What happens to the 4 River Civilizations?

When civilizations meet.

Indo-Europeans Migrate• Groups of nomadic people from the

Caucus Mtn. steppes driven from Mesopotamia and Indus Valley.

• Settle in Eastern and Western Europe, India.

• Why? We don’t know.

Mesopotamia and Egypt• Hittites:

– 2000 BCE: Occupy Anatolia (Turkey).

– 1650 BCE: Hattusas.– Occupy Babylon,

struggle with the Egyptians.

– Culture:• Borrow.

– Technology:• Chariots – iron ore and

lumber

– 1190 BCE: Fall.

Mesopotamia• Minoans:

– 2000 -1400 BCE.– Lived on Crete, seafaring.– Facilitate trade (between Asia Minor

[Turkey], Europe, and the Middle East).– 1470 BCE: Earthquake

Mesopotamia• Phoenicians:

– 1100 BCE: Take over from the Minoans.– Superior traders, merchant vessels.– Connect Africa, Europe, and Asia.

Indus Valley• Aryans:

– 2000 BCE: Settle in the Northwest Indus Valley.

– Vedas – sacred literature.– Caste System:

• Brahmins, warriors, landowners, peasants or traders.

• Varna.

– 1000 BCE: Arrive in India; Magadha.– 2 BCE: Magadha is modern India.

China

• Nothing!• Why?

– Geography.– Stable

political, social, and economic landscape.

• Shang Zhou lasts until 256 BCE.

The Birth of World Religions

A metaphor for when civilizations meet.

Proof• Given:

– World religions resulted from more sophisticated civilization, trade, and intermingling of the 4 River Civilizations.

• If:– Religious beliefs are non-material culture.– Religious icons and edifices are material

culture.– Religious texts are primary sources.

• Then:– World religions can tell us the political,

economic, and cultural events, individuals, and ideas from their historical time period.

Hinduism• Date of Origin:1200 – 700 BCE.• Area of Origin: India/Aryan Invasion• Founders: Multiple founders.• Beliefs:

– Holy Book: Vedas, Puranas, among others.– Reincarnation.– Enlightenment is achieved if you are free from

earthly desires.– Freedom from earthly desires comes from a

lifetime of worship, knowledge, and virtuous acts.

Hinduism• 1600 – 1000 BCE:

Aryan invasions.• 1500 – 1000 BCE:

Vedic Age:– Political:

• Expand to the Ganges Valley.

– Cultural:• Sanskrit.• Vedas.

– 1028: Rig-Veda.

Hinduism• 1000 – 600 BCE: Epic

Age:– Poltical:

• Village organization: Chiefs patriarch children.

• Villages responsible for defense and regulation.Caste system?

– Cultural:• Mahabrata, Ramanya, and

the Upanishads.• Caste system (varnas):

Aryans vs. indigenous?

– Economic:• Caste system

Judaism

• Date of Origin: 1200 BCE.• Area of Origin: Mediterranean, Israel.• Founders: Abraham.• Beliefs:

– Holy Book: The Torah.– One god.– People are accountable for their sins.– People serve god by studying the Torah and

living by its teaching.

Judaism• 1200 BCE: The Jews

settle in Israel.• Lose and regain

independence several times:– Abraham – Canaan.– Egypt.– Moses and Exodus.

• 63 BCE: Romans seize the state outright.

Buddhism• Date of Origin: 500 BCE.• Area of Origin: India China, East Asia• Founder: Siddharatha Gautama, The Buddha• Beliefs:

– Holy Book: Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, among others.– People achieve nirvana (complete peace and happiness)

by eliminating their attachment to worldly things.– Nirvana is reached by following the eightfold path:

Right views.Right aspiration.

Right speech.Right conduct.

Right livelihood.Right endeavor.

Right mindfulnessRight meditation.

Buddhism• 563 BCE: Indian

prince named Siddartha Gautama born.

• Brahman opposition.• Hinduism adapts

with mysticism.• Spread to southeast

Asia, Sri Lanka.• Indian pockets.