Ancient China

1. Geography

a. Two major riversi. Chang Jiang aka Yangzi

ii. Huang He aka Yellow River

iii. Civilizations in China started in the river valleys of these two rivers

b. Cropsi. South

1. The environment was suitable for rice

ii. North1. Suitable for wheat and millet

c. Isolated

i. Much of China is covered with mountains, hills and desert

ii. Helped protect China from invasion

Shang and Zhou Dynasties

• Use textbook pages 109 – 112 to take notes on the development and achievements of China’s earliest dynasties.

Shang Dynasty Zhou Dynasty

Shang Dynasty Zhou Dynasty

- Strong monarchy- Large army- Governors ruled distant parts- Developed writing- Advances in bronze working- Built huge structure- Astronomers created a precise

calendar based on moon cycles

- Created one of the world's first systems of money

- Used oracle bones to ask ancestors for advice

- Ruled by Mandate of Heaven- Used iron- Population grew- New farming techniques- Cities grew- Built roads and canals- Introduced coins and use of

chopsticks

2. Major Philosophies

a. Concept of the Mandate of Heaveni. Political philosophy

ii. Used to explain the fall of one dynasty and the rise of another

iii. Stated that the gods would support a just ruler, but they would not allow anyone corrupt to hold power

b. Confucianismi. Based on the teachings of a man named Kongfuzi

or Confucius

ii. Confucius1. Believed that people should treat one another

humanely

2. Believed tat love and respect had disappeared and this was what was responsible for violence in a society

3. Believed that if respect for tradition was restored, society would again be stable and orderly

iii. The Analects1. A book written by Confucius

2. States that rulers should treat their subjects fairly

3. Subjects should in return reward their ruler with respect and loyalty

4. People need to respect the members of the family

5. It is the duty of all educated people to devote themselves to public service

c. Daoismi. Encourages people to retreat from the laws of

society and yield to the laws of nature

ii. Concept of the Dao or the way1. Dao is the limitless force that is part of all creation

iii. Embraces the concept of yin and yang1. Represents the

balancing aspect of nature

2. Neither can exist without the other

3. When in balance represents perfect harmony

3. Buddhism

a. Originsi. Originated in India

ii. Founder, is a man by the name of Siddhartha Gautama

b. Teachingsi. Four Noble Truths

1. Suffering is a part of human lifea. No one can escape from suffering while alive

2. Suffering comes from people’s desires for pleasure and material goods

3. Overcoming these desires during life eventually brings suffering to an end

4. Desires can be overcome by following the Eightfold Path

ii. The Eightfold Path1. Right View

a. Accepting the reality of the Four Noble Truths

2. Right Attitudea. Striving for moderation in all things

3. Right Speecha. Avoiding lies, boasts and hurtful words

4. Right Actiona. Treating others fairly

5. Right livelihooda. Avoiding jobs that could bring harm to others

6. Right effortb. Constantly trying to improve oneself

7. Right mindfulnessc. Remaining aware of the world around you

8. Right Concentrationd. Ignoring temptation and discomfort while

meditating

iii. Nirvana1. A state of perfect peace in which the soul would

be free from suffering

2. Can be attained by following the Eightfold Path

3. If nirvana is not achieved you will be reborn and go through the cycles of suffering again

iv. Middle Way1. Another way of expressing The Eightfold Path

2. “Live in moderation, avoid extremes of either comfort or discomfort in the search for nirvana”

c. 3 Divisionsi. Theravada (The Way of the Elders)

1. Oldest of the Buddhist traditions

2. Based on the Pali Canona. Oldest of the Buddhist Writings

3. Best way to attain nirvana is to become a monk or nun and spend all of one’s time in meditation

ii. Mahayana1. Taught that people can help each other find

enlightenment

2. Incorporated text written after the Buddha’s lifetime

3. Bodhisattvasa. People who have found enlightenment but have not

passed yet

b. Help others find enlightenment

iii. Tibetan Buddhism1. Incorporates some of the many teachings with

Mahayana

2. Believe you can use special techniques to harness spiritual energy and achieve nirvana in a single lifetime

February 4, 2014

In America, it is often said that you can “pull yourself up by the bootstraps,” meaning if you work hard, you can overcome challenges and become very successful.

Do you think this is true? How often do you think people born in the lower classes move up to the upper classes? Do you think individuals should be able to move in society, despite their family’s status? Explain.

