Chapter 7Ancient Asian Civilizations

India & China

The Land

Land of great diversityTopography = physical features of landClimatePopulation

Has the highest mountain range in the world!

Land of many people, customs and languages

Indus River Civilization 2300 BC

Two citiesMohenjo Daro & HarappaBoth had:

Careful planningSewer systemDrainage systemStraight streets Trade with Egypt and Mesopotamia

Both cities ended suddenlyFlood or invasion

• Well organized cities • Standardized weights and measures

• Uniform bricks• High ceilings

Statue of priest

Sample of writing

AryansWar-like people that

migrated into river valley from central AsiaFair skinnedSubdued non-Aryan people of north IndiaHerdsmen

Kept cows and horsesEstablished new language in India- SanskritWrote Vedas (“knowledge”)

Sacred writings about way of lifeBecame basis for Indian culture

Formative years of India 1500 BC – 500 BC

Key Features Of Indian Society* These have not changed much from ancient times until now.

Joint Family

Includes children, grandchildren, wives and others of close blood tiesOldest male = authority figure

When son marries, his family becomes part of father or grandfather’s family unit

Interests of family comes before personal individual

Arranged marriagesBenefit family’s position and honor

Arranged Marriages Divorce 2-5 %Love Marriages Divorce 50 %WHY???

Village LifeMost Indians live in villages

8 out of 10 people Governed by headsman or group of

eldersVillages independent of each other

Govern themselves

Where are the men?

Caste SystemSocial status determined at birthCaste = rigid social group

Rules about:Where to live JobWhat to wearWhat to eat/whom to eat withMarry only within caste

2,000-3,000 castes/sub castesAll of them fall in 4 categories

Untouchables

The Untouchables Those whose jobs or habits involved “polluting activities”

including: Any job that involved ending a life, such as fishing. Killing or disposing of dead cattle or working with their hides. Any contact with human emissions such as sweat, urine, or feces.

This included occupational groups such as sweepers and washermen.

forbidden to enter temples, schools and wells where higher castes drew water.

….even the sight of untouchables was thought to be polluting.

…..forced to sleep during the day and work at night.

Many untouchables left their rigid social structure by converting to Islam, Buddhism, or Christianity.

The Caste System has been illegal in India for more than fifty years, but it continues to shape people’s lives.

Religions In India

Hinduism

Indian way of life (majority Indians= Hindu)Unified India’s diverse society

No formal statement of doctrineSystem of beliefs = many gods + many

religious conceptsBasic Tenets (Vedas & Upanishads)

god = Brahmin (“great soul” or “world soul”)Permeates everything in universeAll gods are manifestations of Brahmin

Ultimate goal = reunite with world soulThis is done through reincarnations

(rebirths)Until released from cycle Cycle of rebirths = wheel of life

(samsara)Deeds in this life determine status in

next lifeCan move to higher caste

or lower casteRelease comes by:

Following rules of your caseteObserving religious rituals and

oboigations

BuddhismStarted in IndiaSiddhartha Gautama (“Elightened One”

“Buddha”) Age 29- became troubled over suffering, poverty, death in

world Devoted all his efforts to find a way of deliverance from

suffering Renounced his life of wealth, left his wife and child To find peace & true happiness Lived 6 years as a hermit (self sacrifice and meditation) Sat under a tree until became “enlightened”

Four Noble Truths1. Suffering is part of life2. Cause of suffering is selfish desire3. Suffering = destroying selfish desires4. Follow 8 fold path to

Buddhism is based on moral living Works of people will save them, not

help from godOnce freed from desire

No more rebirthEnter into nirvana (State of absolute

peace)Not

accepted widely in

India, Priests saw it as a threat to

their social status

Lack Of Political Unity

• History of constant political change• Foreign invasions• Rival kingdoms

• Powerful empires brought brief periods of stability

Mauryan Empire326 BC- Alexander the Great enters India

Conquers regions in northArmy refused to go further into India

Chandragupta Maurya takes over Northern region after Alexander the Great diesCreates first strong empire in India

Asoka (grandson of Chandragupta)Conquered most of IndiaSickened by war became BuddhistSpent rest of his reign promoting Buddhism

