Transcript Other Early Civilizations

Asian Indian
African Bantu
Central & South American
SSWH2 The student will identify the major
achievements of Chinese and Indian societies
from 1100 BCE to 500 CE.
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.
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Why study India?
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Has one-fifth of world’s population
Two prominent religions came from it: Hinduism &
Buddhism
The geography and climate of an area explains
how and why civilization emerged in that
region in the first place. So that’s where we
start for India too.
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Indian subcontinent
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natural barriers
 North: the Himalayas
 East: Bay of Bengal
 West: Arabian Sea
 South: Indian Ocean
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Two major rivers:
 Indus
 Ganges
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Climate
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Monsoons - seasonal winds
 Summer: bring torrential rains
 Winter: bring dryer air
 must come at the right time or agriculture will fail.
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Settled in the valley because of better soil for
farming
Built walled cities
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Technology advanced:
 Copper knives, axes and arrows
 Pottery and small figurines of deities
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Had highly planned cities (grid designed)
 Citadel
 Temples & granaries
 Public baths
 Buildings for public meetings
 Indoor toilets and a system of clay pipes & a sewer
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Size: as big as Mesopotamia & Egypt combined
Cities housed as many as 40,000
Economy:
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Agriculture
Raising sheep, cattle, pigs; Domesticating cats, horse,
elephant
Produced pottery, cloth, jewelry, bronze
 Mass production
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Trade by land and boat (to Mesopotamia)
Writing:
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Dravidian (unreadable)
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They migrated into the Indus area
 ruled after Harappan Civilization
declined
No sophisticated government. They
grouped in clans, and were ruled by
warrior chiefs called rajas.
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constant war amongst themselves
We can learn about them from the Vedas:
a collection of poems and sacred hymns
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Writing system: Sanskrit
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Established caste system
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Rigid social categories based on your position in
society.
Could only change castes through death.
Castes (Varnas)
 Brahmen – priests
 Kshatriyas – warriors and rulers
 Vaisyas – common people; merchants, artisans,
and farmers
 Sudras – servants
 Dalit – Untouchables
would later be used in Hinduism and permeated the
Indian civilization until modern times.
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Founded by Chandragupta Maurya
Capital city was 8 miles by 1.5 miles with 570 guard
towers and a moat 900 feet wide beyond the walls.
 feared assassination so had an army & a spy
network.
 Extensive network of civil servants in government
Flourished under Asoka.
 Chandragupta’s grandson.
 Considered to be greatest ruler in Indian history
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Converted to Buddhism
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Made him a very kind ruler.
Examples of leadership:
 Religious toleration
 Required missionary work of himself and his
officials
 Public works
 Hospitals for people and animals
 Provide medicines
 Planting trees & groves
 Digging wells
 Roadside rest houses
 Prevention of animal cruelty
 Reducing public slackness
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Collapse
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After Asoka’s death in 232 BC the empire fell apart.
In 183 BC, the last Mauryan ruler was killed.
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They took over the area after the Mauryan
Empire fell.
They benefited from trade on the Silk
Road.
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trade route between the Roman Empire and China.
 Called Silk Road because silk was China’s main
export.
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Located over most
of Northern India,
the region
presently in the
nation of Pakistan,
and what is now
western India and
Bangladesh.
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Chandra Gupta I
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Samudra Gupta
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Reunited India in AD 320
Took over after his father’s (Chandra Gupta I) death
Expanded the border of Empire through conquest
Chandra Gupta II AD 375-415
Took Empire to its highest point
 fostered trade throughout Asia and Eastern Europe.
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The Golden Age of India occurs under the rule
of the Gupta Dynasty (320 - 550 CE)
The Gupta established a strong central
government which also allowed a degree of
local control.
Gupta society was ordered in accordance with
Hindu beliefs. This included a strict caste
system, or class system.
The peace and prosperity created under Gupta
leadership enabled the pursuit of scientific and
artistic endeavors.
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The most significant achievements of the Gupta
period were in education, mathematics, art,
literature and drama, and astronomy.
Math
developed the concept of zero & infinity (∞) in the
use of math
 Algebra
 developed the decimal system based on the 10.
 Determined the value of π to 4 decimals
 created Arabic number writing system that is used
throughout the world today.
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Medicine
Pharmacological treatments
 Surgery: cesarean section
 bone setting
 skin grafting
 Vaccinations for smallpox
 Free hospitals
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Art/architecture (influenced by religious toleration)
stone temples dedicated to Hindu gods.
 shrines (stupas) built to house the remains of select holy
people of Buddhism.
 murals
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Literature
Styles: fables, folktales, poetry, drama
 written in Sanskrit.
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Astronomy
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proposed that the earth was round and rotated on an
axis by viewing a lunar eclipses.
made discoveries about gravity and the planets of
the solar system, which they used to tell the
horoscopes.
