Transcript Section 1 Empires of China and India

Empires of China and India
Section 1
“History is the present. That’s why every
generation writes it anew. But what most
people think of as history is its end
product, myth.”
- E. L. Doctorow
23% of all photocopier faults world-wide
are caused by people sitting on them and
photocopying their rear ends.
Empires of China and India
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Empires of China and India
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The Growth of China
Main Idea
The Qin and Han dynasties created
strong centralized governments that
unified China and shaped Chinese
civilization for thousands of years to
follow.
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The Qin Dynasty
Zhou dynasty began to decline around 400 BC, power
shifted to local nobles
• Several small states battled for land, power by 300s
• State of Qin rose to power
– Located on China’s western frontier
– Conquered other states in military campaigns
– Last rival state fell, 221 BC
• Qin unified Chinese empire
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Harsh Qin Rule
• First ruler of new empire took title Shi Huangdi, “first
emperor”
• Founded school of Legalism: taught that powerful,
efficient government key to maintaining order
Rejection of Confucianism
• Legalists rejected philosophy developed during Zhou
dynasty: Confucianists thought rulers should be virtuous,
lead by example
• Legalists said rulers should be strong, govern through
force - supported strict laws, stressed harsh punishment
for even minor crimes
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Shang Yang
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Strong, Centralized Government
• Shi Huangdi weakened rival nobles by taking land; forced
them to move to capital
• Seized all private arms to prevent rebellions and divided
China into 36 districts, appointed loyalists to govern them
Maintaining Order
• Shi Huangdi ruthlessly suppressed all criticism of his rule:
burned all non-Legalist books (agriculture, medicine
spared) and killed Confucian critics
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The Qin Dynasty
Qin Reforms
• Harsh Qin rule unified, strengthened China
• Standardized laws, writings, monetary systems, weights and measures, and
width of cart axles - travel China’s roads
Massive Building Projects
• Improved irrigation and increased farm production
• Expanded network of roads and canals to link capital to other parts of empire
• Improved transportation, increased trade, levied heavy taxes
Qin Growth and Defense
• Worked to protect empire from outside threats
• Qin army pushed nomadic warriors farther north, subdued areas to south
• Joined separate defensive walls, came to be known as Great Wall of China
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Qin
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Han
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Ming
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Terracotta Army
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Fall of the Qin
• Dynasty’s policies fueled anger, resentment
• Qin dynasty crumbled after Shi Huangdi died, 210
BC
– Peasants fed up with forced labor, high taxes,
rebelled
– Nobles eager to regain land, power, raised
armies against new emperor
– Peasant rebel leader Liu Bang defeated Qin
forces, founded Han dynasty
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Summarize
How did Shi Huangdi unify China and build a
strong empire?
Answer(s): conquered other states; centralized
government; suppressed all criticism; subdued
raiders to the north, constructed Great Wall
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Empires of China and India
The Han Dynasty
The Han dynasty ruled China from 206 BC to AD 220—more than 400
years. It would be the model for all later Chinese dynasties.
Restoring Control
• Liu Bang ruled with
“mandate of heaven”
• Ancient Chinese beliefs:
– Gods supported virtuous
rulers; Opposed corrupt
ones
– Defeated ruler had lost
support of the gods
Gaining Loyalty
• Liu Bang softened harsh
Legalist policies
• Lowered taxes, earned
loyalty of peasants
• Gave large blocks of land to
relatives, military supporters
• Distribution of land earned
military’s loyalty
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The Han Dynasty
Stability
• Liu Bang continued Qin’s
strong, centralized gov. to
weaken rivals - expanded
bureaucracy
• Numerous officials
appointed to oversee
administration of Han
government - helped
restore stability to Chinese
empire
Confucianism
• Liu Bang not well educated,
peasant origins
• Appointed Confucian scholars to
advise, serve in government
• Confucianism regained
popularity, shaped Han
government
• Some Legalist policies remained,
maintained firm control over
empire
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The Greatest Han Emperor
Height of Han Dynasty
• Emperor Wudi ruled from 141 to 187 BC
• Energetic, aggressive, considered greatest of all Han rulers
• Promoted economic growth, new roads, canals made it easier to get
products to market
• Monopolies on some products; limits on merchants to limit power, wealth
Government Philosophy
Xiongnu
• Wudi wanted officials to hold
Confucian values
• Developed civil service system
• Candidates had to pass exam in
Confucian classics
• Wealthy, influential families continued
to control government
• Biggest threat to Wudi’s security
from nomads in steppes north of
China, Xiongnu
• Excellent horse skills, fierce warriors
• Swept in from steppes, raided
settlements along China’s frontier
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The Greatest Han Emperor
Expansion under Wudi
• Wudi expanded empire through warfare - began to use force
against southern Xiongnu tribes, 133 BC
• Colonized parts of Korea, Manchuria to NE, Vietnam to S;
extended control into Central Asia to west, opened trade routes
Han Decline
• Brief crisis AD 9 when rebel Wang Mang seized throne
• Han regained control, AD 25, start of Later Han dynasty
• Later Han weakened by court intrigues, gap between rich and poor,
high taxes crushing poor
• Yellow Turban revolt AD184; Warlords, Period of Division – lasts 350
Years
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Wang Mang
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Identify Supporting Details
Why is Wudi considered to be the greatest
Han emperor?
