1 AKS 31: Indus Valley & Ancient ChinaChapters 2.3, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 4.4

2 Geographic Features Indus River ValleyMtns & deserts protected from invasion Indus & Ganges Rivers  fertile plain (silt) Monsoon winds

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4 Geographic Features Environmental Challenges for Indus ValleyFloods unpredictable River sometimes changed course Cycle of wet & dry seasons brought by monsoons was unpredictable Too little rain  crops failed, people went hungry Too much rain  flooding, villages swept away

5 Geographic Features Ancient ChinaNatural barriers somewhat isolated China 2/3 of China’s landmass is mountains or desert Huang He (Yellow) & Chang Jiang Rivers  fertile plain (silt is called loess)

6 Geographic Features Environmental Challenges for Ancient ChinaHuang He flooding unpredictable Nicknamed “China’s sorrow” b/c floods killed thousands Geographic isolation Early settlers provided own goods rather than trading Invasion from North and West Natural barriers did not completely protect them – invasions occurred again & again in Chinese history

7 Cultural Diffusion India & The Silk RoadIndian traders acted as middlemen on the Silk Road (bought Chinese goods & then sold them to traders on the way to Rome) Built trading stations along the Silk Roads

8 Cultural Diffusion India & Sea TradeSea routes allowed Indian traders to develop or expand trade w/ merchants in Africa, Arabia, & China Indians would sail to SE Asia to collect spices, bring the spices back to India, & then sell them to Roman merchants

9 Cultural Diffusion India – Effects of ExpansionIncreased trade  rise of banking in India Indian merchants who moved abroad helped spread Indian culture throughout Asia

10 Cultural Diffusion China & The Silk RoadChinese gov’t made silk production techniques a closely guarded secret Helped create a worldwide demand for silk Expanded Chinese commerce all the way to Rome

11 The Silk Road split in two to skirt the edges of the Taklimakan DesertThe Silk Road split in two to skirt the edges of the Taklimakan Desert. Both routes had oases along the way. From this point, ships carried silk & spices to Rome. The Romans paid a pound of gold for a pound of Chinese silk!! Caravans

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13 Cultural Diffusion China & Territorial ExpansionExpansion brought people of many cultures under the rule of the Chinese Gov’t promoted intermarriage, schools to teach conquered peoples, & appointed local people to gov’t posts

14 2500 B.C. Planned Cities Mohenjo-Daro HarappaPlumbing system – almost every house had a private bathroom w/ toilet Harappa Do not know much about them b/c we can not decipher their writing What we do know comes from the remains of the city & the artifacts that have been found

15 1500 B.C. Indo-European Aryans move to Indus River ValleyDifferent from people already living in India Divided into 3 Social Classes: Brahmans (priests) Warriors Peasants or Traders Aryan class structure eventually became the caste system: Kshatriyas (rulers & warriors) Vaishyas (peasants & traders) Shudras (laborers) **Untouchables * Info we have comes from the Vedas

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17 321 B.C. Chandragupta Maurya claims throne; Mauryan Dynasty begins.Supported his successful war efforts by levying high taxes on farmers Taxed income from trading, mining, & manufacturing

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19 301 B.C. Chandragupta’s son assumes throne.Held vast empire together by dividing empire into provinces (bureaucratic) 4 Provinces, each headed by royal prince Further divided into local districts whose carefully supervised officials assessed taxes & enforced laws

20 269 B.C. Asoka, Chandragupta’s grandson, becomes king of the Mauryan EmpireWaged war early in his reign to expand empire Adopted Buddhism Caused him to treat his subjects fairly & humanely Urged religious toleration Built extensive road system to improve communication

21 232 B.C. Asoka dies; Empire begins to break upDeath created power vacuum Provinces split, ruled themselves independently Wars often fought b/w them in the struggle for power

22 320 A.D. Chandra Gupta becomes first Gupta EmperorUnified empire around Ganges River Valley

23 335 A.D. Chandra Gupta’s son, Samudra, becomes rulerExpanded empire w/ 40 years of conquest Supported the arts

24 375 A.D. Chandra Gupta II becomes kingExpanded territory  allowed Guptas to expand trade b/w India & Mediterranean

25 “Golden Age” under the Guptas Changes in BuddhismIdea that many people could become Buddhas through good works changed Buddhism from a religion emphasizing individual discipline & self-denial to one that offered salvation to all & popular worship Buddhist became divided into 2 sects over the new doctrines (Mahayana & Theravada) New trends inspired Indian art

26 “Golden Age” under the Guptas Changes in HinduismTrend toward monotheism developed Hinduism embraced hundreds of gods, but many Hindus began devoting themselves to Vishnu or Shiva As it became more personal, it also became more appealing to the masses

27 “Golden Age” under the Guptas Literature & The ArtsWriting academies formed Dance & drama became popular

28 “Golden Age” under the Guptas Science & MathematicsCalendar based on cycles of the sun, 7-day week, day divided into hours Proved earth was round using lunar eclipse Numerals (including zero) & decimal system invented Mathematicians calculated value of pi (π) & the length of a solar year to several decimal places

29 2100-1700 B.C. Xia Dynasty emerges as 1st Chinese dynastyYu, the leader, designed flood control projects to reduce flood damage  helped more permanent settlements grow Yu also designed irrigation projects that allowed farmers to grow surplus food to support cities