Ancient India and Hinduism

1. Geography

a. Subcontinent – large landmass that is part of a continenti. Three major geographic zones

1. Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountain systems

2. Deccan Plateau

3. Northern Plains

a. Where Indian society first developed

b. Riversi. Indus River

ii. Ganges

c. Monsoons – seasonal winds that bring rain during the summeri. First civilizations depended on monsoons

to bring water for crops

2. Indus Valley Civilization

a. Cities and Settlements1. Harappa and Mohenjo Daro ("mound of the dead")

2. Well planned and carefully laid out

a. Streets run in grid pattern

b. Community wells

c. Public drainage system

3. Citadel – walled, elevated fortress that enclosed buildings such as granaries, warehouses, and meeting halls.

Mohenjo Daro

b. Economy

i. Focused on agriculture and trade

ii. City dwellers specialized in crafts such as pottery, metal-work, and jewelry

c. Society

i. Writing System

1. unable to read

ii. Single authority, rather than many city-

states

1. Common tool designs

2. Set of standard weights

d. Decline

i. Thrived from 2500 to 2000 BCE

ii. Mohenjo Daro abandoned

1. Reasons unknown

3. The Vedic Period

a. Sacred writing called the Vedas

i. Includes details about Aryan history and society

1. Aryans took control of India sometime after 2000 BCE

b. Vedic Society

i. Groups of small villages banded together under regional leaders called rajas

1. Raja was a war leader

2. Protected the people in exchange for food and money

c. Social Structure

i. According to Rigveda, society divided into four social classes called varnas

1. Brahmins

a. highest ranking; smallest group; priests and teachers

2. Kshatriyas

a. Warriors and rulers

3. Vaisyas

a. Traders, farmers, herders, etc

4. Sudras

a. Servants

ii. Over centuries, varnas were divided into hundreds of smaller divisions called castes

1. Caste determines job and who you can marry

2. Untouchables were beneath caste system

d. Vedic Religion

i. People pray to many aspects of single eternal sprit

ii. Worship

1. Fire sacrifices

2. Offer food and drink

3. Rituals grew more complex over time

a. Gave Brahmin more power

4. Basic Teachings of Hinduism

a. Brahman

i. Eternal being that created and preserves the world

ii. Everything in the world is an aspect of Brahman

iii. Human mind cannot understand Brahman

iv. Everybody has an atman, or soul, that is a part of Brahman

v. Brahman manifests in four different devas

1. Brahma, the Creator

2. Vishnu, the Preserver

3. Siva, the Destroyer

Basic Hindu Beliefs

• Fold your paper in quarters• Use pages 99 – 100 to identify and describe

the four basic Hindu beliefs

ReincarnationAfter death, the atman will be released from the body and later reborn in another

KarmaSum effect of a person’s deeds and actions during lifeNature of a person’s new life will be shaped by karm

MokshaEscape from the cycle of rebirth (ultimate goal of human existence)Atman leaves the world and reunites with Brahman

DharmaSet of spiritual duties and obligationsMust be fulfilled in order to achieve mokshaVaries based on class and station in life

5. Sacred Texts and Practices

a. The Vedas

i. Sacred hymns of praise

ii. Contains eternal knowledge revealed to humans by Brahman

b. Later writings inspired by Vedas

i. Upanishads

1. Deals with nature of the world and the meaning of life

c. Sacred Epics

i. Ramayana

1. Model for Hindu couples

ii. Mahabharata

1. War between 2 families

2. Teaches about dharma and proper behavior

3. Includes Bhagavad Gita, most sacred Hindu text

a. Diaglogue between Arjuna and Krisha (Vishnu in human form)

d. Religious Practices

i. Worship varies

1. Anywhere

2. Priests may recite portions of Vedas

3. May offer food, drink, gifts to deva

4. Prayers, meditation, reflection

a. Yoga – series of integrated physical and mental exercises

iii. Pilgrimage

1. Religious journey to a holy location, the Ganges River

6. Jainism

a. Believed Hindus put too much emphasis on ritual

b. Jains believe people can achieve moksha by giving up all worldly things and carefully controlling actions

c. Ahimsa

i. Nonviolence

e. Truthfulness

f. Eliminate greed, anger, prejudice, gossip

Judaism Buddhism Hindu-ism

Confucian-ism

Christian-ity

Islam

# of followers world wide

Key concepts

Founder

Name of deity

Sacred text / Holy Book

Religious symbol

Jeopardy!

• Groups of 4• Resources:

– 1 whiteboard, 1 marker, 1 eraser– 1 textbook– 2 notebooks

• First team to hold up the correct answer (must be legible) gets the point

• Switch writers every turn!