Education plan
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grammar, composition, logic, metaphysics,
mathematics, medicine, and astronomy
SSWH2 The student will identify the major
achievements of Chinese and Indian societies
from 1100 BCE to 500 CE.
b. Explain the development and impact of
Hinduism and Buddhism on India and
subsequent diffusion of Buddhism.
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Origin unknown but it dates back over 5000
years.
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Oldest organized religion
Sacred texts: Vedas
Spiritual leader: guru or sage
Place of worship: Mandir or home shrine
Eastern Religions:
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Not concerned with individual
Views all living things as part of vast circle of life
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Polytheistic
Belief in a single, supreme figure: Brahman
 All gods are expressions of Brahman.
 Three gods stand out as most important.
 Brahma – creator
 Vishnu – preserver
 Siva – destroyer
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Afterlife: reincarnation or liberation
Purpose of life: to attain liberation (moksha)
from the cycle of reincarnation and oneness
with Brahman
How to live: live life according to the dharma
to create good karma so you can move forward
in your caste (varna)
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Varna: social class in the caste system
Dharma is the divine law that sets
requirements of your caste (varna)
Karma: the force generated by a person’s
actions or the impact of previous deeds on
one's current circumstances
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determines how a person will be reborn in the next
life.
directed by Dharma.
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Beliefs common to nearly all forms of
Hinduism:
the authority of the Vedas and the Brahmans
(priests);
 the existence of an enduring soul that reincarnates;
 the law of karma.
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Note that a specific belief about God or gods is
not considered one of the essentials.
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Origins:
 Founder - Siddhartha Guatama (c.563-470
BCE)
 Born into royal family during the Aryan period of
Indian history
 In his late 20s, he became aware of the pain of
illness, the sorrow of death and the effects of old
age.
 He dedicated the rest of his life to seeking a cure
for human suffering.
 To do so he began meditating
 One day he reached enlightenment as to the
meaning of life and began preaching it.
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The Four Noble Truths of Buddhism
1. Life is suffering
 2. Desire leads only to suffering and ultimately
destruction.
 3. Suffering can end.
 4. Follow the Eight-Fold Path
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Eight-fold Path:
1. Right thought: facing realities of life, including
suffering and death
 2. Right speech: avoid lying, divisive and harsh speech
and idle gossip.
 3. Right actions: being honest and not breaking laws
 4. Right livelihood: living a righteous life
 5. Right understanding: developing genuine wisdom –
right and good intentions
 6. Right effort: opposing evil
 7. Right mindfulness: try to be aware of the "here and
now", instead of dreaming in the "there and then".
 8. Right concentration: regular meditation
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Sacred texts: Pali Canon (Tripitaka),
Original language: Pali
Spiritual leader: Monk (lama in Tibetan
Buddhism)
Place of ritual: Temple, meditation hall.
Type of religion: historically, not a religion
but a lifestyle aimed at relieving suffering.
Has polytheistic elements in many of
today’s sects.
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Ultimate reality: none. Nothing is
permanent.
Human nature: there is no self or soul.
Purpose of life: historically, attain
enlightenment and nirvana
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Nirvana is the end of self and union with the
great world soul
Afterlife: Reincarnation or nirvana
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Rejects the caste system
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After Gautama’s death Buddhism spread
throughout China, because of the travels of
merchants and monks.
Missionary efforts sponsored by Asoka during
the Mauryan Empire spread Buddhism
throughout India and Southeast Asia.
SSWH6 The student will describe the diverse
characteristics of early African societies
before 1800.
a. Identify the Bantu migration patterns and
contribution to settled agriculture.
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Started in Niger
River area
Spread South
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1st to Congo
2nd to Angola &
Zambia
Spread East to
Uganda
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then South to
Congo, Zimbabwe
and Mozambique
Bantus moved like small communities, not like invaders Assimilating and/or displacing native populations
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Contributions:
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Farming
 Subsistence farming
 Spread knowledge of high-yield crops
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Linguistic Contributions:
 Languages of eastern, central and southern Africa show
similarities with the mother tongues originally spoken in
West Africa
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Iron-smelting
 Creating tools & weapons to assist in survival
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Brought development of the system of statehood
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Government
development of leadership
state-craft
organizing people for campaigns for battles.
SSWH8 The student will demonstrate an
understanding of the development of societies in
Central and South America.
a. Explain the rise and fall of the Olmec, Mayan, Aztec,
and Inca empires.
b. Compare the culture of the Americas; include
government, economy, religion, and the arts of the
Mayans, Aztecs, and Incas.
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Mesoamerica is the name for areas of Mexico
and Central America that were civilized before
the Spaniards arrived.
Rise
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1200 B.C.
On coast south of Veracruz, Mexico.
Economy
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farmed along riverbanks.
Arts/Architecture
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The Olmec had large cities (Teotihuacan)
carved colossal stone heads
Fall
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Around 400 B.C.
Don’t know the reason - declined, then collapsed.
Rise
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between A.D. 300 and 900.
Yucatán Peninsula
It covered much of Central America and southern
Mexico.
