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Ancient China & India. Zhou Dynasty Overthrown. In 256 B.C.E. the Zhou Dynasty was overthrown. The Qin Dynasty. By 221 B.C.E. a man by the name of Qin had overthrew the Zhou Dynasty, and all other opposition, He placed himself as the ruler of China. “China”: from “Qin”.
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Ancient China&India
Zhou Dynasty Overthrown • In 256 B.C.E. the Zhou Dynasty was overthrown.
The Qin Dynasty • By 221 B.C.E. a man by the name of Qin had overthrew the Zhou Dynasty, and all other opposition, • He placed himself as the ruler of China.
“China”: from “Qin” • The Qin Dynasty only lasted about 11 years. • The Qin dynasty made changes that effected the history of China for thousands of years. • So influential was Qin, that the name of the nation, China, comes from his name.
Qin Shi Huangdi • Qin named himself Qin Shi Huangdi, which means Qin, the first emperor of China.
Centralization of Authority Qin Shi Huangdi reorganized China. • Established a strict set of written laws. • Setup military control in each region of China. • Qin wanted everything to be under his direct authority and control.
Qin Building Projects • Qin forced the peasants, to build roads, bridges, canals, buildings, and the Great Wall of China. • Qin ordered the connection of existing walls and expanded them, to a distance of over 4000 miles. • Over 300,000 peasants were forced to build the Great Wall. Many died during the construction.
The Han Dynasty • In 207 B.C. a new dynasty came to power. • Led by a peasant whose named Liu Bang. • Liu Bang proclaimed that the Qin had lost the mandate of heaven, or the right to rule the nation. • He established himself as the first emperor of the Han Dynasty. • The Han Dynasty ruled China for the next 400 years. Peace thru war and plunder.
Four Hundred Year Rule • The Han made China one of the wealthiest and most powerful nations on Earth. • Their achievements would only be surpassed by the Roman Empire. • China was isolated from much of the rest of the world.
Chinese Exploration • In 139 B.C.E., emperor Wudi sent general Zhang Qian, to explore other nations. • This general and his army visited other civilizations and nomadic tribes. • The armies of Zhang Qian were attacked and destroyed by the nomadic tribes many of Zhang Qian's men. • Zhang Qian himself was held prisoner for 10 years. • Qian returned with stories of a great civilization to the West that equaled China. • This was the first time Wudi had heard anything of any other civilizations. • Wudi saw the potential for trade between the two cultures.
The Silk Road • Emperor Wudi began to develop the silk road. • Merchant traders took silk from China to the West, and brought glass, linen, and gold back to China. • The silk road stretched across nearly 5000 miles of land and water.
Pax Sinica • During the Han Dynasty, China enjoyed a 400 year period of peace and prosperity. • Han emperors established: • strong central government. • Improved storage of food. • written exams for government positions.
Chandragupta Maurya • Founder of Maurya Empire - 1st unified Indian empire • Unified northern India. • Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law enforcement. • He feared assassination food tasters, slept in different rooms, etc. • 301 BCE gave up his throne & became a Jain.
Ashoka(304 – 232 BCE) • Grandson of Chandragupta • Represents high point of Mauryan Empire, 268-232 BCE • Expanded empire to include all of Indian subcontinent except for south • Positive leadership integrated Indian society • Religious conversion after the battle of Kalinga in 262 BCE. • Dedicated his life to Buddhism. • Built extensive roads. • Conflict how to balance methods of keeping power and Buddhism • Wrote law code on rocks or pillars (Stupas) • Buddhist principles dominate his laws.
Decline of the Mauryan Empire • Economic crisis follows death of Ashoka • Regions begin to abandon Mauryan Empire • Disappears by 185 BCE
The Gupta Empire • Founded by Chandra Gupta, c. 320 CE • Highly decentralized leadership • Foundations for studies in natural sciences and mathematics • Great Rulers • Chandra Gupta I - “Great King of Kings”r. 320 – 335 CE • Chandra Gupta II r. 375 - 415 CE • Profitable trade with the Mediterranean world! • Hindu revival. • Huns invade – 450 CE
Gupta Achievements 1000 diseasesclassified 500 healingplants identified Printedmedicinal guides Kalidasa PlasticSurgery Literature Medicine GuptaIndia Inoculations SolarCalendar C-sectionsperformed Astronomy Mathematics DecimalSystem The earthis round PI = 3.1416 Conceptof Zero
Gupta Decline • Frequent invasions of White Huns, 5th c. CE • Gupta Dynasty disintegrates along regional fault lines • Smaller local kingdoms dominate until Mughal Empire founded in 16th c.
The Caste System • Caste system from Aryan times • Brahmins (priests) • Kshatriyas (warriors, aristocrats) • Vaishyas (Peasants, merchants) • Shudras (serfs) • Untouchables