Sent Buddhist missionaries abroad Eastern Asia

Chandragupta

Pompous cruel

dictator

Used military

force and spies

Strict police state

Paranoid that someone was going to kill

him

Traveled in litter on top of elephant

surrounded by cages of wild

animals

Women bodyguards

Asoka

Sent representatives to

hear people's complaints

Free hospitals

Free veterinary

service

Public bathing

tanks

Traveled throughout

India

Pilgrimages to Buddhist

shrines

Built rest stops along

roads

Period of Unrest and Invasions

300s BC – 300s ADForeign Invasions Small Kingdoms competing and

fighting for control

Traded with Rome and China

Gupta Empire

300s ADGreatest era of Indian prosperity

Strong and effective governmentTrade flourishedCulture spread throughout SE AsiaUniversitiesTextiles and iron work flourishedAccomplishments in art, architecture,

literature, and science

Notable AccomplishmentsLiterature

Kalidesa – poet & dramatist (Indian Shakespeare)

many western folktales inspired from his stories

MathArabic numbers, zeroNegative numbers, decimal system

ScienceTheories of gravityEarth was round & rotated on its axis

MedicineFree hospitals where conducted surgeries

500s Gupta empire collapsed

Repeated attacks from White Huns Internal chaos, fighting, invasions

Hinduism absorbed foreign influences into religion

Muslim Invasion

Turning point in Indian historyConstant raids led to Muslim control

over northern region1206- Built their capital in DelhiConflict between Hindu and Muslims

2 religionsMany gods, one godRigid caste system, all equal

Hostilities still remain today

EFFECTS OF ISLAM IN INDIA• Islam minimized the importance of

birth and heredity and its influence quickened in Hinduism the feelings of social equality and brotherhood.

• Trade developed. …restoration of contact with the outside world.

• Towns and cities prospered while the peasants in the villages suffered from excessive taxation and from oppressive measures of collection.

• new system of education through the media of Arabic and Persian. Universities flourished. Only Muslim converts allowed.

China- The Land “middle kingdom” they considered themselves

the center of the Earth Land area same as United StatesPopulation 4 times as muchEarliest civilization around rivers

Huang He (Yellow) Yang Tze

Free from outside influences Blocked by

Pacific OceanHimalaya Mt. RangeGobi Desert

FEATURES OF SOCIETY

Strong Family Ties large multi generational family

Including ancestors Center of Chinese life Major responsibility

To bring honor to your family Ancestor worship- leading religion in ancient

China Every home has altar for ancestor worship Burn incense to dead relatives Wanted to receive guidance and blessings from

them

Language & Learning

Tone is very important Tone variations can imply different meanings Spoken language varies by area in China

Written language is the same Don’t use letters, they use characters 65,000 characters that

each represents an idea, object or sound Very few people know all characters

Scholars held a high position in society

CHINESE THOUGHT AND LIFE

Confucianism

Kung Futzu (“Confucius” “Master”) Grew up poor during time of unrest in China Not able to obtain government position

Ideal job for any Chinese man Had to pass a hard examination

Devoted his life to teaching others Proper conduct can:

solve problems of society live in complete happiness

His followers wrote down his teachings It became a system of ethics for Chinese society

5 Main Relationships1. Father/Son2. Brothers3. Husband/Wife4. Friends5. Ruler/Subject Maintaining proper relationships in these areas will

ensure your happiness He forgets the most important relationship of all:

Man/God “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all

your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ - Matthew 22:37-39

Effected educationalSocial Political systems

Taoism (Daoism) Lao Tzu = founder “tao” means “the way”

All things are unified and connected in the Tao. One can find peace by living in harmony with

nature Cease striving for:

Power Wealth Learning/knowledge Live a simple and inactive lifestyle Minimize external authority and involvement in

society

TaoismHarmony with nature

Being virtuous

Self development

Meditation

Feng shui

Fortune telling

Many deities worshipped in temples

Shang Dynasty

1500 BC along Yellow River United northern China Writing on tortoise shells tells us about

them Used tortoise shells to ask ancestors

guidance for the future Valued bronze more than gold Ruthless kings

Offered humans to ancestors to keep power Society addicted to hunting & warfare

Chou Dynasty

Lasted over 800 years Longest in Chinese history “Classical” or “formative” years of China