Answer(s): promoted economic growth,
Confucianism, civil service system, expanded
empire through warfare
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Chinese Society and Culture
Main Idea
The Han dynasty was a time of social
change, the growth of trade, and great
achievements in the arts and sciences.
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Han Society
China’s Han period was a time of great prosperity, growth and
achievement, defining imperial Chinese civilization for years.
Family Life
• Confucianism shaped Chinese
society
• Confucius taught that family
was central to well-being of the
state
• Officials promoted strong
family ties
– Fathers head of family
– Filial piety stressed
– Obedience, devotion to
parents, grandparents
Dutiful Children
• Children served parents as
they aged, honored dead at
household shrines
• Han officials believed dutiful
children made respectful
subjects
• Some men even received
government jobs because of
respect shown parents
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Family Life
Women in China
• Had fewer privileges, less status than men
• Rarely received education, owned property
• Sons valued more than daughters
Marriage
• Sons carried on family line
• Remained part of parents’ household after marriage
• Daughters married and joined husband’s household
Power and Status
• Older women achieved power because of Confucian respect for elders
• Ban Zhao, female scholar, writer; helped write history of Han dynasty
• Called for mutual respect between husbands, wives, education for women
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Ban Zhao
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Social Structure
• Han society highly structured, clearly defined social classes
• Emperor at top, ruled with mandate from heaven
• Upper class of palace court, nobles, government officials, scholars
• Second, largest class consisted of peasants, who grew empire’s food
Other Classes
• Third class composed of artisans, made useful items, luxury goods
• Merchants occupied fourth class, trade not valued by Confucianism
• Slaves at bottom of society
• Military not an official class, but part of government and offered way
to rise in status
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Han Society
Rich and Poor
Peasant Class
• Social class determined status,
but not wealth or power
• 90% of nearly 60 million in
China at time were peasants
• Merchants usually wealthier
than peasants, but were lower
in status
• Lived in small villages in simple
houses, labored long hours in
fields, worked on government
projects in winter
• Wealthy in Han China lived well
• Spacious homes, large estates
• Hired numerous laborers
• High taxes, bad weather could
force them into debt
• Many had to sell lands, become
laborers for wealthy
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Summarize
What was life like for Chinese peasants
during the Han dynasty?
Answer(s): worked hard in fields, farmed, raised
animals, often sold land to feed families, forced to
work on building projects, easily forced into debt,
worked for wealthy landowners
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Trade and Buddhism
Trade grew in Han period
• Agriculture basis of economy
• Growth of trade increased
prosperity
• Led to contact between China,
other civilizations
Production of silk
• Most prized Chinese product
• Secret method for making silk
• Revealing secret punishable by
death
Han products
• Ironworkers made iron armor,
swords
• Artisans made pottery, jade and
bronze objects, lacquerware
Major industry
• Raised silkworms, unwound
threads of cocoons
• Dyed threads, wove into fabric
• Fabric beautiful, soft, strong
• Clothing costly, in high demand
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Growth of Trade
As they conquered areas of Central Asia, the
Han learned people farther west wanted
Chinese goods
• Zhang Qian returned from Central Asia
mission, 126 BC
– Told of region’s riches, demand for
Chinese goods
– Events led to increased trade with west
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The Silk Roads
Merchants traveling between China, Central Asia used overland routes.
The most famous were called the Silk Roads. This network of routes
eventually stretched from China over 4,000 miles to Mediterranean
Sea, and linked China to India, the Middle East, and the Roman
Empire.
