THE CLASSICAL ERA IN THE EAST

UNIT 3

UNIT 3 VOCABULARY

Caste systemDynastyNirvanaInferiorSuperiorReincarnationHinduismMandate of HeavenConfucianismBuddhism

IDENTIFY

BuddhaEmperor AsokaMauryan EmpireGupta EmpireZhou DynastyConfuciusQin DynastyShih Huang-tiHan Dynasty

• What were the major accomplishments of the civilizations of India and China during the “Classical Era”?

• How did these civilizations compare with the ones in the West?

• What factors contributed to the rise and fall of empires and dynasties in the East?

• READ PAGES 74 TO 86 IN YOUR TEXTBOOK

The Big Questions

Introduction

In the centuries when Persia, Greece, and Rome dominated the West, a different series of empires and dynasties flourished in the east.

India witnessed a flowering of Hindu and Buddhist cultures, influencing all of South and Southeast Asia

China saw the emergence of great philosophers, who set the tone for much of Chinese thought and tradition.

THE ARYAN INVASION

After the collapse of Harappan civilization, the Dravidian people living in western India were conquered by the Aryan invaders (c.1500 B.C.)

Some people believe they came from central Asia

Others believe Aryan culture developed locally

THE ARYAN CULTURE

Nomadic herders and warriorsDeveloped iron weapons and horse-drawn

chariotsThey continued to push native peoples

farther south as they moved into the Ganges River valley

By 900 B.C., they had formed city-states (each ruled by its own ruler)

Developed Sanskrit writing (only taught to members of higher castes)

Introduced HinduismDeveloped a caste system (rigid social

order)

Left Side

The mixing of Aryan and native peoples led to a new social order

The new rules allowed only Aryans to occupy the higher social classes

There were 5 castesCaste lines were rigid

and based on birthDRAW A DIAGRAM OF

THE CASTE SYSTEM

Priests (Brahmin

s)

Warriors (Kshatriyas)

Landowners (Vaisyas)

Peasants (Sudras)

Untouchables

FILL IN THE HINDUISM SECTION OF YOUR RELIGIONS CHART

Major beliefs: believe in many deities, but each of these gods is a manifestation of one Supreme Being. Reincarnation – the belief that at death a person’s soul is reborn as another living thing. Karma refers to a person’s behavior in life which determines one’s form in the next life.Sacred places and objects: The Ganges River – has the power to wash away sin and evil. Temples – places of worship. The cow – sacred and religious…Hindus do not eat beef.

Activity

The Spread of Buddhism

A new religion, Buddhism, began around 500 B.C.

Spread quickly and attracted many followersMissionaries helped it spread throughout

India and other Southeast Asian countries (Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Indochina)

It also spread to central Asia, China, Japan, and Korea

It was popular among many groups because it rejected the caste system

Activity

FILL IN THE BUDDHISM SECTION OF YOUR RELIGIONS CHART Basic philosophy: based on the idea of self-denial

and meditation Gods: do not believe in a supreme being Holy books: no major holy book, but teachings can

be found in the Sutras Major beliefs: Four Noble Truths – explain life’s

meaning. Eightfold Path – must be followed to achieve Nirvana. Nirvana – a state of eternal peace and bliss and release from the soul’s endless reincarnation.

Left Side

Create a venn diagram showing what beliefs Buddhism borrowed from Hinduism (pgs. 77-79)

Create a chart comparing the spread of Buddhism with the spread of Christianity (pg. 79-171&172)

Hinduism Buddhism

Religion

How & Why it for spread

Buddhism

Christianity

The Mauryan Empire (321 B.C. – 232 B.C.)

Stretched from Afghanistan to the Ganges RiverBegun by King Chandragupta who challenged the

GreeksHis grandson, Asoka was the next great ruler of India

Fought a series of wars to enlarge the empire After 8 years of warfare, he renounced violence and

converted to Buddhism Won his people’s loyalty by acts of kindness and promoting

welfare and happiness Promoted religious freedom Improved roads, built hospitals and promoted education Built Buddhist shrines and sent missionaries to other lands After his death, the empire began to fall apart

The Gupta Empire (320 A.D. – 535 A.D.)

