1. FROM RIVER VALLEYS TO EMPIRES
The Classic Civilizations of Persia, India, and China

2. Essential Question: What is the difference between a “river valley civilization” and an “empire”?

3. After thousands of years of civilization in river valleys, the world’s first empires appeared
River valley civilizations were complex societies with advanced technologies, cities, workers, writing, and institutions (religions and governments)

4. Like river valley civilizations, empires were advanced societies with well-organized, centralized governments
The difference is that empires conquer and rule over a variety of formerly independent people
“EMPIRE” defined: a group of several different nations or people united and ruled over by a monarch (like an emperor or king)

5. The nations that are ruled over obey and serve the mother country of the empire
In the first ancient empire we learn about, the mother country of the empire was Persia

6. Mauryan and Gupta Empires in India
Major Empires
Han Dynasty in China
Persian Empire
Mauryan and Gupta Empires in India

7. Mesopotamia: River Valley to Empire
The fertile soil and lack of natural boundaries (like mountains) in Mesopotamia led to the Mesopotamian civilizations being the target of frequent invasions and conquests

8. One of the most important ancient empires was Persia (present-day Iran)

9. The Persians grew into a powerful empire under Kings Cyrus and Darius

10. The “10,000 Immortals”: Persia’s elite fighting force
With a powerful army, the Persians conquered Mesopotamia, Egypt, and India
The “10,000 Immortals”: Persia’s elite fighting force

11. Persia’s religion was Zoroastrianism (based on the teachings of the prophet Zoroaster)
This religion viewed life as a struggle between good and evil; the Persians believed in Heaven and Hell as consequences for how they lived their lives

12. Zoroastrianism influenced the views of the afterlife in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

13. The Persian Empire at its Height
How did the Persians control such a massive empire?

14. PERSIA’S SYSTEM OF CONTROL
Persia controlled their lands in a variety of ways
Persian kings were tolerant; they allowed conquered people to keep their languages and religions
This kept the conquered people content and less likely to rebel

15. PERSIA’S SYSTEM OF CONTROL
Rather than destroying or looting conquered cities, King Cyrus would show respect for local customs
As the mother country of the empire, the Persians were definitely in charge
However, life was tolerable under Persian rule, so this made most conquered people content

16. THE PERSIAN EMPIRE AT THE HEIGHT OF ITS POWER
At the centre of ancient Persian administration was the king, controlling a network of satraps (governors). As well as governing, satraps were responsible for securing tribute and delivering it to the royal palace. The Greek writer Herodotus reported that at one time Cilicia (in south-east Turkey) paid 500 talents of silver (about 14 metric tons) and provided 360 white horses, and Babylon and Assyria paid 1000 talents of silver (about 28 metric tons) and gave 500 boys to be eunuchs.
King Darius divided the empire into twenty provinces, each one was ruled by a satrap (local governor)

17. PERSIA’S SYSTEM OF CONTROL
Satraps served as the “eyes and ears” of the Persian kings in their respective provinces
PERSIA’S SYSTEM OF CONTROL
They collected taxes from the people of the provinces and informed the king of any uprisings

18. PERSIA’S ORGANIZED EMPIRE
The Persians built a network of roads in order to collect taxes, improve communication, and facilitate trade throughout their empire

19. PERSIA’S ORGANIZED EMPIRE
The Persians used metal coins with standardized values to help promote trade
Metal coins with standardized values helped promote trade

20. Empires in India: the Mauryan and the Gupta

21. The Mauryan Empire of India
Indus River Valley

22. The Mauryan Empire of India
After the river valley era, India transitioned into the Mauryan Empire
Indus River Valley

23. The Mauryan Empire of India
Chandragupta Maurya became king of India in 321 BCE (Before Common Era), created a vast army, and conquered surrounding lands
Chandragupta’s empire controlled most of the Indian subcontinent

24. MAURYAN EMPIRE’S SYSTEM OF CONTROL
King Chandragupta Maurya used tactics similar to the Persians’ to control his empire
The king divided his empire into provinces, each ruled by a local prince that reported to him

25. The Mauryan Empire of India
In 269 BCE, King Asoka took over; he expanded the Empire to its greatest extent
Indus River Valley

26. The Mauryan Empire of India
During his wars of expansion, Asoka converted to Buddhism
After witnessing an extremely bloody battle, Asoka developed new policies of tolerance and non-violence for his empire
Buddhism spread as a result of Asoka’s influence
Indus River Valley

27. The Gupta Empire of India
After Asoka’s death, the Mauryan Empire declined and was replaced by the Gupta Empire
Chandra Gupta formed the Gupta Empire in 320 A.D. and expanded the empire

