Asian Empires 600 BCE to 600 CE Edited by Mr. Barkhau Shamelessly Stolen from: http://conaapwh.weebly.com/class-powerpoints.html Asian Empires 600 BCE to 600 CE

Chinese Empires From 1100 BCE until the 200s CE --> 3 great dynasties ruled China Zhou (JOH) Qin (CHIN) Han (HAHN)

The Enduring Zhou Ruled China for more than 800 years -- more than any other dynasty Zhou dynasty conquered the Shang dynasty Claimed rule under Mandate of Heaven Said Shang lost mandate by ruling poorly

To control their land, the kings set up an agricultural system in which nobles owned the land & peasants worked it Each of these lords had total authority over their city & had their own armies Eventually, the lords had more power than the king City-states warred with each other -- locked in a struggle that ended the Zhou era

The Enduring Zhou Technological advances of the Zhou Dynasty: Built roads & expanded foreign trade New weapon: the crossbow Iron plows Irrigation & flood-control systems

The Mighty Qin Conquered the Zhou “First Emperor” = Qin Shi Huangdi

United much of the nation under 1 strong government Organized the empire into military districts -- 1 official per district Created a universal system of weights & measures Standardized coins, created a uniform writing system & set up a law code throughout China Used forced labor to dig canals & build roads

Terra Cotta Army

The Great Wall of China Built in northern China to prevent attacks from the north Connected a series of walls that already existed Took several years & over 300,000 Chinese peasants Stretches over 4,000 miles

The Great Wall of China

Qin’s Strict Rule Imposed a tax on landowners Appointed only educated men as officials to run his government Censored & burned books People couldn’t write about the past

Subjects saw Qin as a cruel tyrant 210 BCE = Qin died & dynasty soon came to an end Lasting Legacy = new ways of organizing & unifying the nation

The Glorious Han Ruled China for more than 400 years until 220 AD Used same forms of centralized power as the Qin, but not as harsh Rivaled Roman Empire in its power & achievement

The Glorious Han Reached its peak during the reign of Wudi Extended the empire Sent armies against nomadic invaders Interested in the West -- especially the Roman Empire

The Glorious Han Trade routes to the West developed Major trade route = Silk Road Linked East & West Allowed traders to exchange Chinese silk for Middle Eastern & European products

Pax Sinica Chinese Peace = 400 year period of prosperity & stability China fed its population by storing grain during times of plenty & selling it when harvests were poor

Inventions Silk Paper Gunpowder Wheelbarrow Printed books Suspension bridge Compass Iron drill bits

Pax Sinica Talented, intelligent people were appointed to government jobs -- NOT family They were given tests to see if they were qualified Evolved into civil service system = a system that allowed anyone with ability to attain public office --> unfortunately, this usually favored the wealthy because education was expensive Created a new class of well-educated civil servants = called mandarins Controlled government until early 1900s

Legacy of the Han Han power declined & dynasty fell apart after Wudi’s reign ended Modern Chinese refer to themselves as Han Modern day Chinese is written in Han characters

Social Hierarchies: China and India

Patriarchy in China Women considered subordinate to men Hierarchy within the family: Fathers Sons (oldest to youngest) Mothers Daughters (oldest to youngest)

“Men go out, women stay in.” Men = public and political roles Women = domestic roles at home 3 Obediences: women obedient to first their fathers, then their husbands, then their sons

Influence of Daoism Yang = superior principle = masculine and related to rulers, heaven, strength, rationality, and light Yin = inferior principle = feminine and related to subjects, earth, weakness, emotion, and darkness The yin and yang are permanent and embedded within the universe Gave justification to the natural superiority of men over women

Loosening of Strict Patriarchy Collapse of Han Dynasty (400s CE) Nomadic people invaded northern China Their women = far less restricted This influenced native Chinese women Elite women started to handle legal and business affairs More women rode horses, played polo, wore men’s clothing, etc.

Chinese Social Structure Emperor Elite Government Officials Landlord Class (Scholar-Gentry Class) Peasants (90% of population) Merchants

China’s Landlord Class Threatened state authority Avoided paying taxes Decreased state revenues Increased tax burden on the peasants Raised their own militaries Benefited from: Wealth they gained from their land Power and prestige that went with the education they paid for

China’s Peasant Class 90% of the population Suffered from: famines, floods, droughts, hails, pests, etc. State authorities demanded that they: Pay high taxes Provide one month’s labor every year on public works projects Serve for 2 years in the military (men only)

Yellow Turban Rebellion Peasant uprising around 184 CE In response to floods along Yellow River, resulting epidemics, and general misery & poverty Wanted a “Great Peace” with social harmony, equality, and common ownership of property Suppressed --> but weakened the Han dynasty

