Asia History

1) Explain how India’s caste system influenced the religion of Hinduism and the teachings of Buddha. Caste system -rigid grouping of social classes part of India’s culture and religion for thousands of years consequences for actions. Hinduism- main religion of India, teaches people are reincarnated after death, the life form in which they return is based on how they lived their life.

Prince Siddhartha viewed the class discrimination as wrong and meditated about it. Enlightened- Buddha. Buddha taught that a persons status in life did not matter, that suffering is caused by desires of worldly things and to be happy people should seek the middle way. Buddhism

2) Explain the rise and fall of Chinese dynasties and some of the major contributions of each. Based on Confucius’ ideas about reciprocal relationships, the dynastic cycle was a pattern of dynasties expanding, eventually becoming corrupt and lazy, losing the right to rule (the mandate of heaven) which signaled to the people to revolt, resulting in a new dynasty claiming a mandate.

Many dynasties ruled China for nearly 4,000 years, much achieved. Agriculture communities creating bronze tools, silk fabric, and Chinese writing. Means of hiring worker based on tests-civil service examinations.

3) Briefly describe Japanese history through the end of the shogun rule. Early Japanese history- tribal kingdoms hunters, gatherers, and fisherman. AD 200 grew rice settle in villages Many developments came from trade with the Chinese. Shoguns ruled Japan for 700 years in a feudal system of government. Loyalty and service was demanded from landowners, who demanded loyalty and service from the samurai warriors. Samurai then controlled peasants with life and death power, so the rule was strict.

Trade agreements with U.S. and other nations, shoguns lost power and emperors came back.

4) Explain how foreign involvement and conquest affected the countries of Asia. Harmful Invaders overran India China taken over by Mongols, later British, French, Dutch, and Japanese took control of parts of the country. Japan was never conquered by foreign invaders.

5) Explain the roles that Asian countries played in WWI and WWII. Countries in Asia were under colonial rule, most fought alongside their ruling nations on the side of the Allies in the two conflicts. Not true for Japan, which took over much of the Pacific region. Allies defeated Japan, and Axis power, in WWII. Atomic Bomb

6) Explain how India gained its independence from Britain and some problems that arose in the years since. India- unhappy under British rule Mohandas Gandhi became the leader of the revolutionary movement. Boycotts, strikes, and fasts, Gandhi and followers pressured the British government for freedom. Hindus and Muslims- uncertain on how to be ruled. Division. Pakistan and East Pakistan (Bangladesh)- Muslim India- Hindu

7) Explain how China has changed in the 20 th century. China’s dynastic government, weakened by foreign control of trade, fell in a series of revolts in 1911, and a republic was established. Weak. Nationalist vs. Communist Each gained control of parts of China when WWII broke out and Japan invaded China. Nationalists who controlled the official government of China fought on the side of Allies. While victorious in the war, the Nationalists were poor and exhausted from fighting, so the Communists were able to defeat them in a Civil War China became Communist.

8) Explain the situations surrounding the Korea and the Vietnam Wars. Fought to prevent spread of Communism. Split North and South. North Communist U.S. helped when North would try to take over South. Korean War- 3 years, ended in armistice keeping division of North and South. Vietnam- U.S. forces left war after 15 years and South Vietnamese fell to Communists.

Communist: movement to create a classless, money-less, and stateless social order structured upon common ownership of the means of production, as well as a social, political and economic ideology that aims at the establishment of this social order.