Should early civilizations of South Asia, East Asia, and Oceania be seen as comparable to ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia? Period One: Technological and Environmental Transformations, to 600 BCE Key Concept 1.3: The Development and Interactions of Early Agricultural, Pastoral and Urban Societies

I Geography of South Asia A) India is so large that it is often called a subcontinent. B) Its main mountain ranges are the Hindu Kush & the Himalayas. Mt Everest, the tallest mountain in the world is part of the Himalayas. C) South Asia’s main rivers are the Indus (today in Pakistan) and the Ganges (today in India). D) In southern India is the Deccan Plateau. It is extremely hot and dry. E) India depends on monsoons: seasonal winds that bring rain. The monsoons are necessary to farm on the dry Deccan Plateau, but they also bring a risk of floods.

South Asia Monsoons Winter Monsoon Summer Monsoon

II Indus River Valley Civilizations 2500 – 1500 BCE A) Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were “twin” cities that developed in the Indus River Valley by 2500 BCE. B) Both were planned cities; the buildings and streets were laid out on a grid. The urban planning included the world's first known urban sanitation systems. Within the city, people obtained water from wells. Within their homes, some rooms had facilities in which waste water was directed to covered drains. These lined the major streets. These ancient Indus sewerage and drainage systems were far in advance of anything found in contemporary ancient Egypt or Mesopotamia. C) Both were polytheistic. D) Both had a system of writing that is still undeciphered. E) Judging from the wide area in which Indus civilization artifacts have been found, their trade networks reached as far as Afghanistan, the coastal regions of Persia, northern and western India, and Mesopotamia. F) By 1500 BCE Aryans (Caucasian Indo-Europeans) conquered the Indus River Valley.

Harappa Granary

Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro The "great bath" is possibly the earliest public water tank in the ancient world. Two wide staircases lead down into the tank from the north and south. Some scholars believe it may also have served a religious function (I.e. water purification rituals).

Indus River Valley Writing

III Geography of China A) China has many natural barriers - Pacific Ocean (West) - Himalayan Mountains (Southwest) -Gobi Desert (North). *These barriers led to China being isolated* B) In the very far north-east, close to Russia, the temperature can drop to -50ºC in the winter. C) China's lowest point is in the Turfan Depression, at -154 metres below sea level. D) The melting snows from the mountains in the west create the headwaters for two of China's most important rivers, the Yellow and the Yangzi. The Yellow River gets its name due to yellow clay called loess. The Yangzi River is the longest in China and third longest in the world. The Yangzi River irrigates the rice growing regions in the south of China. E) China grows rice in the south, due to a warmer and wetter climate. China grows wheat in the north, due to a colder and drier climate.

Hukou Falls, Part of the Yellow River

Terraced Farming: Chinese rice farmers cut steps into the mountains Terraced Farming: Chinese rice farmers cut steps into the mountains. This way, the water will be better distributed.

In summer, the temperature in the Turpan Depression can reach as high as 47ºC (117ºF), while on the surface of the sand dunes, it may well be 82℃ (180℉).

IV Shang Dynasty 1650 – 1027 BCE A) The Shang developed a civilization near the Yellow River. B) Army of 30,000 soldiers. C) Produced bronze tools, weapons, and ceremonial vessels. D) Animistic religion (belief in spirits in nature) E) Earliest evidence of Chinese writing on “oracle bones” (usually tortoise shells)

Shang Dynasty Oracle Bones Oracle bones (often on tortoise shells) often were inscribed with records of the king's predictions on topics such as the weather and harvest.

V Zhou Dynasty 1027 – 256 BCE A) 1027 BCE the Zhou Dynasty conquered the Shang B) Created a feudal government C) Produced iron tools and weapons D) Developed the idea of rulers having the Mandate of Heaven: approval of the gods to rule (divine right).

Zhou Dynasty Continued… D) The Mandate of Heaven was used to explain the Dynastic Cycle.

Zhou Dynasty Burial

VI Oceania

Oceania Oceania can be divided into four main culture areas: Australia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.

The 4 Main Cultural Groups of Oceania

Where did the First Settlers of Oceania Come From? The Lapita (from SE Asia) were the first people to settle Oceania beyond Australia and Papua New Guinea, and leave behind evidence of their culture. Between 1200 and 1000 BC they spread rapidly from Melanesia to Fiji and West Polynesia. As they travelled from island to island they transported plants for cultivation including taro, yam, breadfruit, banana and coconut. They also took domesticated pigs, dogs and fowls. The migrants caught seafood with nets, spears and hooks. The large numbers of native birds and animals on the new islands provided a reliable food supply in the early years, as the people established their economies. But many species, including large flightless birds, a land crocodile and giant iguana lizards, were defenseless against this new human predator, and soon became extinct. However, it was a long time before people migrated to the smaller islands further east. – teara.govt

Lapita Pottery

Melanesia Melanesia (from Greek, meaning "black islands") consists of 2,000 islands with a total land area of about 386,000 square miles, and is home to about 12 million people. Melanesia consists of two distinct groups; the Austronesians and the Papuans. The aborigines (indigenous people of Australia) arrived from Southeast Asia approximately 50,000 years ago. The Papuans arrived in New Guinea around 40,000 years ago; they developed agriculture. The later wave of Austronesian people, from Taiwan, brought ocean-voyaging skills. [*The Han Chinese did not settle Taiwan until approximately the 17th century]

Melanesia Today Aborigine, Australia Papuan, New Guinea Woman from Fiji

Polynesia “A small fishing village in Tonga has been confirmed as the first Polynesian settlement, established around 2900 years ago. The site of Nukuleka was identified through [Lapita] pottery shards that were spread around the area...” –ancientstandard.com

Focus Questions How did geography influence the earliest river valley civilizations of India and China? In your own words, explain the mandate of heaven and dynastic cycle. What are the 4 main groups of Oceania? Describe the earliest colonizers and how they got there.

Key Vocabulary Deccan Plateau Mohenjo-Daro Dynastic Cycle Monsoons Ganges River Mt. Everest Gobi Desert Oceania Harappa Oracle Bones Himalayas Polynesia Hindu Kush Shang Dynasty Huang River Terrace Farming Indus River Xi River Mandate of Heaven Yangtze (Yellow) River Melanesia Zhou Dynasty Micronesia