Unit 2

Discussion and Review

China’s Flourishing CivilizationChina’s Flourishing Civilization

Impact of China’s GeographyImpact of China’s Geography

1.Long distances and physical barriers isolated China, blocking cultural diffusion

2.Protecting China from invasion

3. Isolation contributed to the Chinese belief that China was the center of the earth and the only civilization.

Timeline of China’sTimeline of China’s Earliest Dynasties Earliest Dynasties

Religious beliefs of the early Chinese• Veneration of ancestors • people prayed to ancestors who would speak to the

gods on their behalf• Oracle bones

– Used by Shamans to understand the will of the gods and to foresee the future

– Wrote a question on animal bones or turtle shells and heated it till it broke

– When it cracked priests interpreted the lines

– Gods controlled the forces of nature and shaped destinies.

Mandate of Heaven

• Mandate of Heaven• Used to legitimize and strengthen their right

to rule– chief god “Heaven” – the king was the “Son of Heaven” – king’s rule was a product of the

“Mandate of Heaven”• Incompetent or otherwise unfit would lose

the “Mandate of Heaven”– Core belief of the Dynastic Cycle

Religion or Philosophy?

• Traditional Chinese beliefs are often mistakenly called religion and they are not…

• Confucianism, Legalism and Daoism are not religions!

• They are philosophies the Chinese regard as more important than religion.

ConfucianismConfucianism

Teachings of ConfuciusTeachings of Confucius • China’s most influential scholar

was Kongfuzi (551-479 BCE)

• concerned with:

• how to ensure social order

• good government.

• His teachings were collected in a work called the AnalectsAnalects

• Written by his students

Teachings of ConfuciusTeachings of Confucius

Confucius & The Analects Confucius & The Analects His ideas included that everyone has duties and responsibilities: Filial piety, or respect for parents, is the most

important duty. A ruler has the responsibility to provide good

government. In return, the people would be respectful and loyal subjects.

Government leaders and officials should be well educated.

Harmony is achieved when people accept their place in society.

Confucianism • Stressed the importance of

moral behavior in five basic relationships:

• 1. ruler and subject • 2. parent and child • 3. husband and wife • 4. old and young • 5. friend and friend • Which did he put the most

value in?

LegalismLegalism• People are evil• Emphasized the

importance of strict laws and harsh punishments

• Strong leader and central government

• Became official policy of Qin dynasty

Hanfeizi

DaoismDaoism Emphasized living in harmony with nature, for example, improving oneself mentally and physically. A direct reaction to the formalism of Confucianism:

Daoism looked for the simple Confucianism more concerned with work ethic and proper conduct

Laozi

Yin and Yang• They are the dynamic force of the

Tao, constantly interacting with one another

• Yin and Yang• The female is the yin (shady)

– principal of passive, shaded, and reflective. (moon)

• The male is the yang (sunny)– principle of active, bright, and shining.

(sun)

Yin Yin "moon""moon" Yang Yang "sun”"sun”

Chinese Society

• Patriarchal family– importance of hierarchy– the dominance of men over women.

• Father has supreme authority!– arranged marriages– Men were permitted to have concubines, but only one wife.

• Role of the wife– bear male offspring and honor the ancestors.

• Yin and Yang– represent the balance of the natural order– All things in the cosmos are in balance– men and women play complementary roles in the natural order.

The dynastic cycle refers to the rise and fall of dynasties.

The Dynastic Cycle in ChinaThe Dynastic Cycle in China

Qin DynastyQin Dynasty • “Shi Huangdi” (first emperor) wiped out the Zhou and conquered northern China uniting under central government

• Enforced legalism

How Did Shi Huang di Unite China? How Did Shi Huang di Unite China? How Did Shi Huang di Unite China? How Did Shi Huang di Unite China? 