28. Gupta Empire: Classical India
India experienced a “golden age” of art, learning, and science during the Gupta Empire, which was known as a “classical empire”
Indian astronomers were the first to discover that the Earth is round
Mathematicians invented modern numerals, the number zero, pi, and the decimal system
Astronomy, Mathematics, and Medicine The expansion of trade spurred the advance of science. Because sailors on trading ships used the stars to help them figure their position at sea, knowledge of astronomy increased. From Greek invaders, Indians adapted Western methods of keeping time. They began to use a calendar based on the cycles of the sun rather than the moon. They also adopted a seven-day week and divided each day into hours. During the Gupta Empire (A.D. 320 to about 500), knowledge of astronomy increased further. Almost 1,000 years before Columbus, Indian astronomers proved that the earth was round by observing a lunar eclipse. During the eclipse, the earth’s shadow fell across the face of the moon. The astronomers noted that the earth’s shadow was curved, indicating that the earth itself was round. Indian mathematics was among the most advanced in the world. Modern numerals, the zero, and the decimal system were invented in India. Around A.D. 500, an Indian named Aryabhata (AHR•yuh•BUHT•uh) calculated the value of pi (π) to four decimal places. He also calculated the length of the solar year as days. This is very close to modern calculations made with an atomic clock. In medicine, two important medical guides were compiled. They described more than 1,000 diseases and more than 500 medicinal plants. Hindu physicians performed surgery—including plastic surgery—and possibly gave injections

29. Gupta Empire: Classical India
Merchants sold exotic spices and silks to people throughout Asia and the Mediterranean world, increasing India’s prosperity

30. Han Dynasty in China

31. China and the Dynastic Cycle
Government in China was based upon the dynastic cycle: One ruling family (a “dynasty”) gains the “mandate of heaven”, then rules until the dynasty grows weak and is over- thrown

32. As a result, eras in Chinese history are named after the ruling dynasties (such as Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han)
During the Han Dynasty, China became a “classical civilization” marked by its advanced government, trade, and technology

33. Han kings built a powerful army and expanded into Asia to form China’s first empire
Chinese emperors added thousands of government workers (called bureaucrats) to collect taxes, enforce laws, and oversee building projects

34. Exams were based on Confucian teachings
In order to gain one of the 130,000 government jobs, citizens had to pass a civil service exam
Exams were based on Confucian teachings

35. Han China: The First Chinese Empire
Chinese technology became advanced, especially silk and paper making. Paper made books cheaper and increased literacy in China
Structures of Han Technology, Commerce, and Culture
The 400 years of Han rule saw not only improvements in education but also great advances in Chinese technology and culture. In addition, the centralized government began to exert more control over commerce and manufacturing. Technology Revolutionizes Chinese Life Advances in technology influenced all aspects of Chinese life. Paper was invented in A.D Before that, books were usually written on silk. But paper was cheaper, so books became more readily available. This helped spread education in China. The invention of paper also affected Chinese government. Formerly, all government documents had been recorded on strips of wood. Paper was much more convenient to use for record keeping, so Chinese bureaucracy expanded. Another technological advance was the collar harness for horses. This invention allowed horses to pull much heavier loads than did the harness being used in Europe at the time The Chinese perfected a plow that was more efficient because it had two blades. They also improved iron tools, invented the wheelbarrow, and began to use water mills to grind grain.

36. Han China: The First Chinese Empire
The desire for Chinese luxury goods led to the Silk Road: trade routes that connected China with Indians, Persians, and Mediterraneans
Structures of Han Government The Chinese emperor relied on a complex bureaucracy to help him rule. Running the bureaucracy and maintaining the imperial army were expensive. To raise money, the government levied taxes. Like the farmers in India, Chinese peasants owed part of their yearly crops to the government. Merchants also paid taxes. Besides taxes, the peasants owed the government a month’s worth of labor or military service every year. With this source of labor, the Han emperors built roads and dug canals and irrigation ditches. The emperors also filled the ranks of China’s vast armies and expanded the Great Wall, which stretched across the northern frontier.
Confucianism, the Road to Success Wudi’s government employed more than 130,000 people. The bureaucracy included 18 different ranks of civil service jobs, which were government jobs that civilians obtained by taking examinations. At times, Chinese emperors rewarded loyal followers with government posts. However, another way to fill government posts evolved under the Han. This
method involved testing applicants’ knowledge of Confucianism—the teachings of Confucius, who had lived 400 years before. The early Han emperors had employed some Confucian scholars as court advisers, but it was Wudi who began actively to favor them. Confucius had taught that gentlemen should practice “reverence [respect], generosity, truthfulness, diligence [industriousness], and kindness.” Because these were exactly the qualities he wanted his government officials to have, Wudi set up a school where hopeful job applicants from all over China could come to study Confucius’s works. After their studies, job applicants took formal examinations in history, law, literature, and Confucianism. In theory, anyone could take the exams. In practice, few peasants could afford to educate their sons. So only sons of wealthy landowners had a chance at a government career. In spite of this flaw, the civil service system begun by Wudi worked so efficiently that it continued in China until 1912.
Han Technology, Commerce, and Culture
The 400 years of Han rule saw not only improvements in education but also great advances in Chinese technology and culture. In addition, the centralized government began to exert more control over commerce and manufacturing. Technology Revolutionizes Chinese Life Advances in technology influenced all aspects of Chinese life. Paper was invented in A.D Before that, books were usually written on silk. But paper was cheaper, so books became more readily available. This helped spread education in China. The invention of paper also affected Chinese government. Formerly, all government documents had been recorded on strips of wood. Paper was much more convenient to use for record keeping, so Chinese bureaucracy expanded. Another technological advance was the collar harness for horses. This invention allowed horses to pull much heavier loads than did the harness being used in Europe at the time The Chinese perfected a plow that was more efficient because it had two blades. They also improved iron tools, invented the wheelbarrow, and began to use water mills to grind grain.

37. Closure Activity: Identify 3 similarities and 3 differences among the Persian, Indian, and Chinese empires