Ancient India and China: Influences and Societies

1. Confucius Chapter 3 India & China Buddha

2. Key Events • Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism profoundly affected the way of life of the early Indians and Chinese. • The Silk Road provided a means for prosperous trade. • The ruler of the Zhou overthrew the Shang dynasty and established the longest lasting dynasty in Chinese history • The Great Wall of China was built to keep out enemies.

3. The Geography of India • The Indian subcontinent is located along the southern edge of Asia. • In the north are the highest mountains in the world, the Himalaya Mountains separate India from Asia • Just south of the Himalaya is the rich valley of the Ganges River,one of the most important regions of Indian culture. • Monsoons are the most important feature of Indian Climate, they are seasonal winds, Southwest monsoons bring heavy spring rains

5. Indus River Valley Civilization1st in India • Early civilization in India developed in the Indus River valley. • A civilization flourished there from 3000 to 1500 B.C. • Archaeologists have found remains of over a thousand settlements in this area. • The advanced civilization that flourished for hundreds of years in these cities is called the Harappan or Indus civilization.

6. Indus River Valley Civilization1st in India • Two sites have ruins of the major cities Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. • Each of these cities had around 35,000 people and each was planned carefully. • Thecities had a grid of streets and were divided into walled neighborhoods.

7. Indus River Valley Civilization1st in India • Some houses were as high as three stories. Buildings were constructed of mud bricks. • Public wells supplied water, and bathrooms used an advanced drainage system. • A chute system took household trash to public garbage bins.

8. Indus River Valley Civilization1st in India • The Harappaneconomy depended on agriculture. • The chief crops were wheat, barley, and peas. • The Indus valley civilization traded extensively with Mesopotamia. • They traded copper, lumber, and various luxury goods for Sumerian textiles and food.

9. The Arrival of the Aryans • Aryan invaders ended the civilization of the Indus Rivervalley by conquering the Harappans. • The Aryans were a nomadic Indo-European people living in central Asia. • Around 1500 B.C. they moved south across the Hindu Kush mountain range into northern India.

10. The Arrival of the Aryans (cont.) • The Aryans created a new Indian society. • Like other nomadic people, the Aryans excelled at war. • In India these nomadic warriors gave up the pastoral life for regular farming. • The introduction of iron helped make this change, especially the introduction of the iron plow, which could be used to clear the dense jungle growth along the Ganges.

11. The Arrival of the Aryans (cont.) • As nomads, the Aryans had no written language. • They developed their first written language, Sanskrit, around 1000 B.C. • They wrote down the religious rituals, legends, and chants that previously had been passed down orally. Song Written in Sanskrit

12. Society in Ancient India • The Aryan conquest had a lasting effect on India. • The meeting of conquered and conqueror created a set of social institutions and class divisions that last to this day.

13. Society in Ancient India • The caste systemwas one of the most important Indian social creations. • It set up a rigid hierarchy of classes that determines a person’s occupation, economic potential, and social status. • There were five major classes, or castes. The Untouchables – Working after the Tsunami of 2005. Burning bodies in India.

14. Priests Religious leaders and teachers Brahmin Responsible for leadership of the people – often seek advice from Brahmin Warriors Kshatriyas Skilled Traders & Merchants Shop Keepers & people who sell products Vaisyas Unskilled Workers People who perform a service-gardener, clothes washer Sudras People that do “dirty” jobs – belong to NO caste. Outcast Untouchables

15. Society in Ancient India (cont.) • The family was the basic unit of ancient Indian society. • The ideal was to have an extended family of three generations under one roof. • Males dominated society – women were looked at as a burden and married off early • An example of this is known as Suttee ---- • Required a wife to throw herself on her dead • husband’s funeral pyre and die herself. Those who • refused were disgraced

16. Hinduism • The religion of Hinduism is based on Aryan religious beliefs. • We know about Aryan religious beliefs from the Vedas, a collection of hymns and ceremonies. • The Vedas make up the oldest Hindu sacred text. • Hinduism is the ONLY religion that • evolved with no specific founder

17. HINDUISM • A polytheistic religion • Over time, three of the most important gods merged together to create a three-part deity called Brahman • Brahma (creator) • Vishnu (protector) • Shiva (destroyer) • Brahma permeates everything in the universe • Every living thing is therefore related • All living things have souls

18. HINDUISM • Reincarnation • Each soul is reborn in the body of some other creature over and over again • A person’s actions (karma) determines the form of that person’s reincarnation • “good karma”—rewarded by improvement in status in reincarnation • “bad karma”—punished by degradation of status in reincarnation • Human existence is an endless round of suffering • “Wheel of suffering” • No escape except through meditation • Only temporary

19. Hinduism (cont.)

20. Buddhism • In the sixth century B.C., a new doctrine called Buddhism appeared in northern India and rivaled Hinduism. • Its founder was Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha (“Enlightened One”). • Siddhartha lived a privileged, sheltered life among great wealth. He was born a prince. • He took a trip and saw how people suffered & rejected the caste system • He left his wife and son – spent 7 years wondering – during this time he gained insight (friends called him the “enlightened one”

21. THE BUDDHA • Gurus appear around 600 BC who argued that Hinduism had become too materialistic and that people should be more spiritual • Foremost guru was Gautama the Buddha • Means “Enlightened One” • Search for permanent escape from wheel of suffering • Argued that desire for material goods causes suffering