1. He replaced feudal states with military districts governed by loyal officials.

2. He sent spies to report on local officials. 3. He forced noble families to live in his capital so he

could monitor them. 4. He jailed, tortured, and killed those who opposed

his rule. 5. He had all books of philosophy and literature

burned. 6. He standardized weights & measures, coins, laws 7. He connected the various parts of the Great Wall

and expanded it. 4,000 miles8.8. He eliminated primogeniture and slaveryHe eliminated primogeniture and slavery

Shi Huangdi Army Going to the Shi Huangdi Army Going to the Afterlife with Him!Afterlife with Him!

Terra Cotta SoldiersTerra Cotta Soldiers

Han DynastyHan Dynasty• The Han dynasty

ruled from 207 B.C.E to 220 CE; rivaled Roman empire in power and technological achievement

• Silk Road connected China to Roman Empire

Emperor Emperor WudiWudi

Han DynastyHan Dynasty• Implemented the

policies of Confucianism

• Established a civil service examination for public posts

• Based on merit

• Opportunities for all males. Really?

                                                                                               

The Han Golden AgeThe Han Golden Age

1. Diagnosed diseases. 2. Used herbal remedies

and other drugs for treatments.

3. Explored uses of acupuncture.

MEDICINEMEDICINE

The Han Golden AgeThe Han Golden Age

1. Horse collar2. Watermill3. Made paper out of wood pulp.4. Crossbow

TECHNOLOGYTECHNOLOGY

An old saying…Confucius has a sour

look as he tastes the vinegar.

Buddha has a bitter look as he tastes the vinegar.

Laozi has a smile as he tastes the vinegar.

Interpretation

• Confucianism saw life as sour, in need of rules to correct the degeneration of people

• Buddhism saw life as bitter, dominated by pain and suffering

• Daoism saw life as fundamentally good in its natural state.

• Another interpretation of the painting is that, since the three men are gathered around one vat of vinegar, "the three teachings are one".

Ancient IndiaAncient India

GaneshaGanesha

Roots of Hinduism• Who’s the founder?Who’s the founder?• No original founder No original founder • Grew out of early Aryan beliefs

in multiple Gods. • Is there a sacred text?Is there a sacred text?• Beliefs come from the Vedas and Beliefs come from the Vedas and

other Indian epics, poems and other Indian epics, poems and songssongs

• Each believer sees Brahman differently

Polytheistic or monotheistic ?

• Hinduism is sometimes called a polytheistic religion, but strictly speaking, this is not entirely accurate.

• Hinduism believes in One God (Brahman), but recognizes that the One God can appear to humans in multiple names and forms

• Three most important gods:– Brahma-the Creator– Vishnu-the preserver– Shiva-the destroyer

Characteristic of gods• Each god represents a Each god represents a

characteristic of characteristic of BrahmaBrahmann. .

• How many gods exist?• As many as 330 million

gods

BrahmaBrahmann the Creator the Creatorgod of knowledge & intellectgod of knowledge & intellect

ReincarnationReincarnation• What’s the ultimate goal

of existence?• to achieve moksha, or

union with Brahman. • What is reincarnation?• the soul (atman) passes

through many lifetimes: before it finally achieves moksha

Methods to Achieve Moksha:Karma

• Explain Karma Explain Karma • the lifetime actions that the lifetime actions that

affect a person’s fate affect a person’s fate • Good choices leads to Good choices leads to

higher rebirth higher rebirth • Bad choices leads to lower Bad choices leads to lower

birth maybe a rat or an birth maybe a rat or an ant ant

Methods to Achieve Moksha

• AhimsaAhimsa??• Promote Promote

nonviolence nonviolence toward all living toward all living thingsthings

Methods to Achieve Moksha

• What is Dharma?What is Dharma?• Follow the religious Follow the religious

& moral duties of & moral duties of your varna or caste your varna or caste

• Code of conduct for Code of conduct for each casteeach caste

Harijan "outside" the caste system

(once known as "untouchables")

• The “Untouchables” were thought to be dirty and not pure.

• There jobs consisted of cleaning the sewers and digging graves

Effects of the Caste: Duty• Ensured social order. How?• Caste rules governed every

aspect of life: clothes, foods, friendship, marriage, job, neighborhood and education

• Law of Karma determined caste

• It gave people a sense of identity

• Ensured spiritual purity

HinduismHinduism

• What does the red dot represent?

