1. SSWH2 The student will identify the major achievements of Chinese and Indian societies from 1100 BCE to 500 CE.

2. a. Describe the development of Indian civilization; include the rise and fall of the Maurya Empire, the “Golden Age” under Gupta, and the emperor Ashoka.

3. Powerful Empires of India
Focus Question 
In what ways did Maurya and Gupta rulers achieve peace and order for ancient India?

4. Chandragupta Forges an Empire
A man named Chandragupta first gained power in the Ganges valley. He then conquered northern India. His son and grandson later pushed south, adding much of the Deccan to their empire. From 321 B.C. to 185 B.C., the Maurya dynasty ruled over a vast, united empire.

5. Chandragupta maintained order through a well-organized bureaucracy
Chandragupta maintained order through a well-organized bureaucracy. Royal officials supervised the building of roads and harbors to benefit trade. Other officials collected taxes and managed state-owned factories and shipyards. People sought justice in royal courts.

6. Chandragupta’s rule was effective but harsh
Chandragupta’s rule was effective but harsh. A brutal secret police force reported on corruption, crime, and dissent—that is, ideas that opposed those of the government. Fearful of his many enemies, Chandragupta had specially trained women warriors guard his palace.

7. Asoka Rules by Moral Example
The most honored Maurya emperor was Chandragupta’s grandson, Asoka (uh soh kuh). A few years after becoming emperor in 268 B.C., Asoka fought a long, bloody war to conquer the Deccan region of Kalinga. Then, horrified at the slaughter—more than 100,000 people are said to have died—Asoka turned his back on further conquests. He converted to Buddhism, rejected violence, and resolved to rule by moral example.

8. True to the Buddhist principle of respect for all life, Asoka stopped eating most meats and limited Hindu animal sacrifices. He sent missionaries, or people sent on a religious mission, to spread Buddhism across India and to Sri Lanka. By doing so, he paved the way for the spread of Buddhism throughout Asia. Although Asoka promoted Buddhism, he also preached tolerance for other religions.

9. Division and Disunity Set In
After Asoka’s death, Maurya power declined. By 185 B.C., the unity of the Maurya empire was shattered as rival princes again battled for power across the Gangetic Plain.

10. Adding to the turmoil, foreigners frequently pushed through mountain passes into northern India. The divided northern kingdoms often proved incapable of resisting these conquerors.

11. The Guptas Bring About a Golden Age
Although many kingdoms flourished in the Deccan, the most powerful Indian states rose to its north. About 500 years after the Mauryas, the Gupta dynasty again united much of India. Gupta emperors organized a strong central government that promoted peace and prosperity. Under the Guptas, who ruled from A.D. 320 to about 540, India enjoyed a golden age, or period of great cultural achievement

12. Peace and Prosperity Abound
Gupta rule was probably looser than that of the Mauryas. Much power was left in the hands of individual villages and city governments elected by merchants and artisans.

13. Trade and farming flourished across the Gupta empire
Trade and farming flourished across the Gupta empire. Farmers harvested crops of wheat, rice, and sugar cane. In cities, artisans produced cotton cloth, pottery, and metalware for local markets and for export to East Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. The prosperity of Gupta India contributed to a flowering in the arts and learning.

14. Indians Make Advances in Learning
Under Gupta rule, students were educated in religious schools.

15. Indian advances in mathematics had a wide impact on the rest of the world. Gupta mathematicians devised the system of writing numbers that we use today. Indian mathematicians also originated the concept of zero and developed the decimal system of numbers based on ten digits, which we still use today.

16. By Gupta times, Indian physicians were using herbs and other remedies to treat illness. Surgeons were skilled in setting bones and in simple surgery to repair injuries. It seems that doctors also began vaccinating people against smallpox about 1,000 years before this practice was used in Europe.

17. Expanding India’s Literature
During Gupta times, many fine writers added to the rich heritage of Indian literature. They collected and recorded fables and folk tales in the Sanskrit language. In time, Indian fables were carried west to Persia, Egypt, and Greece.

