Ancient China

Geographical Influences Mountains, sea, and desert provide some protection and isolation Vulnerable to northwest River valleys 1. Yellow(Huang Ho) earliest civilization - damaging floods 2. Yangtze- very important in unification- transportation- irrigation

Earliest Civilizations- most isolated Earliest- Neolithic- Ban Po- similar to other parts of the world/ one of the oldest Shang Dynasty 1500-11 BCE in No China along the Huang Ho- raised silk worms- silk part of lure and fascination of China, famous for bronze sculpture, daggers, jade jewelry paid homage to ancestors- family important Chou (Zhou) 1027-256-longest-developed foundations for Chinese society-Mandate of Heaven, claimed that it ruled China

Ancient China Way of Life- Confucianism Moral and ethical code highly developed treat everyone with consideration-duty and humanity Advocated paternalistic government (family), family served as basic economic and social unit Male supremacy was key element in social system Value on family head- ancestor respect Values- loyalty, righteousness, wisdom, sincerity, compassion and empathy Confucianism- 2 main elements duty and humanity- work ethic,

Ancient Philosophies About 500BCE Buddha, Confucius, Greek Philosophers and Chinese - Lao Tze Called a flowering period India more concerned with cosmos and soul China more concerned with ethical life on earth

Contributions centralized the government- rid of feudal lords constructed roads and canals The Great Wall- Paper Magnetic compass Printing Gunpowder Silk Road, trade

Aryans eventually moved in Ancient India Geographical Influences: emerged in river valleys of the Indus River, extends hundreds of miles Aryans eventually moved in

Society-Caste System Society divided into 4 classes Brahmans-top of society, in charge of the religious ceremonies Kshatriyas-warriors Varnas-peasants, artisans, laborers Untouchables- 5% not considered human, degrading tasks

Hinduism-Religion *Vedas- collection of hymns and ceremonies *Single force of the university-God (Brahman), it was duty of individual to seek the ultimate reality *Reincarnation- soul is reborn in different form, after # of deaths, soul is ultimately united with Brahman Idea of Karma- how the person will be reborn, system of reincarnation provided religious basis for caste system Practice of Yoga/meditation

Buddhism *Founder was Sidharta Gautama “Enlightened One” *Goal is to achieve Nirvana (ultimate reality) *Four Noble Truths: ordinary life is suffering, suffering caused by desire to satisfy ourselves, end suffering is to end desire of selfishness, and way to end desire is to follow middle path *Middle Path: 8 steps *Buddha accepted reincarnation but rejected the idea of caste system

Contributions/Achievements Astronomy, Mathematics, and Medicine Ocean trade leads to advances in astronomy Indian astronomers in Gupta Empire prove that the world is round. Mathematicians develop the idea of zero and decimal system Doctors write medical guides and make advances in surgery

The Spread of Indian Trade India’s Valuable Resources India has spices, diamonds, precious stones, and good quality wood

The Spread of Indian Trade India’s Valuable Resources India has spices, diamonds, precious stones, and good quality wood Overland Trade, East and West Trade routes called Silk Roads connect Asia and Europe Indians build trading posts to take advantage of the Silk Roads

The Spread of Indian Trade Sea Trade, East and West Indian merchants carry goods to Rome by sea Merchants trade by sea with Africa, Arabia, China, Southeast Asia

The Spread of Indian Trade Effects of Indian Trade Increased trade leads to rise in banking Bankers lend money to merchants, careful of degree of risk Increased trade spreads Indian culture to other places Trade brings Hinduism, Buddhism to other lands