Travel
Trade
• Travelers on Silk Roads crossed
rugged, barren terrain
• Most merchants traveled only part
of way
• Faced attacks by bandits
• Traded goods with merchants from
distant lands
• For protection, traveled in huge
camel caravans
• Stopped at stations along way
• Most goods traded were luxury
items
• Small, valuable, highly profitable
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Trade and Buddhism
Traders carried ideas as well as goods over the Silk Roads
• Buddhism spread from to China from India
– Reached China in first century AD
– Han government became less stable, violence
increased
– Buddhism’s message of rebirth offered hope
• Buddhism gained popularity by AD 200
– Example of cultural diffusion
– Spread of ideas from one culture to another
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Draw Conclusions
How did trade over the Silk Roads affect
China’s culture?
Answer(s): profitable trade in luxury items,
connections to Central Asia, introduction of
Buddhism
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Han Achievements
Classical Age
• During Han period, arts flourished, sciences and technology improved life
• Han China boasted magnificent palaces, multistoried towers
• None survived, but ceramic models from tombs show architecture of period
Artisans and Artists
• Artisans produced ceramic, bronze figurines, jade carvings, silk cloth
• Artists painted portraits and nature scenes on walls, scrolls, room screens
• During Later Han, Buddhist art flourished, including temple wall paintings
Literature
• Han literature known for poetry, new styles of verse
• Fu style, combined prose and poetry to create long works of literature
• Shi featured short lines of verse, could be sung
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Han Achievements
Han writers produced important works of
history
Sima Qian
– Wrote Records of the Grand Historian or
Shiji
– This early history became model for
Chinese historical writing
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Han Achievements
Technology
• One of most important Han inventions - paper
• Made by grinding plant fibers into paste, paste dried in sheets
• Created “books” by connecting several sheets of paper into long scroll
Farming
• Inventions included iron plow, wheelbarrow
• With iron plow, farmer could till more land
• With wheelbarrow, farmer could haul more
Science
• Created seismograph to measure earthquake tremors
• Made advances in acupuncture, use of needles to cure disease, relieve pain
• Invented compass, sundial, water mill, ship’s rudder
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Summarize
What were some technological advances of
the Han dynasty?
Answer(s): paper, iron plow, wheelbarrow,
acupuncture, compass, sundial, water mill, rudder
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“History is a guide to navigation in
perilous times. History is who we are and
why we are the way we are.”
- David C. McCullough
A duck’s quack doesn’t echo, and no one
know why.
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Early Indian Empires
Main Idea
The Mauryas and Guptas created
powerful empires that united much of
India, while trading kingdoms thrived in
southern India.
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The Mauryan Empire
• Many small kingdoms existed across India in
300s BC
• Each kingdom had own ruler; no central authority
united them
• Magadha a dominant kingdom near Ganges
– Strong leader, Chandragupta Maurya
gained control
– Began conquering surrounding kingdoms
– Conquests led to founding of Mauryan empire
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Rise of the Mauryan Empire
Alexander the Great
Alexander’s legacy
• Alexander conquered force in
northwest India, 326 BC
• Alexander’s conquest inspired
Chandragupta Maurya
• Did not remain in India long
• Seized throne of kingdom of
Magadha, 321 BC
• Battle-weary soldiers wanted to
return home, soon left India
Mauryan army
• Chandragupta built immense
army, 60,000 soldiers
• Began Mauryan empire
Extended empire
• Defeated Seleucus I, 305 BC
• Chariots, war elephants
• Mauryan empire controlled
northern India, 303 BC
• Began conquering northern
India
• Also controlled much of what is
now Afghanistan
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Mauryan Rule
Strong government
• Like Qin, Han rulers, Chandragupta Maurya established centralized
government to control empire, crush resistance
• Relied on brilliant adviser Kautilya, Brahmin, member of the priest caste
Arthasastra
• Manual for statecraft, thought to be written by Kautilya
• Arthasastra called for strict state control
• Also called for use of spies, even assassination
Empire divided
• Chandragupta divided empire into districts, appointed loyalists to rule them
• Organized bureaucracy ran government, spies monitored officials, gathered
information, rooted out threats to state
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The Mauryan Empire
Megasthenes
Pataliputra
• Greek ambassador visited
Mauryan Empire during
Chandragupta’s reign
• Greatest city, Mauryan
capital: magnificent
palaces, temples, parks
• Wrote about his
observations
• Gov. controlled economy
• Described land of
prosperity
• Emperor owned land, rent
money from farmers
funded government
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Rule under Ashoka
• Chandragupta gave up throne, 301 BC, became Jainist monk
• Son became emperor, followed by grandson Ashoka
• Mauryan empire reached height under Ashoka
• Through warfare empire expanded, included most of India
Kalinga campaign
• Violence of fighting at Kalinga appalled Ashoka
• Abandoned policy of conquest and converted to Buddhism
• Began to promote, spread policy of right conduct, Buddhism
• Supported Buddhist missionaries, worked to improve lives of his
people
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The Mauryan Empire
• Mauryan empire began to decline following death of
Ashoka, 232 BC
• Sons battled for power, central control weakened
• Distant provinces began to slip away
• Last Mauryan emperor killed by one of generals, 184 BC
• Mauryan empire lasted 140 years, then collapsed
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Contrast
How did the reigns of Chandragupta and
Ashoka differ?