• symbolizes the mark of the supreme being and identifies you as Hindu.

Hinduism TodayHinduism Today

• 33rdrd largest religion in largest religion in the worldthe world

• Estimated I billion Estimated I billion Hindus in the world. Hindus in the world.

• Mostly live in India Mostly live in India and Nepal.and Nepal.

India’s Caste SystemIndia’s Caste SystemStill Alive Today!Still Alive Today!

• Though the castes system is now illegal by Indian law - its “duties” still remain a strong social influence.

• There are very few who will ignore the “duties” but if it happens it is generally in the urban areas.

India’s Caste SystemIndia’s Caste SystemStill Alive Today!Still Alive Today!

“They died for love…” • In 2002, two teenagers (16 & 17) killed

by their father and brother for “dating” outside their caste!

• Another young female teen in 2000 was hung in public display for her young male lover to see what happens when you venture outside your caste!

• None of these were give a proper Hindu funeral, all of the family members and the village ignored this key Hindu teaching.

Rise of Buddhism

• Many Hindus grew dissatisfied with religion looking for more spirituality.

Siddhartha Gautama• Born around 566 BCE • Founder of Buddhism Founder of Buddhism • Grew up an Indian prince

surrounded by wealth and luxury

• Saddened by amount of Saddened by amount of suffering by people. suffering by people.

Buddha: The Enlightened One

“Four Noble Truths”: 1. All life is full of suffering 1. All life is full of suffering 2. The cause of suffering is2. The cause of suffering is

wrong desires like wealth wrong desires like wealth and power and power

3. 3. The only cure for suffering is The only cure for suffering is to overcome desire to overcome desire

4. The way overcome is by 4. The way overcome is by following the “Noble Eight-following the “Noble Eight-

fold Path.”fold Path.”

The Teachings of the BuddhaThe Teachings of the Buddha

•Enlightenment is achieved through meditation.

1

The Teachings of the Buddha• What is the ultimate

goal?• reach nirvana, or union

with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth.

• Life is no longer filled with suffering and pain!

How Buddhism Spread from India to East Asia

Spread of BuddhismSpread of Buddhism•How did Buddhism Spread?

•Missionaries and Traders helped to spread Buddhism across India to many parts of Asia.

Geography•Political fragmentation throughout much of India’s History

• Complex social hierarchy, many language and ethnic groups, political and social division

•Mauryan Empire lasted from (322 B.C.E to 185 B.C.E.

•Situation on rich alluvial soil and mineral deposits.

Trade/Economy•Mauryan empire was driven by agriculture

•Farmers were free of tax and crop collections

•Internal trade expanded greatly due to newfound political unity and internal peace

•Chandragupta established single currency coinage across India.

Silver punch mark coin

Writing System

Sanskrit - was the writing system that was used during the Mauryan Empire. Only used by scholars however.

Religious Beliefs

Buddhism Hinduism

Jainism

Gender and Family Structure

The Caste System

•Regulated the marriages

•Passed down the family, hard to move upward.

Hierarchy

•Husbands, fathers were dominant, women were always submissive

•Laws limited women’s life and abilities.

The ArtsThe Mauryan Empire were the first in India to transition from wood to stone in their architecture and art.

Stupa

Pillars

Coins

Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)Asoka (304 – 232 BCE) Religious conversion to BuddhismReligious conversion to Buddhism after the gruesome after the gruesome battle of battle of KalingaKalinga in in 262 BCE. 262 BCE.

Dedicated his life to Dedicated his life to Buddhism. Buddhism.

Built extensive roads.Built extensive roads.

ConflictConflict how to balance the how to balance the methods of keeping power methods of keeping power and Buddha’s demands to and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless person? become a selfless person?

Asoka’Asoka’s s

EmpireEmpire

Asoka’Asoka’s s

EmpireEmpire

Asoka’s law Asoka’s law codecode

Asoka’s law Asoka’s law codecode Edicts scattered inEdicts scattered in

more than 30 places more than 30 places in India, Nepal, in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan. Pakistan, & Afghanistan.