Confucianism and Taoism Family life Ancestor worship Writing system

Decentralized government Allowed powerful nobles to rule in freedom Chou rulers unable to control nobles and

fighting among rival states

Chi’in Dynasty Shih Huang Ti restored order

First emperor of China Standardized Chinese:

weight & measurements Coinage Writing system

Construction of Great Wall 25-30 ft high; 15 ft wide; 1,400 miles long Defense from Huns Road ran along the top to allow:

Rapid movement of troops Communication route

Han Dynasty

Established in 202 BC Most famouse ruler- Wu Ti

Drove back Huns Extended China’s territory

Pax Sinica (Chinese Peace) Trade opened with the West (Silk Road)

Contact with Greece and Rome Buddhism enters China

T’ang Dynasty 618-907AD

After 400 years of internal warfare Tang Rulers restored peace and order Expanded borders, stable government,

increased trade Advances in learning, art, and literature

Li Po = prolific poet Wrote thousands of poems

Self seeking rulers squandered most of country’s wealth; led to downfall

Sung Dynasty

Established in 960 AD Politically weak dynasty

Invasions from north barbaric tribes Excelled in painting, printing & porcelain Feet binding custom started

Upper classes Big feet considered ugly Feet bound on girl children to shorten and

narrow foot Toes bend underneath to leave foot 3-6

inches long

Foot binding

Chinese influence on West viewed west with suspicion

West eagerly profited from contact with China Silk and porcelain very popular in Europe Block printing = use blocks to stamp words on paper

Movable type = smaller separate blocks for each character; can rearrange them into words

First made paper and ink First made compass First made gunpowder

Used for their fireworks celebrations

Japan

4 main islandsFrom Maine to FloridaOnly 20% is farmable

More isolated from outsiders than China

Did not keep written records about history legends and myths

Clan = a group of families claiming ancestry from a common ancestorBasic unit of social, religious and political

organizationYamato Clan- 5th century AD

Rose to power above rival clansOn main island of Japan- HonshuUnified Japan under one rule

Used mythology to secure respect of subjects Jimmu Tenno – first emperor

Descendant of sun goddessNext emperors claimed to be related to Jimmu TennoTherefore they are all descendants of gods

Japan has had only 1 imperial familiy through its history

Shintoism

“the way of the gods”Belief in the divine origin of emperorNature worship

Anything that was awe-inspiringWaterfall, fire, high mountainReligion of feeling

Loyalty to countryLove for homelandReverence for Emperor

Influence from China400s – 700s = China invaded Japan

China was in Golden Age of Tang DynastyChinese ideas, learning & art

1. Writing System1. Adopted from China, made into their own2. First time were able to keep written record

2. Buddhism1. Buddhist monks taught Japanese about art and

architecture from China2. Prince Shoku- made Buddhism official religion of

Japan1. 600s AD

ChinaBuddhism

Way of life (dress &

furniture)

Agriculture

Science

Law & Gov’t Weights &

measures

Medical practices

Calendar

Roads & Bridges

Taika Reform “The Great Change”

Model govt after strong centralized govt of ChinaNew judicial code & tax systemFirst capital = Nara

Weaken power of chieftains, strengthen power of emperor (theory)Reality = gov’t power in hands of a few

powerful familiesFujiwara- ruled in the name of infant emperorWealth and extravagance lead country to

bankruptcyDisorder and chaos followed

Rise of Samurai

Orimoto- leader of Minamoto clanSupreme military leader over all clansEmperor granted him title of shogun (great

general)Held real power, emperor was there

just for showState ruled by military not civilian officials

Warrior class became leading class in JapanJapanese warrior = samurai

Samurai

horsemanship

fencing

archery

JujitsuHistory

Literature

Art of writing

Followed BUSHIDO “the way of the

warrior”Military code of

conduct of samuraiLoyaltyHonorJustice

CourageSincerity

PolitenessCould end his life with

suicide according to ceremonial practice of

hara kiri