30 1700-1027 B.C. Shang Dynasty First to leave written recordsFought many wars Lived in walled cities (like Sumerians) for protection

31 1700-1027 B.C. Shang Dynasty CultureFamily Central to Chinese society Respect for one’s parents Women were treated as inferiors Social Classes Sharply divided between nobles and peasants Ruling class of warrior-nobles headed by a king Religious Beliefs Spirits of family ancestors could bring good fortune or disaster to living family members Polytheistic – worshipped a supreme god and then many lesser gods

32 Zhou Dynasty 1027 B.C. - Zhou begin ruleClaimed authority to take over by declaring the Mandate of Heaven Rulers had divine approval to be rulers, but a wicked or foolish king could lose the Mandate of Heaven and so lose the right to rule

33 Zhou Dynasty The Dynastic CycleFloods, riots, etc. could be signs that the ancestral spirits were displeased with a king’s rule In that case, the Mandate of Heaven might pass to another noble family This pattern of rise, decline, & replacement of dynasties was known as the Dynastic Cycle

34 Zhou Dynasty Territorial Control – How?Feudalism Political system where nobles, or lords, are granted the use of lands that legally belong to the king In return, nobles owe loyalty & military service to the king & protection to the people living on their estates

35 Zhou Dynasty Improvements in Technology & TradeRoads & canals built  stimulated trade & agriculture Coined money introduced  further improved trade Blast furnaces developed  produced cast iron

36 Zhou Dynasty 226 B.C. Decline & FallNomads from west & north sacked capital Zhou kings fled, but were powerless to control noble families Lords fought neighboring lords As their power grew, they claimed to be kings in their own territory While Zhou was in decline…

37 Rise of Chinese Philosophies Confucianism5 Basic Social Relationships: Ruler & Subject Father & Son Husband & Wife Older Brother & Younger Brother Friend & Friend Founder: Confucius ( B.C.) Ideas About Social Order: Emphasis on family Respect for elders (filial piety) Ideas About Government: Emphasis on education Could change a commoner into a gentleman Trained civil service essential for good gov’t

38 Rise of Chinese Philosophies DaoismFounder: Laozi Ideas About Order & Harmony: Understanding nature is key to order & harmony Natural Order more important than Social Order Ideas About A Universal Force: Universal Force called Dao (aka “The Way”) guides all things

39 Rise of Chinese Philosophies LegalismFounders: Li Si, Hanfeizi Ideas About Social Order: Efficient & powerful gov’t is key to social order Ideas About Government Gov’t should control ideas & use law & harsh punishment to restore harmony Rewards for people who carry out their duties well

40 Qin Dynasty 221 B.C. Shi Huangdi Assumes ControlEstablished autocracy – gov’t that has unlimited power & uses it in an arbitrary (random) manner “Strengthen trunk, weaken branches” Forced noble families to live in capital under his suspicious gaze Carved China into 36 administrative districts & sent Qin officials to control them

41 Qin Dynasty Shi Huangdi Begins Building Great WallBuilt to prevent invasions from N & W Enemies would have to gallop halfway to Tibet to get around it

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44 Han Dynasty - “Golden Age” 206-195 B.C. Liu BangEstablished centralized gov’t Lowered taxes Eased harsh punishments Brought stability & peace to China

45 Han Dynasty - “Golden Age” 195-180 B.C. Empress LüMaintained control by naming one infant after another as emperor & acted as regent for each infant

46 Han Dynasty - “Golden Age” 141-87 B.C. WudiExpanded Chinese empire by conquering lands & making allies of the enemies of his enemies (the enemy of my enemy is my friend) Set up civil service system of training & examinations for those who wanted gov’t careers (Examination System –Confucian idea)

47 Han Dynasty - “Golden Age” Paper InventedIncreased availability of books Spread education Expansion of gov’t bureaucracy – records became easier to read & store

48 Han Dynasty - “Golden Age” Agricultural ImprovementsCollar Harness Improved Plow Wheelbarrow Watermills Improved Iron Tool Ability to Feed a Large Population Population Growth

49 Fall of Han Dynasty & Their Return Gap Between Rich & PoorCustoms allowed the rich to gain more wealth at the expense of the poor

50 Fall of Han Dynasty & Their Return 45 B.C.-24 A.D. Wang MangMinted new money Established public granaries to feed poor Tried to redistribute land from the rich to the poor A.D. 11 – Great flood left thousands dead & millions homeless Revolts broke out – Wang Mang assassinated

51 Later Han 24 A.D.-220 A.D. Encouraged Silk Road trade with westDisintegrated in 3 rival kingdoms

52 Social Hierarchy Under the Han Dynasty, the structure of Chinese society was clearly defined. At the top was the emperor, who was considered semi-divine. Next came kings and governors, both appointed by the emperor. They governed with the help of state officials, nobles, and scholars.    Peasant farmers came next. Their production of food was considered vital to the existence of the empire. Artisans and merchants were below them.    Near the bottom were the soldiers, who guarded the empire's frontiers. At the bottom were enslaved persons, who were usually conquered peoples.

53 Family Organization Patriarchal Role of Women MatriarchalHeaded by the eldest male (*this was the same way in India) Role of Women Limited roles within the family at home & on the farm Matriarchal South India during the Gupta era was matriarchal (headed by the mother rather than father) - property and sometimes thrones were passed through the female line.