EARLY CIVILIZATIONS:
INDIA AND CHINA
(2500B.C.E – 256B.C.E)
Section 1
: Cities of the Indus Valley
The Indus Valley is located in the region known as the
__Subcontinent__ of India, or a large landmass that juts out from a continent. (India, Pakistan)
The Indian subcontinent is divided into _Three_ major
zones or regions.
1. The well watered _Northern_ plains. (Rivers: Indus
(India’s name), __Ganges__, and the Brahmaputra) Rivers are sacred: “_Lok_-_Mata_” = River (mother of the
people).
2. The most recognizable feature of India is the _Deccan_,
or triangular plateau that juts out into the Indian Ocean. (arid, unproductive – little water, no snow-caps.)
3. India’s third region is the _Coastal_ plains. From early
times, people used the seas for __Fishing__ and as a highway for trade.
Today, as in the past, a defining feature of Indian life is
the _Monsoon_, a seasonal wind. (October: winter – dry from northeast, June: Summer – wet, life-giving)
India’s great size and diversity (customs, traditions,
Indus Valley Civilization
The earliest civilization emerged in present day
_Pakistan_, about 2500B.C
This civilization flourished for about _1000_ years and
then vanished (little known)
Well Planned Cities: The two main cities, __Harappa__
and Mohenjo-Daro, may have been twin capitals. (striking features– grid pattern, oven fired bricks, _plumbing_ systems, storage)
Most Indus Valley people were _farmers_: (wheat,
melons, first to grow cotton for cloths.)
Like other ancient people, they were polytheistic. A
mother goddess, the source of _creation__. The Indus people also had sacred animals, including the bull. (some scholars believe influenced later beliefs, especially the _veneration_ of, or special regard for cattle.)
By 1500B.C, a deathblow had fallen on the declining
Section 2
: Kingdoms of the Ganges
The _Aryans_, who migrated across Europe and Asia, destroyed the cities of the
Indus and became the builders of a new _Indian_ civilization along the Ganges.
The _Vedas_ was a collection of prayers, hymns, and other religious teachings.
The Period from 1500B.C – 500B.C is often called the _Vedic_ Age. (memorized)
From the Vedas we learn that the Aryans divided people by _occupation_ (3
groups)
1. __Brahmins_: Priests 2. Kshatriyas: Warriors 3. Vaisyas: herders,
farmers…
The Vedas also showed that the Aryans felt vastly superior to the _Dravidians_,
or the people that they conquered. (_Castes_: social group – born / could not change)
It was shown that the Aryans were polytheistic, Fierce _Indra__ was the god of
war and the chief god. _Agni_ the god of fire. – messenger to all Gods/Goddesses
Some religious thinkers moved to the notion of a single spiritual power that
resided in all things, _Brahman_. (souls)
_Mystics_ are people who devote their lives to seeking spiritual truth.
Chiefs called _Rajahs_ led Aryan tribes. (skilled war leaders – elders helped)
By 500B.C, a new Indian civilization had emerged and developed a written
language, __Sanskrit__, to write down sacred texts.(Aryans and Dravidian traditions)
Section 3
: Early Civilizations in
China
The ancient Chinese called their land _Zhongguo_, the Middle
Kingdom.(Isolated)
Long distances and barriers (Himalayas, Gobi desert) contributed
to the Chinese belief that China was the center of the Earth and sole source of _civilization_.
As the Chinese expanded, their empire came to include many
regions.
The Chinese heartland lay along the east coast and valley of the
_Huang_ He, or Yellow River and the __Yangzi__. (Irrigation, transportation, population)
Beyond the heartland are the regions of Xinjiang, __Mongolia_,
and Manchuria.
Chinese history began in the Huang He valley – the Huang He got
its name from the _Loess_, or fine windblown yellow soil (also called the River of Sorrows)
China Under the Shang
From 1650B.C to 1027B.C, a Chinese people called the _Shang_
gained control of northern China along the Huang He.
During the Shang _Dynasty__, Chinese civilization first took
shape.
The Chinese lived in _Clans_ , or groups of families who clamed a
common ancestor (often mythical).
Shang society mirrored that in other early civilizations, most were
Religion and Writing
Religion
By the Shang period, the Chinese had developed a complex polytheistic, religion. _Shang_ Di, Mother goddess was chief among the gods (Brought plants and animals to Earth)
They practiced “_Ancestor_- worship,” asking them to speak to the gods for them
The Chinese believed the universe reflects a delicate balance between Yin and _Yang_
Writing
The oldest example of Chinese writing are on _Oracle_ bones – priest wrote on animal bones, heated until they cracked, for answers from ancestors.
Written Chinese took shape almost 4000 years ago, and students still today must memorize up to 10,000 characters to read a newspaper.
The Zhou Dynasty (1029 –
256 BCE)
In 1027 B.C, the battle hardened Zhou
overthrew the _Shang_ and would rule until 256B.C.
To justify their rebellion of the Shang, the Zhou
promoted the idea of the Mandate of _Heaven_, or the divine right to rule. (Dynastic cycle – rise and fall)
Because the Zhou gave rewards of control over
regions to their supporters, Zhou China developed into a feudal state.
_Feudalism_: a system of government in which
local lords governed their own land but owed military services and support for the ruler.
During the Zhou period, China’s economy grew-
(iron – more food / copper coins)
Chinese Achievements
1000B.C – Silk making (cocoons of silkworms).
Most valuable export.
Under the Zhou, the Chinese made the first