Written mostly inWritten mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic. Greek and Aramaic.

10 rock edicts.10 rock edicts.

Each pillar [Each pillar [stupastupa] is 40’-50’ high.] is 40’-50’ high.

Buddhist principles dominate his Buddhist principles dominate his laws.laws.

Gupta Empire:Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 320 CE – 647 CE647 CE

Gupta Empire:Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 320 CE – 647 CE647 CE

Gupta RulersGupta RulersGupta RulersGupta Rulers Chandra Gupta IChandra Gupta I

r. 320 – 335 CEr. 320 – 335 CE

“ “Great King of Kings”Great King of Kings”

Controlled a powerful national Controlled a powerful national armyarmy

Chandra Gupta II Chandra Gupta II

r. 375 - 415 CEr. 375 - 415 CE

Profitable trade withProfitable trade with the Mediterranean the Mediterranean world! world!

25% tax on agricultural 25% tax on agricultural produceproduce

Hindu revival.Hindu revival.

Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta IndiaIndia

Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta IndiaIndia Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the

Silk Road and visited India in the 5c. Silk Road and visited India in the 5c.

He was following the pathHe was following the path of the Buddha. of the Buddha.

He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and charity. Other references in the journal, however, and charity. Other references in the journal, however, indicate that the caste system was rapidly assuming its indicate that the caste system was rapidly assuming its basic features, including "untouchability," the social basic features, including "untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest class that is doomed to menial labor.isolation of a lowest class that is doomed to menial labor.

International Trade International Trade Routes during the GuptasRoutes during the Guptas

International Trade International Trade Routes during the GuptasRoutes during the Guptas

Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:4c4c

Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:4c4c

spices

spices

spicesspices

gold & gold &

ivoryivory

gold & gold & ivoryivory

rice & rice & wheatwheathorseshorses

cotton goods

cotton goods

cotton goods

cotton goodssilkssilks

GuptGuptaa

ArtArt

GuptGuptaa

ArtArt

Greatly influenced Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & Southeast Asian art &

architecture.architecture.

MedicineMedicineMedicineMedicine LiteratureLiteratureLiteratureLiterature

MathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematicsAstronomyAstronomyAstronomyAstronomy

PrintedPrintedmedicinal medicinal

guidesguides

1000 1000 diseasesdiseasesclassifiedclassified

PlasticPlasticSurgerySurgery

C-sectionsC-sectionsperformeperforme

dd

InoculatioInoculationsns

500 healing500 healingplants plants

identifiedidentified

DecimalDecimalSystemSystem

ConceptConceptof Zeroof Zero

PI = 3.1416PI = 3.1416

KalidasKalidasaa

SolarSolarCalendarCalendar

The The earthearth

is roundis round

GuptaGuptaIndiaIndia

Gupta Gupta Achievements: Achievements: India’s Golden India’s Golden

AgeAge

Gupta Gupta Achievements: Achievements: India’s Golden India’s Golden

AgeAge

The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptasGuptas

The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptasGuptas

Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaledsignaled the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even thoughthough at first, the Guptas defeated them. at first, the Guptas defeated them.

Collapse 550 CECollapse 550 CE

After the decline of the Gupta empire, After the decline of the Gupta empire, northnorth India broke into a number of separate India broke into a number of separate HinduHindu kingdoms and was not really unified kingdoms and was not really unified again untilagain until the coming of the Muslims in the 7c. the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.

Indian women during the Gupta Empire? • Why did their status declined noticeably since the Vedic

period? • the emergence of a nonagricultural middle class, which

placed a high value on the acquisition and inheritance of property.

• Women lost• the right to own and inherit property.• Could not participating in many religious ceremonies. • Marriage• (Young age 6 or 7) intended to ensure that a woman would

behave according to her husband’s wishes.• Ritual of Sati• extreme example (a widow was expected to cremate

herself on her husband’s funeral)