United the territory around the GangesEmperors encouraged peace, prosperity, and trade

with foreign lands, especially ChinaHad a “Golden Age” of Hindu Culture for nearly two

centuries Built universities Supported learning, the arts (colorful murals), and

literature (poems and plays written in Sanskrit) Scholars excelled in math (concept of zero, idea of infinity,

a decimal system, Arabic numerals) Astronomy (Earth was round and rotated on its axis, solar

year, movement of heavenly bodies) Medicine (set bones, skin grafts)

Declined when invaded by the Huns

CHINA

CHINA

Chinese history is generally divided into periods based upon the dynasty that governed China at the time

From 1027 B.C. to 220 A.D., China was ruled by three main dynasties

Like the flowering of Greek and Roman culture, China also witnessed some of its greatest cultural achievements in these centuries

READ PAGES 88-103 IN YOUR TEXTBOOK

Zhou Dynasty (1027 B.C. – 221 B.C)

Conquered the Shang dynasty Justified rule as the Mandate of Heaven (ruler

chosen by heaven and heaven would overthrow bad rulers)

Gave land to nobles in exchange for military service

Conquered neighboring peoples6th century B.C., local nobles became too

powerful and China was plunged into civil warGreatest legacy of Zhou was the work of two

philosophers, Confucius and Lao Tzu.

Activity

Add Confucianism and Daoism to your Religions chart Confucius – taught ideas he believed were the basic order

of the universe. Stressed following traditional ways to achieve peace and harmony. All was based on social obligations. Obedience and order Importance of family Family served as model for society (duty, good deeds,

civilized way of life) Lao Tzu (Daoism or Taoism) – believed that nature has a

“way” in which it moves. People should accept the way rather than to try to resist it. Respect for nature and harmony Use contemplation and abandon earthly concerns

QIN DYNASTY (221 B.C. – 206 B.C. )

Unified under the lord of Qin (Shih Huang-ti) First to call himself emperor All power should be in the hands of a single, absolute ruler Strong government was needed to punish bad acts Harsh ruler, rejected Confucianism (burned books and

persecuted scholars)Accomplishments

Divided China into districts Constructed roads and canals (uniting distant parts of

China) Uniform system of writing and measurement Joined a number of protective walls to create the Great

Wall of China

Left Side

Create a cartoon about an accomplishment of the Qin or Zhou dynasties

Strong dynasty

establishes peace

Dynasty declines,

corruption, high

taxes, etc.

Disasters – floods,

famines, revolts,

invasions

Old dynasty loses

Mandate of Heaven

(rebellion is justified)

Dynasty overthrow

n (rebellion

and bloodshed)

New dynasty gains

power, restores

peace and order

DYNASTIC CYCLE IN CHINA

HAN DYNASTY (206 B.C. – 220 A.D.)

Unified China for over 400 years following years of civil war

Political achievements Established civil service examinations based on Confucian

ideas Strengthened the power of the emperor by weakening the

independence of nobles Commoners could move up the social ladder Spread Confucian ideals

Innovations Paper Lead-glazed ceramics Improved silk-weaving

Continued…

Economy Established overland trade routes, the Silk Road,

connecting trade with the Roman Empire and other regions Exported silk, iron, and bronze for gold, linen cloth, glass,

ivory, animal hides, horses and cattleSocial and cultural

Buddhism was introduced Wealthy families had many children (sons served in

government and daughters married into other wealthy families)

Marriages were arranged Women were subordinate to men Boys went to public schools Old people were well taken care of by their families

FALL OF THE HAN DYANSTY

Ruled an immense empire for 400 yearsHan emperors were weakened by a series of

rebellionsProvincial governors raised taxes and raised

their own armies (some became local warlords)

Economic hardship and population growthEmperor turned over power to a warlord and

Han China collapsed into a series of civil wars and split into separate states

LEFT SIDE

Create a diagram for the reasons for the decline of the Han Dynasty describing political, economic, and military weaknesses.

Ex.

Fall of the Han Dynasty