Answer(s): Chandragupta—strict state control,
spies, conquest; Ashoka—nonviolence, public
works, Buddhist teachings
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Empires of China and India
The Gupta Empire
India remained divided into small kingdoms for about 400 years. Then
around AD 320, the Gupta dynasty took over northern India. Under the
Gupta, northern India was reunited, Indian society prospered, and the
religion of Hinduism grew in popularity.
Rise of Gupta Empire
• Like Mauryan, Gupta dynasty rose
to power in region of Magadha
• Founder was Chandra Gupta I
• From base in Magadha, Chandra
conquered neighboring lands,
brought much of northern India
under Gupta control
India under Gupta Rule
• Gupta rule less centralized
• Divided main part of empire into
units
• Royal officials governed each unit
• Governed through local rulers in
distant conquered areas
• Local rulers had to pay tribute
Gupta power expanded under the heirs of Chandra Gupta I, and the
empire reached its height under Chandra Gupta II.
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The Gupta Empire
• Chandra Gupta II, ruled from AD 375 to 415
• Further expanded empire, strengthened economy
• Reign was period of prosperity, cultural achievement
• Chinese Buddhist monk, Faxian, traveled to India
• Described empire as rich, prosperous, and punishments
fair
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The Gupta Empire
Support of Hinduism
• Buddhism prospered, spread during period between Mauryan, Gupta
empires
• Hinduism lost popularity during this period
• Under Guptas, Hinduism became main religion
• Rulers supported building Hindu temples, promoted revival of writings
• Buddhism began to lose influence during this period
End of Gupta Rule
Weakened Empire
• Began to weaken, late 400s
• Problems disrupted trade
• Loose Gupta control allowed some
parts of empire to break away
• Gupta military efforts to defend
empire drained treasury
• Central Asian nomads, White Huns,
began invading India
• Gupta rule ended, 550
• Again India divided into small,
regional kingdoms
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The Gupta Empire
Support of Hinduism
• Buddhism prospered, spread during period between Mauryan, Gupta
empires
• Hinduism lost popularity during this period
• Under Guptas, Hinduism became main religion
• Rulers supported building Hindu temples, promoted revival of writings
• Buddhism began to lose influence during this period
End of Gupta Rule
Weakened Empire
• Began to weaken, late 400s
• Problems disrupted trade
• Loose Gupta control allowed some
parts of empire to break away
• Gupta military efforts to defend
empire drained treasury
• Central Asian nomads, White Huns,
began invading India
• Gupta rule ended, 550
• Again India divided into small,
regional kingdoms
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Brihadishwara Temple (11thc AD)
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Birla Mandir
Temple (11thc AD)
Virupaksha temple,
Pattadakal, built in 740
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Identify Supporting Details
How did the Guptas rule their empire?
Answer(s): ruled central part directly with royal
officials; ruled outlying areas indirectly through
local rulers
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Indian Society and Culture
Main Idea
The strength, prosperity, and stability of
the Gupta Empire helped lead to a
golden age in Indian society, trade, and
culture.
