Prehistory and Classical China and India AP World History Exam Study Session #1

PREHISTORY Archeology—Has given us our knowledge of human development and ancient societies Paleolithic Age—Began more than 2 million years ago Homo erectus and homo sapiens sapiens appeared PALEOLITHIC AGE—Until 14,000 years ago OUR IMMEDIATE ANCESTORS Homo sapiens sapiens All current races are descended from this subspecies

Human life before agriculture Characteristics of Paleolithic Age: Humans used simple tools, tamed fire, and developed bigger brains and a more erect posture Lasted until 12,000 BCE Homo sapiens sapiens—Hunters and gatherers that originated in Africa Dominated other human types PALEOLITHIC AGE Also called the Old Stone Age

Stone tool use improved gradually Humans developed speech, rituals, and culture Characteristics of the Mesolithic Age (12,000-8,000 BCE): Humans made more advanced tools and fought more frequently Populations increased considerably HUMANS Spread speech, rituals, and culture around the globe MESOLITHIC AGE Also called the Middle Stone Age

Hunter-Gatherers Man: “Hey! I’m the hunter. You’re supposed to be the GATHERER! Woman: “He was standing on the stuff I wanted to gather.”

The Neolithic Revolution (8,000-3,500 BCE) Characteristics of the Neolithic Age: One of the most important transitions in human history Humans mastered sedentary agriculture and domesticated animals Resulted in food surpluses, increasing population, creation of cities, and job specialization Pastoral nomadism developed Use of metal tools Resulted in improved agriculture and stronger weapons and aided artisans NEOLITHIC Also called New Stone Age SEDENTARY AGRICULTURE Often called the Neolithic Revolution PASTORAL NOMADS These nomads remained on the periphery of civilizations and sedentary agricultural zones METAL TOOLS Societies in the Middle East began replacing stone tools with metal tools First they used copper and then bronze

The emergence of civilization Occurred in many agricultural societies Built on technological advances Characteristics include: Cities Writing Formal institutions (government and religion) Stratified social classes Trade Early civilizations included Mesopotamia, Egypt, Indus River Valley, and northern China BUILT ON TECHNOLOGY Including the introduction of metal tools EXAMPLE OF EARLY CIVILIZED CITY Catal Huyuk

River Valley Civilizations All corresponded geographically to river locations Left durable innovations Most declined after 1,200 BCE A small number of population centers emerged in the Middle East Introduced Judaism, the alphabet, iron tools, and extensive trade connections throughout the Mediterranean DECLINE Often due to nomadic migrations across Eurasia by pastoral nomadic chariot peoples from the central Asian steppe

Fertile Crescent

The first civilizations Created basic sets of tools Introduced intellectual concepts like writing and math Created political forms Reduced local autonomy Had little contact with each other They developed separate cultural patterns THINGS THEY CREATED Persisted across three continents REDUCED LOCAL AUTONOMY Kings and priests tried to spread trade contacts and cultural forms Kings and priests fought to gain new territory LITTLE CONTACT Despite wars and trade

CLASSICAL CHINA Patterns in classical China Included three dynasties—Zhou, Qin, and Han Zhou Dynasty Declined because of political instability and frequent invasions Thinkers like Confucius tried to restore order and social harmony Family, filial piety, harmony, reciprocal social relationships, and respect were central to culture

Qin Dynasty Han Dynasty Founded by Shi Huangdi Centralized power Began constructing the Great Wall of China Han Dynasty Most famous ruler was Wu Di Supported Confucianism and promoted peace SHI HUANGDI Brutal founder of Qin Dynasty

Political institutions For most of recorded history, the Chinese have been the most strictly governed people Political institutions were one of classical China’s most important contributions There should be a strong, unified central government Emperor should rule Should be assisted by an educated professional bureaucracy

Religion and culture Chinese culture coalesced at the end of the Zhou Dynasty Three critical philosophies that emphasized education were introduced Confucianism—Ethical system based on relationships and personal virtue Legalism—Countered Confucianism by favoring an authoritarian state and harsh rule Daoism—Taught harmony with nature and humble living END OF ZHOU DYNASTY Probably because the last centuries were so terrible (culture coalesced) CONFUCIANISM Became the predominant philosophy DAOISM Most popular figure was Lao Tzu

Art was mostly decorative Appeared in calligraphy, carved jade and ivory, and silk screens Science and math emphasized the practical over the theoretical Chinese excelled in astronomy

Economy and society Classical economy focused on agriculture Sharp class divisions existed between: Landowning aristocracy and educated bureaucrats Laboring masses, peasants, and urban artisans “Mean” people (those without meaningful skills) State fostered extensive internal trade China created technological advances Including ox-drawn plows, water-powered mills, and paper Socially, China was hierarchical, deferential, and patriarchal Tight family structure was valued AGRICULTURE All Chinese philosophies extolled the virtues of the peasants and their world LANDOWNING ARISTOCRACY AND EDUCATED BUREAUCRATS Also called Mandarins TRADE State was ambivalent about merchants and commercial values even though it supported trade

How Chinese civilization fits together China’s politics and culture meshed, especially with the emergence of a Confucian bureaucracy Economic innovation didn’t disrupt the emphasis on order and stability Family structures were linked to political and cultural goals Classical China developed with very little outside contact CLASSICAL CHINA’S EVOLUTION Internal disagreement did exist Most Chinese saw the world as a large island of civilization (China) surrounded by barbarians Barbarians had nothing to offer except chaos through periodic invasions

CLASSICAL INDIA Geography and a formative period established the framework for Indian history Geography and climate were major influences on Indian civilization Mountains (in the north) Rivers—Ganges and Indus Aryan culture dominated India after the fall of the Indus River Valley civilization Brought the beginnings of the caste system to India Literature included the Vedas, the Ramayana, and the Upanishads RAMAYANA Heroic journey UPANISHADS AND VEDAS Hindu scriptures

Patterns in classical India Most important empires were the Mauryan and the Gupta Mauryan Empire—Rose because of the Greek conquest of the Indus and the exchange of ideas between the Mediterranean and southwest Asia Chandragupta Maurya—First Mauryan ruler Ashoka—Greatest Mauryan ruler Expanded the empire Promoted Buddhism Gupta Empire—Arose after a period of nomadic invasions Created a long period of political stability

Political institutions Dominated by regionalism and political diversity Central authority was relatively weak Increasingly complex caste system promoted public order Government structure usually promoted public order in other cultures

Religion and culture Hinduism and Buddhism were the most important religions Influenced arts and sciences Promoted religious tolerance Hinduism is polytheistic Gradually became more complex Stresses reincarnation, shallowness of worldly concerns, and dharma Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (6th century BCE) Scorned Hindu caste system and the material world Favored self-control and the Eightfold Path to nirvana DHARMA The moral path

Religious and cultural accomplishments of classical India by the last centuries BCE Developed a written language Built cities Produced art and literature Created two of the world’s great religions

Economy and society Dominated by the caste system Developed extensive internal and international maritime trade Economy remained mostly agricultural Families were patriarchal

Classical India had an enormous effect on other parts of the world Emerged as the center of the Eurasian trade system Brought India great wealth Spread Indian culture abroad

Classical China and India Similarities Built stable structures over large areas Used culture to justify social inequality Differences Focused on different things politically Social systems and cultures