18. The Gupta Empire Declines
Eventually, Gupta India declined under the pressure of weak rulers, civil war, and foreign invaders. From central Asia came the White Huns, a nomadic people who overran the weakened Gupta empire, destroying its cities and trade. Once again, India split into many kingdoms. It would see no other great empire like those of the Mauryas or Guptas for almost 1,000 years

19. How did religion influence learning and the arts in Gupta India?

20. Buddhism and Hinduism
Let’s Look in your book. Together we will create a chart in your notes that compares and contrasts Hinduism to Buddhism. We will focus on:
1. founders/origins
2. Key beliefs
3. Gods
4. Sacred Literature
5. Effect on society
6. Modern-day traditions

21. b. Explain the development and impact of Hinduism and Buddhism on India and subsequent diffusion of Buddhism.
Hinduism:
-polytheistic religion
-reincarnation and karma
-Not traced to one founder
-Strengthened the caste system through karma
Buddhism:
-founded by Siddhartha (Buddha)
-Path to enlightenment
-Attempt to reach nirvana, or a release from suffering and worldly pain
-rejected caste system

22. How do these compare to the 10 comandments (page 79)

23. Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama (ca. 556 – ca. 486 BCE)
-Founder of Buddhism
-Indian prince from a small north Indian state
-Led a sheltered and privileged existence
-Shocked by the existence of old age, sickness, and death
-Left family and wealth
-Began search for the causation and cessation of suffering
E. Napp

24. E. Napp

25. -Selfish desire is the cause of suffering. -Suffering can end.
Upon becoming the Enlightened One (the Buddha), formulated the Four Noble Truths
-Life has suffering.
-Selfish desire is the cause of suffering.
-Suffering can end.
-Follow the Noble Eightfold Path (eight actions to help eliminate suffering)
Nirvana is the elimination of suffering
-The identity is extinguished as greed, hatred, and delusion are extinguished too
-Loving-kindness or compassion for all living things develops
E. Napp

26. Many similarities to Hinduism
-Karma, reincarnation, overcoming the incessant demands of the ego, meditation, release from samsara
Differences too
-Rejected religious authority of Brahmins, ridiculed rituals and sacrifices, not much interested in the creation of world or existence of God
E. Napp

27. Hinduism and Buddhism in India
Buddhism attracted many laborers and crafts people who were at the bottom of the caste system
Though missionaries spread the Buddhist religion in India, it never took hold
Trade with other countries and territories helped Buddhism spread else where (East Asia)
Hinduism remained the main religion of India

28. c. Describe the development of Chinese civilization under the Zhou and Qin.
Zhou ( BC)
-established a feudalistic society
-built roads and canals
-coined money
-used cast iron
Qin ( BC)
-formed an autocracy
-standardized all of China (laws, measurements, currency)
-Great Wall built
Feudalism: System where local lords pay taxes to a central ruler Autocracy: unlimited power and authority

29. China - Zhou 1100 BCE - 500 CE Zhou
In 1027 BCE the Zhou dynasty overthrew the Shang Dynasty through the use of the Dynasty Cycle. The Zhous utilized ancestor worship and oracle bones in religious ways.
Advancements: Roads and canals, coined money

30. Qin
The Qin replaced the Zhou Dynasty and kept China unified. This dynasty is known for the creation of the Great Wall, a unified system of writing, law, currency, and weights/measures.
One concept that emerges during this time is Legalism. This is the belief in a highly efficient and powerful gov’t. The gov’t wanted to control beliefs and actions. If you were disobedient you could be punished greatly. (ex: Anyone caught outside his village without a travel permit should have his ears or nose chopped off)

31. Civil Service Exam Dynasty Cycle
18 ranks: government jobs that civilians obtained by taking examinations
History, law, literature, and Confucianism
Continued in China until 1912
Dynasty Cycle

32. Structured Society
Mandate of Heaven
Bureaucracy
1 Month in Military

33. d. Explain the impact of Confucianism on Chinese culture; include the examination system, the Mandate of Heaven, the status of peasants, the status of merchants, and the patriarchal family, and explain diffusion to Southeast Asia, Japan, and Korea.

34. Confucius Confucius wanted to restore peace and harmony to China
He developed 5 codes of relationships between, people, and people and the government
Believed that education was important in helping people grow, and in the running of a government
Confucianism is not a religion, but a way to live
Strict social order and discipline was the key to a successful society

35. Compare and contrast
Study the teaching of Buddha, the ten commandment, and the teaching of Confucius.
Choose three main points that each religion/philosophy deems important and compare or contrast them with each other. How are they similar, how are they different, make sure to explain your answer completely.

36. China Examination System:
-originally most government jobs were through appointment
-the examination system required citizens to pass a test to earn a position in the government
-In theory, it opened up government jobs to the masses

37. China Mandate of Heaven: -Royal authority came from heaven
-Only wise and just rulers kept the Mandate and their throne
-Foolish rulers lost the Mandate and their throne through natural disasters, upheaval, revolts, and inavsions

38. China Peasants and Merchants:
-Though more wealthy than peasants, merchants were lower on the strict social ladder
-Merchants did not contribute to society and were only after their own personal gain
-Peasants produced food, which society needed

39. e. Explain how the geography of the Indian Subcontinent contributed to the movement of people and ideas.
Mountains in the North prevented much trade by land
Southern India is surrounded by water, making the transfer of goods much easier