1 / 21

Unit 2 – Classical Empires

Quizlet Link:. http://quizlet.com/_ f7cy8. Unit 2 – Classical Empires. Eastern India & China. Concept Questions. What caused the classical empires to develop and what effects did this development have on civilization?

zwi
Download Presentation

Unit 2 – Classical Empires

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Quizlet Link: http://quizlet.com/_f7cy8 Unit 2 – Classical Empires Eastern India & China

  2. Concept Questions • What caused the classical empires to develop and what effects did this development have on civilization? • What were the major accomplishments of the civilizations of India and China during the “Classical Era”? • What are the historical origins and central beliefs of Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism? • What factors contributed to the rise and fall of empires and dynasties in the East?

  3. Mauryan/Gupta Empires

  4. India • Aryans from central Asia conquer the Dravidians and grow into an empire as a response to Greek challenges • Mauryan Empire – golden age • Chandragupta Maurya • Bureaucratic govt. – divided into provinces • Heavily taxed to pay for the large army • Asoka • Chandragupta’s grandson • Bothered by mass death, converts to Buddhism • India falls into turmoil after his death • Gupta Empire • Reunites India after the fall of the Mauryan Empire • Expanded Indian empire

  5. Indian Culture • Astronomy, Math and Medicine • Calendar based on the sun • 7 day week • 365 days • Pi • Art • Poems & plays in Sanskrit • Murals and architecture • Classified diseases • Surgeries • Inoculations • Effects of Indian Culture • Numeral system still used today • Caste system became the new social order

  6. Hinduism • Dominant religion in India, over 4,000 yrs. Old • No direct trace to one founder, collection of ideas including the idea of reincarnation brought with the early Aryans • Several religious texts, (Vedas, Upanishads) • Moksha – state of perfect understanding or the relationship between atman (individual soul) and Brahman (world soul), cannot be achieved in one lifetime • Karma – good or bad, follows you into the next life • Supports the caste system • No possibility of movement within this lifetime • How does this work? Why would they follow it?

  7. Buddhism • Developed as a response of the lower castes who resented Hinduism inequality • Siddhartha Gautama (prince) • Isolated to fulfill prophecy • No world experiences, saw religious life as the refuge from human suffering • Wandered 6 years looking for enlightenment • Self-sacrifice, Eight fold path (Middle Way) • Four Noble Truths • Middle of desire and self-denial • Nirvana • reincarnation • Not popular in India – spread to Central Asia through missionaries and along the Silk Road

  8. Zhou (Chou)Dynasty

  9. Zhou Dynasty • Nobles rule through feudalism • Established Confucianism and Daoism • Mandate of Heaven • The gods gave the right to rule • Bad things happened as a sign that ancestral spirits were unhappy with the current ruler • The leader must lead by ability and virtue • The dynasty’s leadership must be justified by succeeding generations • The mandate could be revoked by negligence and abuse; the will of the people was important

  10. Chinese Philosophies Confucianism (Confucius) • Developed as a response to social problems, later became the basis of the Chinese govt. including civil service exams • five relationships Ruler/subject • Father/son • Husband/wife • Older brother/younger brother • Friend/friend • Filial piety – respect for parents and elders • Analects • Bureaucracy - trained civil service based on education • not a religion, an ethical system Daoism • Laozi • search for knowledge and understanding of nature • Universal force called the Dao • Students encouraged to pursue scientific studies

  11. Qin Dynasty

  12. Qin Dynasty • Shi Huangdi • Autocracy • Centralization • Legalist – uniform laws, currency, weights and measures • Great Wall – work…or Die • Legalism – harsh laws to maintain order • Yin/Yang – feminine and masculine qualities, natural rhythms of life

  13. The Great Wall

  14. Han Dynasty

  15. Han • Establishes a centralized govt. • Confucian principles • Complex bureaucracy with scholar leaders • Lowers taxes, softens harsh punishments • Brings peace and stability • Civil service exams • Created paper, ceramics, advanced silk weaving • Established Silk Road • One month of labor or military service each year • Built roads, canals, irrigation ditches, etc… • Family • Many children • Women treated well and influential, but subordinate to men • Arranged marriages • Wealthy sons could join the govt., daughters married wealthy

  16. Silk Road • Stretched from China to Rome

  17. Collapse of Han • Govt. corruption and instability • Too large to govern effectively • Invasions (Mongolians) • Social inequality (rich/poor gap) • Conquered people were encouraged to assimilate into Chinese culture • Agriculture is the most important job • Chinese farmers sent into newly colonized areas • Taxes paid by peasants and merchants • Poor inheritance laws • Forced division • High debts = loss of land = higher taxes • Peasant Revolts • Decline of morals/values • Unemployment and inflation • Decline of cities

More Related