Classical India Unit IV: Mini - Mr. George...
Transcript of Classical India Unit IV: Mini - Mr. George...
Mini Unit IV: ClassicalIndia
Warm Up:● What do you know
about India (ancient and modern)?
● What do you remember about what we already learned about India?
Ancient Indian
Civilization
Ancient IndiaAncient India was populated by
people living in what is present day Pakistan about 2500 BCE
They are referred to as the Harappans - named after the city Harappa
Not much is known about this civilization due to the fact that its language has not been deciphered
Most cities were destroyed by nature
Aryans Transform
India
AryansA. Indo-Europeans that originated between Black & Caspian SeaB. Migrations begin 1700-2000 B.C. -unknown reasonsC. Settled in the Indus ValleyD. Pastoral people – herded cattle, sheep and goats, counted wealth in cows
Vedas (Veda= “knowledge”)A. Most sacred literature of
the AryansB. Contain collections of
prayers, magical spells and instructions for performing rituals
C. Rig Veda1. Most important
collection2. 1,028 hymns to Aryan
gods3. Originally passed down
orally until written down
Social OrganizationA. Aryans were organized into 4 groups
1. Based on occupation 2. Determined a person’s role in society
B. Aryans regulated society by making these class restrictions more rigid in India
1. Based on varna = skin color2. Aryans lighter skin color3. Viewed indigenous people as inferior
Caste System A. Varnas = 4 main groups
1. Brahmins - Priests2. Kshatriyas - Warriors3. Vaishyas - Traders and landowners4. Shudras -peasants and workers
Caste System Continued…B. Organization
1. Determined by birth2. Determined occupation3. Whom you could marry4. Whom you could interact and socialize with5. Cleanliness and purity was very important
Caste System Continued… Violator of caste rules became outsiders
1. Untouchables – butchers, gravediggers, trash collectors2. Touching these people would defile upper class members
Mauryan & Gupta Empires
Early History● 2000 B.C. Aryan
migrations● 600 B.C. Small
kingdoms develop
● 326 B.C. Alexander the Great conquered Indus Valley
Mauryan Empire● 321 B.C. Chandragupta Maurya
● Indian military leader● Seizes power
● Claims land from Magadha to Indus River
● 305 B.C. Battle against Seleucus● Former general of Alexander the Great● Tried to reestablish Macedonia control
over Indus Valley● 303 B.C. Chandragupta Maurya
defeats Seleucus● Unites northern India for the 1st time
Managing the Empire● Wars of conquest depended on
● 600,000 foot soldiers, 30,000 cavalry &9,000 elephants
● Military required high taxes● 1/2 of value of crops to king
● Kautilya--> Advisor to Chandragupta● Member of the Brahmin caste● Arthasastra - ruler’s handbook
● Proposed tough minded policies● Allowed spying & political assassinations
● Bureaucratic Government● Empire divided into 4 provinces w/ royal prince● Local districts run by officials
● Assessed taxes & enforced laws
Asoka’s Reign● 269 B.C. Chandragupta Maurya’s grandson
assumes throne--> Asoka● Brought empire to greatest heights● Ruled for 32 years
● Battle at Kalinga● Asoka continued plans to expand empire● 100,000 soldiers slain in victory● Due to grief over loss of life, Asoka turned to Buddhism
● Spread of Buddhism● Asoka built stone pillars with new policies inscribed
on them● Guaranteed fair and equal treatment of his subjects● Religious toleration ● Built roads for easy communication● Every 9 miles rest houses & wells
Period of Turmoil● 232 B.C. Asoka’s death left power
vacuum● Northern India
● 185 B.C. Absorbed people fleeing political instability in Asia
● Disrupted Indian society● New languages & customs added to
traditional culture● Central India
● Andhra Dynasty● Profited from trade between North & South
● Southern India● Home to 3 Kingdoms● Spoke Tamil language● Often at war with each other
Gupta Empire● 320 A.D. Chandra Gupta becomes king
● Gains throne through marriage not warfare
● Establishes Gupta Empire● India’s second empire
● 335 A.D. Son Samudra assumes throne● Expanded empire through 40 years on
conquest● 375 -413 A.D. Chandra Gupta II
● Defeated Shakas to the west● Allowed for trade to Mediterranean region
Gupta Empire Achievements● Reign of the three Guptas
● India experienced period of greatness● Arts● Religious Thought● Expanding trade● Literature● Education
● Gupta Empire● First period with information about daily
life● Family life-Patriarchal● Tamil region-Matriarchal
● 535 A.D. Decline● New invaders threatened Northern
India--> Hunas● Empire broke into small kingdoms
Mini Unit V: Classical China
● What do you know about China? What are the key geographical features of China and how might they shape the civilization?
Warm Up:
Ancient ChinaXia Dynasty – Zhou Dynasty
Xia Dynasty 2000 BCE▶ According to legend, Xia
Dynasty emerged
▶ Implemented irrigation projects which helped to reduce flooding from the Huang He
▶ Technology allowed settlement to grow
Shang Dynasty 1700-1027 BCE
▶ Shang rulers = first dynasty to leave written records
▶ Elaborate palaces and tombs were built for Shang kings
Ceremonial dagger 1028 BCE
The Evolution of Writing During the Shang Dynasty
Evidence from the Shang oracle bone inscriptionsshows that at least by the 14th century BCE the Shang had established the solar year at 365 1/4 days
Shang Dynasty 1700-1027 BCE
▶ Anyang = one of the capitals of the Shang dynasty▶ Built of wood in forest clearing▶ Built earthen walls for
protection (118 feet wide at the base)
▶ Higher classes lived inside city walls
▶ Peasants & craftspeople lived outside walls in small huts
▶ Constantly waging war with advanced technology - chariots
Chariot and remains of horse found at Anyang
Bronze Age Empires 3300-1200 BCE
Wine Vessel
Zhou Dynasty 1027-256 BCE
▶ Mandate of Heaven▶ The leader, whose royal authority comes
from heaven must lead by ability and virtue (morally good)
▶ 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
▶ Floods, riots and other disasters were viewed as divine signs that the spirits were displeased with ruler
▶ This belief was used to explain rebellion, civil war and the rise of new dynasties
Dynastic Cycle
Technology & Trade
▶ Roads & canals were built for trade & agriculture
▶ Coined money
▶ Iron developed=used for weapons & tools
▶ Silk production
Feudalism ▶ Zhou kings spread their rule
over China through a system called feudalism
▶ Nobles own the farmland, that was worked by peasants, or serfs
▶ In feudal China, the Zhou put their relatives and other trusted nobles in charge of the land
Period of Warring States▶ Feudalism led to the development of
powerful lords who fought for power & land
▶ Political unity under the Zhou kings declined
▶ Traditional values collapsed as order and harmony is replaced with chaos and defiance
▶ Results in the development of new philosophies
▶ Confucianism
▶ Daoism
▶ Legalism
▶ New Dynasty (Qin) = take over
Why do you think Shi Huangdi is considered the “first emperor?”
What kind of government did he utilize and what occurred under his Qin Dynasty?
Was he a good leader? Explain.
After the fall of the Qin Dynasty, the Han Dynasty was established that utilized Confucian values in their government.
Based on what you know about Confucianism, how might this impact Chinese civilization during the Han Dynasty?