China’s Peasant Class Though oppressed, peasants were still honored in a way because they provided for their country Backbone of China Hard-working Provided food = survival for all

China’s Merchant Class At the bottom of society Seen as unproductive and as profiting off of the hard work of others Seen as greedy and materialistic This went against Confucian values

Caste System in India Similarities with China’s Social System: Social status determined at birth Little (if any) social mobility Sharp class distinctions and great inequalities Inequalities justified by religious/cultural traditions as natural and inevitable

Caste System in India “Caste” = comes from Portuguese word casta, which means “race” or “purity of blood” 4 varnas = ranked classes in the Indian caste system Each varna had its own duties Born into and remained in your varna for life

Caste System in India These 3 classes = regarded as pure Aryans Brahmins = Priests Study & teach the Vedas; perform religious ceremonies to please the gods & ensure welfare of people Kshatriyas = Warriors; Rulers Study the Vedas; lead government; head army These 3 classes = regarded as pure Aryans Vaisyas = Common people: merchants, artisans, farmers Tend herds, care for land; make & sell useful products Sudras = Native, non-Aryan people = Unskilled laborers, servants Serve other varnas Untouchables = Outside of Caste System Perform tasks considered unclean

Caste System in India: Formed from the Body of Purusha Brahmins = from the head Kshatriya = from the shoulders Vaisya = from the thighs Sudras = from the feet

The Untouchables Outside of the varna system It was believed that if people in higher castes came into contact with the untouchables, then their ritual purity would be “polluted” Untouchables used separate wells, separate bathrooms, separate temples for worship, etc. Many untouchables had to wear wooden clappers to alert others when they were approaching

The Untouchables Common jobs of the untouchables: Clean bathrooms Handle and cremate corpses Clean and skin dead animals Butcher animals Executioners

Caste System in India Each varna was further divided into sub-castes called jatis Jatis were typically formed according to occupation --> ex: shoemakers, weavers, etc. Each jati had its own rules for daily life -- including diet, marriage, and social customs

People were not allowed to mix with others outside of their jati Could only eat with others in your jati Could only marry someone in your jati

Karma = determined which caste you would enter at birth Dharma = the faithful and selfless performance of one’s present caste duties Karma = determined which caste you would enter at birth Adhering to dharma and subduing your ego ensured spiritual progress, good karma, and possible birth into a higher caste when reincarnated

India’s Great Civilizations

Aryans Developed a new civilization in modern-day India Located in the Ganges Plain & the Indus River Valley

Ways of Life Loosely organized into tribes of nomadic herders Each tribe was led by a rajah = chief Cattle were the basis of their diet & economy Also served as money Tribes were often at war; raided each other’s cow herds

People also hunted game; ate bananas & cucumbers Indus River Valley was ideal for farming --> so people eventually settled down into agricultural communities People also hunted game; ate bananas & cucumbers Men dominated the society Women didn’t challenge their authority Boys & girls of high rank attended school

Mauryan Empire Led by Chandragupta Maurya Strong leader Developed a postal system Maintained a strong army Located in northern & central India

Ashoka = Chandragupta’s grandson Indian civilization blossomed under his reign His empire covered 2/3 of the subcontinent Gained this land with fierce wars of conquest & merciless armies After witnessing the horrors of battle, he vowed to never go to war again Followed the teachings of Buddha

Ashoka Created laws called the Rock Edicts --> laws were carved on rocks throughout the empire Stressed concern for other human beings Set up free hospitals, roads, and rest houses

Empire declined after Ashoka’s death His successor’s charged heavy taxes Also took crops from poor workers People turned against them

Gupta Empire Developed 500 years after the Mauryan Empire (around 310 AD) Started by Chandragupta I Ruled northern India for more than 200 years This period is called India’s Golden Age Arts & sciences flourished Maintained authority with trained soldiers, spies, & assassins

Hinduism was the official religion Built Hindu temples Temples decorated with brightly painted sculptures of Hindu epic tales

Gupta Life Empire reached its height under Chandragupta II who gave people more freedom However, status of women declined Parents chose husbands/wives for their children Child marriages were common

Court welcomed poets, playwrights, philosophers, and scientists Learning & education promoted Writing focused on religion & folktales

Gupta Achievements Made advances in mathematics --> mostly algebra Invented concept of zero Explained concept of infinity Created Arabic Numerals (#s 1-9)

Astronomy Medicine Said the Earth was round Had some knowledge of gravity Medicine Set bones, performed surgery, invented instruments

End of the Gupta Empire Empire failed after Chandragupta II’s death in 415 CE As government weakened, the empire faced invasions