Government
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city-states governed by a hereditary ruling class.
The states warred on each other.
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Captives given as human sacrifice or enslaved.
Mayan rulers claimed to be descended from the
gods.
The nobles and a class of scribes helped the rulers .
Economy/Social Structure
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Agriculture and trade (surplus of
maize)
Most farmed.
Labor divided along gender
lines.
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Men – fought and hunted
Women – kept children
Both worked the fields.
also had artisans, officials, and
merchants.
Religion
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They believed all life was in the hands of divine
powers.
Supreme god = Itzamna (Lizard House)
Some gods, like jaguar, god of the night, were evil.
They practiced human sacrifice to appease the gods
and for special ceremonial occasions
Ball courts
Arts/Learning
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They had a writing
system based on
hieroglyphs (pictures)
Unfortunately, the
Spaniards assumed the
writings were evil
because they were not
Christian
Arts/Learning cont’d…
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They had a calendar known as the Long Count.
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Based on cycles of Creation and destruction
According to the Maya the world started in 3114 BC and
will end December 23, 2012.
They had a solar calendar
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365 days, 18 months (20 days each) 5 extra days at the end.
They also had a sacred calendar used only by
priests.
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260 days, 13 weeks of 20 days.
Foretell future and know omens associated with each day
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The Maya built splendid temples and
pyramids
Fall
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possibly due to invasion, internal revolt, and a
natural disaster, i.e. volcano
may have been overuse of the land that led to
reduced crop yields and eventually starvation.
Rise
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twelfth century A.D.,
Migrated to the Valley of Mexico.
capital at Tenochtitlán on an island in the middle
of Lake Texcoco, where Mexico City is now.
They also consolidated their rule over much of
what is modern Mexico.
Government
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collection of semi-independent territories governed
by lords.
Aztec ruler supported the lords in return for
tribute—goods or money paid by conquered
peoples to their conqueror.
Power was in the hands of the king, who claimed
descent from the gods.
A council assisted him.
Economy/Social Structure
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farming was important
some people engaged in trade using the barter
system
The population consisted of
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commoners,
indentured servants,
Slaves
Merchants also lived in the cities.
Boys and girls had different roles from birth.
Women were not equal to men
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could inherit property and enter into contracts
were also allowed to be priestesses.
Religion
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They were polytheistic
Believed in an unending struggle
between good and evil.
They practiced human sacrifice to
honor Huitzilopochtli, the god of the
sun and of war, in order to delay the
final destruction of the world.
Another was Quetzalcoatl, the
feathered serpent.
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Aztec mistook the Spanish for
Quetzalcoatl’s representatives
Arts/Architecture
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very advanced in architecture
built a magnificent city of temples, other public
buildings, and roadways linking the islands and
mainland
built a huge pyramid in Tenochtitlan dedicated to
Huitzilopochtli. topped with shrines and an altar
for human sacrifice.
Fall
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Unrest around Aztec territory
In 1519, a Spanish force under the command of
Hernán Cortés marched to Tenochtitlán.
Cortés was greeted warmly by the Aztec king,
Montezuma, who believed his visitor represented
Quetzalcoatl.
By 1520, the Aztec drove the Spaniards from the
city
Then Aztec died from European diseases.
Cortés returned with help and conquered
Tenochtitlán.
Rise
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late 1300s, a small community
in the area of Cuzco, a city high
in the mountains of Peru.
1440s, the Inca, under
Pachacuti, began to conquer the
entire region.
Eventually went as far as
Ecuador, central Chile, and the
edge of the Amazon basin.
Government
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The Incan state was built on war.
Pachacuti divided the empire into
four quarters ruled by a governor
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Quarters were divided into
provinces also ruled by a governor
At the top was the emperor
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believed to be descended from Inti,
the sun god
Economy/Social Structure
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agricultural, terraced fields in the mountains with
irrigation systems
Forced labor - All subjects served several weeks
each year.
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moved to building projects.
The Inca built 24,800 miles of roads.
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Rest houses and storage depots
Bridges
Incan society was highly regimented.
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All young men had to serve in the army
Men and women had to marry someone from their own
social group.
Women either worked in the home or were priestesses.
Religion
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Inti, the Sun God, was believed to be family with
the emperors.
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They gathered in June and December to chant and
say prayers to Inti
Arts/Architecture
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very excelled in architecture
solar observatory.
kept records using quipu, a system of knotted
strings
court theatre, with tragedy and comedy
recited poetry with music.
Required conquered people learn Quechua—the
spoken Incan language.
Fall
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1531 – Spanish Francisco Pizarro.
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small band of about 180 men
Had steel weapons, gunpowder, and horses.
Incans experienced a smallpox epidemic.
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When the emperor died, his sons fought a civil war for
control.
Atahuallpa won but Pizarro then captured and executed him.
Pizarro captured the capital Cuzco with the help of Incan
allies.
By 1535, Pizarro had established a new capital at
Lima for a new colony of the Spanish Empire