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Ancient Indian and Chinese Civilizations

Discover the rich histories of the Harappan Civilization, Aryan Migration, Mauryan Empire, Gupta Empire, and the remarkable inventions of the Chinese Qin Dynasty. Explore their political developments, social structures, gender roles, philosophies, and cultural achievements.

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Ancient Indian and Chinese Civilizations

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  1. India China

  2. The Harappan Civilization • 3300 BCE - 2400 BCE • Developed along the Indus River

  3. Aryan Migration • pastoral  depended on their cattle. • warriors  horse-drawn chariots.

  4. The Vedas • 1200 BCE-600 BCE. • written in SANSKRIT. • Hindu core of beliefs: • hymns and poems. • religious prayers. • magical spells. • lists of the gods and goddesses. Rig Veda oldest work.

  5. Sanskrit writing

  6. Political Development • After the Aryan invasion, circa 6th c BCE • India in small regional kingdom • Some periods of centralized rule • Mauryans • Guptas • Most of the time decentralized

  7. Mauryan Empire • 320s BCE, Chandragupta Maurya filled the power gap left by Alexander the Great • Dominated the area • Set up bureaucratic administrative system • Ashoka, grandson of C. Maurya • Continued his violent approach

  8. Ashoka • Began ruling by moral example • Set up a tightly organized bureaucracy • Collected taxes • Made up of officials, accountants and soldiers • Built roads, hospitals, rest houses to facilitate trade • Codified laws • After death, India declined into land of decentralized regions once again • BUT order and stability maintained because of trade

  9. Gupta Empire • 320 CE India unified under the Guptas • Conquered many of the regional kingdoms • Left local government and administration in power • Declined after the invasion of the Huns in 550 CE • India reverts once again to regional kingdoms

  10. Economic Development • Benefited from expansion of agriculture and trade • Ashoka encouraged irrigation, roads, wells, inns -- caused rise of towns • Middle men on Silk Roads • Increased long-distance trade with China, SW Asia and Med. basin

  11. Social Structure and Gender Roles • Women • Forbidden to read sacred prayers • Legally minors • Subject to supervision of male family members • Family must provide large dowry • Not allowed to inherit property • Widows not allowed to remarry • Patriarchal society with strict social structure

  12. Social Structure and Gender Roles • Caste System – caste = something that cannot be changed • Developed during Vedic Age • Determined job, diet, marriage • Restrictions reinforced by the ruling class • Brahmins most powerful

  13. Culture, Arts, Science, Technology • Buddhism strengthened by Ashoka Maurya • Hinduism regains power with Guptas • Indian art stressed symbolism rather than accurate interpretation • Geometry and algebra flourished • Concept of zero, decimal system, “Arabic” numbers

  14. Indian Art

  15. Ancient Indian Astronomy Tool for keeping track of the constellations Celestial observatory Sundial

  16. Math • Decimal system 234.567 • Zero -- 0 • Algorithms • Arabic numerals – 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 • Square root -- √

  17. Shang Dynasty - 1700-1027 BCE Huang He River

  18. Oracle Bones

  19. Chinese Writing System • Each character in the Chinese language stands for one syllable or unit of language • More than 10,000 characters • Major advantage: people all over China used the same writing system, even if they spoke different languages

  20. Geography- Zhou

  21. Mandate of Heaven The Zhou justified taking over from the Shang by saying that they had lost divine approval to rule

  22. Leaders/Traits - Walled cities - Trade routes between cities - Mandate of Heaven - Feudalism Philosophy - Daoism/Taoism - Laozi 500’s BCE - Confucianism Analects Chaotic government as Zhou was in decline 522 BCE Zhou Dynasty1029-258 BCE

  23. Confucianism • Based on five relationships • Ruler/subject • Husband/wife • Father/son • Older brother/younger brother • Friend/friend • Not a religion • Women were subservient to men • Wanted to reform society by showing rulers how to govern wisely • Laid groundwork for creation of a bureaucracy [a trained civil service who runs the government] • Examination system

  24. Ruthless—Totalitarian Legalism adopted Territorial Expansion begins 214 BCE Book burning-213 BCE Standardized weights and measures Single money system Uniform writing system Postal system Great Wall Bankrupted China Pottery Army-210 BCE Forced labor First time China united as one empire Qin Shi Huangdi- 1st Emperor Qin Dynasty221-206 BCE

  25. Great Wall

  26. Chinese Inventions • Paper • Gunpowder • Compass • Two-bladed plow – allows for increased food production • Printing • Crossbow

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