22. ACHIEVEMENT OF NIRVANA • Eight-step process to escape wheel of suffering • Included nonviolence, rejection of selfish desires, cultivating compassion and honesty, cleansing mind of evil thoughts, etc. • Nirvana—permanent escape from the wheel of suffering • Attainment of permanent peace and tranquility

23. BUDDHA’S LIFE • Buddha practiced what he preached • Only owned simple robe, walking stick, and wooden bowl • Always slept outside and walked everywhere he went • Presented his creed in a simple language • Treated all persons equally • Many people attracted to him as a result • Millions of converts across Asia

24. Buddhism

25. New Empires of India Kushan Mauryan Dynasty • Around 1st Century AD • Trading Kingdom • Trade with Chinese and Romans • Silk Road developed – 4000 miles between Europe and China …Carried luxury goods – silks, tea, porcelain, ivory, jewels, and textiles • Important leaders: • Chandragupta (324 – 301 BC) • Asoka – Great leader (converted to Buddhism) Guptas • Established 320 AD • Prospered from mining, trade, salt, and cloth • Destroyed by the Huns

26. The Geography of China • One of the greatest food-producing areas of the ancient world developed in the valleys of two rivers in China–the Huang He (Yellow River, so named for its rich, yellow silt) and the Chang Jiang(Yangtze River). • The Huang He, which flows from Mongolia to the Pacific Ocean, is more than 2,900 miles long. • The Chang Jiang, which stretches across central China to the Yellow Sea, is about 3,400 mileslong. • Only 10% of China can be used for farming b/c of mountains and deserts

27. Shang Dynasty

28. SHANG DYNASTY 1750 – 1122 BC • Developed out of Neolithic settlements in Yellow River Valley • Wealth based on land / agriculture • King over system of territories run by aristocrats (upper class) • Priests read oracle bones. A king’s question to the gods would be etched on a bone. • ANCESTOR WORSHIP

29. ZHOU DYNASTY 1045 – 256 BC • King was believed to connect Heaven and Earth • Mandate of Heaven • Rulers had special permission from the gods to rule but this permission could be revoked and given to another family if the current rulers misused their authority • Kings expected to be virtuous – rule the “proper way” or Dao • Later leaders become corrupt – period of the warring states

30. The Chinese Philosophies • From 500 to 200 B.C., three schools of thought about human nature and the universe developed in China– Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism. • Chinese philosophers were concerned with how to live best in this world.

31. 1. Confucianism • Confucius was known to the Chinese as the First Teacher. • He was born in 551 B.C. Motivated by Chinese society’s moral decay and violence, Confucius tried to convince those in power to follow his ideas • His followers wrote down his sayings in the Analects

32. The Chinese Philosophies (cont.) Confucius • Duty & Humanity Ideas – 5 Constant Relationships • Parent to child • Husband to wife • Older sibling to younger sibling • Older friend to younger friend • Ruler to subject • His ideas were political and ethical, not spiritual.

33. The Chinese Philosophies (cont.) • 2. Daoism • was a system of ideas based on the teachings of Laozi. (the founder) • Daoism’s chief ideas are in the book Tao Te Ching(The Way of the Dao). • Daoists believe that the way to follow the Dao is inaction, not action. • People should act spontaneously and let nature take its course.

34. The Chinese Philosophies (cont.) Legalism • Unlike Confucianism or Daoism, Legalism believed human beings were essentially evil. • Legalism’s formula for social order was having a strong ruler and harsh, impersonal laws, both of which made people obedient through fear.

35. QIN DYNASTY

36. QIN DYNASTY • Zhou kingdom had disintegrated into numerous, small independent states by 600 BC • Around 300 BC, the northwestern state of Qin began to conquer neighboring states • Under Shihuangdi ( leader) , Qin had taken over all of northern China • Proclaimed himself “First Emperor” • SHIHUANGDI • Eventually conquered all of what is now China • Centralized administrative system • Standard system of weights and measures • Uniform coinage system • Simplified standard alphabet • Began work on the Great Wall!

37. The Great Wall of China

38. FALL OF THE QIN DYNASTY • Shihuangdi accomplished his work in only ten years • Drove his people mercilessly • Imposed heavy taxes, imposed forced labor, and brutally crushed all hints of dissent • He became obsessed with finding a magic potion that would give him eternal life in last years • Died in 210 BC while on a quest to find magic potion • His empire collapsed immediately in the midst of civil war

39. HAN DYNASTY

40. HAN DYNASTY • Founded by Lui Bang • Former bandit leader • 202 BC-220 AD • Even today, Chinese call themselves the “people of Han” • Lui Bang continued centralizing policies of Shihuangdi but went easier on his people • Restored Confucian principals • Period of prosperity • Lowered taxes • Curtailed forced labor • Lightened up on repression • Put Han Dynasty on firm foundation that would last 400 years

41. HAN WUDI • Greatest of the Han emperors • 157-87 AD • Extended Han power into Tibet, Korea, and Mongolia • Established relations with Japan • Began work on the “Silk Road” • Trade route that stretched from China, through India and the Middle East, and into Europe

42. THE SILK ROAD