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Life in Gupta India
Growth of Trade
• Indian civilization flourished
during Gupta empire
• Trade increased, economy
strengthened, cities prospered
• Overland routes like the Silk
Roads linked India to other
markets
• Indian merchants traded ivory,
cashmere, cotton, spices for
Chinese silk, Roman ceramics
Sea Trade
• Gupta, Tamil kingdoms in
southern India traded actively
by sea
• Indian sailors used seasonal
winds to reach foreign markets
across Arabian Sea
• Sea trade also between India
and Southeast Asia
• Played key role in cultural
diffusion of Indian culture
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Daily Life
• Growth of trade strengthened economy; Gupta Empire’s cities
reflected prosperity
• Use of money became more common; new group of bankers,
moneylenders emerged
• Luxury, pleasure for urban rich; enjoyed music, poetry, art
Simple Lives
• Most Gupta people led simple lives in small villages
• Majority of village dwellers, farmers
• Most villages self-sufficient, but trade between villages occurred
• People from different villages got together for religious festivals, other
events
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Life in Gupta India
Social structure
Legal codes
• Most people in ancient India
belonged to specific caste
• Legal codes also defined
people’s roles
• Castes determined jobs,
interaction with others
• Laws of Manu, compiled
between 200 BC, AD 200
• Number grew, developed rules
• Defined proper behavior
Gender
• Also shaped Indian society
• Men had more rights than
women
• Patriarchal society, similar to
China
Laws of Manu
• Female child subject to father,
female youth to husband
• Men expected to treat women
with respect
• Abused women could leave
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Identify Cause and Effect
How did trade affect city life in Gupta India?
Answer(s): cities prospered, shops and markets
bustled, money became common, culture stressed
luxury and pleasure for urban wealth
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Empires of China and India
A Gupta Golden Age
Like the Han period in China, the Gupta period was a golden age of
cultural and scientific achievements.
Sanskrit Literature
• Many great works created
during Gupta period
• One of greatest writers,
Kalidasa
– Poet, playwright
Panchatantra
• Another popular work of period
• Five Books, collection of
stories meant to teach lessons
• “The good and bad of given
schemes
– Wrote plays for royal court
Wise thought must first reveal
– Sakuntala, most famous
The stupid heron saw his chicks
– Play combines myth, humor,
court life, lyric poetry
Provide a mongoose meal.”
• Warning to think before acting
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Sakuntala
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Five Books
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Art and Architecture
Religious
• Much of art, architecture of Gupta period religious
• Magnificent Hindu, Buddhist temples built across India
• Hindu temples: huge towers, covered with carvings
Buddhist temples
• Included stupas, temples with domed roofs
• Built to house sacred items from life of Buddha
• Like Hindu temples, covered with detailed carvings
Most spectacular architecture
• Temples, monuments carved out of rock and cliff faces
• Most famous, cave temples at Ajanta and Ellora
• Intricately carved columns; include halls, rooms, windows
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Brihadishwara Temple (11thc AD)
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Ajanta Caves
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Ajanta Caves
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Ajanta Caves
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Ellora Caves
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Ellora Caves
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Ellora Caves
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Art and Architecture
Great works of art
• Paintings of the time often portray beautiful, graceful Indians wearing fine
jewelry, stylish clothing
• Many of finest paintings found in Buddhist and Hindu temples
Temple paintings
• Hindu artists decorated walls, entrances with devas, aspects of Brahman
• Buddhists covered plaster walls, ceilings with scenes from life of Buddha
• Some of finest examples of Buddhist art found in Ajanta cave temples
Statues
• Made for temples
• Buddhist temples, statues of Buddha, kings
• Hindu temples, statues of Siva, Vishnu, other devas
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Science and Technology
Metallurgy
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Ancient Indians pioneers of science of working with metals
Indian iron valued for hardness, purity
Gupta metalworkers built famous Iron Pillar, near Delhi
Iron Pillar is resistant to rust
Still being studied by scholars today
Mathematics
• Gupta scholars most advanced
mathematicians of their day
• Developed modern math system
• First to use concept, symbol of zero
• Hindu-Arabic numerals; created
by Indians, brought to Europe by
Arabs
Medical Science
• Ancient Indians quite advanced
• Made medicines from plants
• Knew how to inject small amounts
of viruses to protect against
disease
• Doctors could perform surgery,
repair broken bones, treat wounds
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Science and Technology
Astronomy
• Indians identified seven planets in solar system
• Could predict eclipses of sun, moon
• Aryabhata, one of most famous Indian astronomers
– Correctly argued that Earth rotates on axis,
revolves around sun
– Knew Earth was sphere, calculated
circumference with remarkable accuracy
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Find the Main Idea
Why do historians consider the Gupta period
to have been a golden age in the history of
ancient India?
Answer(s): significant cultural contributions,
Sanskrit, magnificent carvings, statues of Buddha,
wall paintings; advancements in mathematics,
medicine, and astronomy
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