: Achievements Art and Architecture: • Ajanta Caves • Capital at Pataliputra • Stupas

38. Gupta Empire: Achievements Astronomy: • Realized earth is round Mathematics: • Developed principles leading to algebra • Invented concepts of infinity and zero • Devised symbols for 1-9 (“Arabic Numerals”) • Developed a decimal system

39. Gupta Empire: Achievements Medicine: • Vaccination • Plastic Surgery • Hospital System Trade: • Arabia (Persia and North Africa) – gems, spices, cotton, teak and ebony • China – silk • Rome – gold

40. Indian Religion • Element: Explain the development and impact of Hinduism and Buddhism on India and subsequent diffusion of Buddhism. • Vocabulary: Hinduism, Brahman, atman, Dharma, Karma, Samsara, moksha, Siddhartha Gautama, Buddhism, Nirvana

41. Development of Religion • Mahabharata: an epic Arayan tale that told of the struggle to control the southern portion of India • Krishna: one hero from the epic • Many believe that this struggle is what led the founding of Hinduism and Buddhism

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43. Hinduism Founder: • based on Aryan religious beliefs • no single founder, added to over time Homeland: • India • vast majority of Indian people are Hindus

44. Hinduism God: • Brahman = ultimate reality (God) • Hindu gods and goddesses • gave ordinary Hindus a way to express their religious feelings • three chief deities • Brahma the Creator • Vishnu the Preserver • Siva the Destroyer

46. Hinduism Sacred Writings: • Vedas = collections of hymns and ceremonies passed down orally by Aryan priests and later written down • knowledge comes from the Vedas

47. Hinduism: Key Beliefs • Henotheistic – recognize existence of many gods but believe in only one supreme god • Atman • the duty of the individual self • to seek to know this ultimate reality (Brahman) • Fulfilling its duty would allow the soul to merge with Brahman after death

48. Hinduism: Key Beliefs • Dharma: duties you are expected to perform, the ethical way in which you are supposed to behave • Ahimsa: non-violence towards all living things

49. Hinduism: Key Beliefs • Reincarnation • 500s B.C. • the idea that the individual soul is reborn in a different form after death • after many existences, the soul may fulfill its final goal and unite with Brahman • you may be reborn into a higher or lower caste