History Unit E

EMPIRES OF CHINA & INDIA (CLASSICAL ERA: 600 B.C. - 500

What is the significance of China turning to philosophy?

in times of trouble people seek answers and want to see an end to their suffering

What is Confucius?

Seeking to restore order and values to society through the 5 relationships

What are the 5 relationships?

1) Ruler & Subject

2) Father & Son

3) Husband & Wife

4) Older brother & Younger Brother

5) Friend & Friend

Each of the 5 relationships have a ________ & _______

Superior & Inferior

What does Superior mean?

greater, taking care of inferior, lead by good example

What does inferior mean?

lower, loyal, obediant

How would there be social harmony according to Confucius beliefs

If everyone understood and accepted their place in society, their position in the relationships they had, and acted accordingly

Define Filial Piety?

the virtue of accepting one’s parents, elders, and ancestors

In a Confucius society which belief does worshiping dead ancestors relate to

Filial Piety

What is the Job of a ruler in a Confucius society?

form a good and stable government

What qualified a person to be a member in government in a Confucius society?

Pass a civil service exam

Define Legalism

Based on the belief that humans are naturally wicked and greedy, and goodness is an acquired trait. Social order could only be maintained by a strong government with strict rule of law.

Which philosophy aligns with Social order could only be maintained by a strong government with strict rule of law?

Legalism

Compare and contrast legalism and Confucianism?

• Confucianism and Legalism are two ancient Chinese belief systems that differ in their views on human nature, the role of the government, and the means of governing:

• Confucianists believed people were naturally good, while Legalists believed people were naturally evil. 

• Confucianists believed in governing by setting a good example and using rituals to make society run smoothly. Legalists believed in a centralized, autocratic government that used harsh punishments to maintain discipline. 

• Confucianists believed in governing by virtue and ritual, while Legalists believed in governing by harsh laws and severe punishments

Who is Shi Huangdi?

“First Emperor” in Quin Dynasty

What did Shi Huangdi do?

conquered and unified vast Chinese provinces under his rule, ending feudalism in China and creating the first Chinese empire

How did Shi Huangdi treat the chinese nobles and why?

He didn’t allow them to live in their former land so they wouldn’t be reminded of wealth/power. He made them move to the capital to be watched

How did Shi Huangdi treat Confucius scholars and those who disagreed with legalism?

murdered hundreds of Confucius scholars and burned their books

Define autocracy?

A government that has unlimited power (AKA: absolute monarch)

Which dynasty had autocracy?

Qin Dynasty (under Shi Huangdi’s rule)

How did Shi Huangdi improve the defensive walls that earlier rulers in Northern China had built to keep out invaders?

Close gaps & extend wall

Describe the slave labor that went into building the Great Wall of China?

Forced hundreds of thousands of peasants to work or die

What are other accomplishments of the Qin Dynasty?

• Built extensive highway network extending trade

• Set same standards throughout China for writing, law, currency, weight, and measures

• Expanded irrigation projects which increased farm production

• Harsh taxes and repressive government

What are the Terracotta Warriors?

Shi Huangdi made a clay army outside his tomb

How do the Terracotta Warriors show Shi Huangdi’s absolute power?

Only some1 with complete power could accomplish such a project

8,000 soldiers, 130 Chariots, 650 Horses, refers to..

Terracotta Warriors

A few years after ____________ dies the Qin Dynasty was overthrown

Shi Huangdi

What dynasty does this refer to. Strong central government, lowered taxes, eased punishments, ruled through Confucian faith?

Han Dynasty

Did China remain unified under the Han Dynasty?

Yes

Was there legalism under the Han Dynasty?

no

What was the social pyramid during the Han dynasty?

Emperor > Local Rulers & Governors > Nobles, scholars, state officials > Peasants > Merchants & Artisans > Soldiers > Slaves

Define Civil Service Test?

for people to get jobs as government officials they need to pass this exam to prove their education in Law, History, & Confucian Philosophy

Peasants are unusually high in the Han Dynasty social class because…

The Han dynasty recognized that without farmers there would be famine in China

Why are merchants demoted in status in the Han Dynasty social class?

They profit on someone else’s work

Who could take the civil service test?

Technically any male, but the education needed to pass it only the wealthy could afford

Why are soldiers so low in the Han Dynasty social class?

since Feudalism was only 25 years ago making soldiers the villains

During which dynasty was the golden age for China?

Han dynasty

Acupuncture was developed during the ____ dynasty

Han

What is acupuncture?

procedure where extremely fine needles are poked into the skin to relieve pain and other conditions

What were the inventions of the Han Dynasty?

Acupuncture, anesthetics, watermill, suspension bridge, paper out of wood pulp

What was the Silk Road?

Network of trade roots connecting China with Middle East and Europe

Who are Aryans?

Indo - Europeans, racially different than natives

The Caste System was originally based on ____

Race

What is the Caste Sytem?

India’s social order

Over hundreds of years differences between races dissolved causing the Caste system to be based on

birth with no social mobility

Is Hinduism Mono or Polytheistic?

Polytheistic

What is the goal in Hinduism?

to achieve eternal freedom of the soul

What is reincarnation?

Soul is reborn (Hindus)

What is the belief of moving social classes after death according to Hinduism?

Good deeds in this life will permit the soul to a better existence in the next life, perhaps a higher caste, and ultimately the soul’s release

What does Budha mean?

Enlightened one

What is the Enlightment in Budhism?

Peace, no suffering, no desire for physical pleasures

What is the goal of Budhism?

get rid of all physical desires and negative emotion through the eightfold path

What is the Eightfold Path?

Work on character 1 step at a time in 8 areas to get rid of all negative characteristics and reach enlightenment

What does this refer to, a guide of behavior in budhism?

eightfold path

Do Budhist believe in reincarnation

Possible but not mandatory

Do Budhist believe in the Caste system? What was the affect of this?

No, causing a lot of people in lower castes to convert to budhism since anybody could reach enlightenment

Where did Budhism start?

Nepal

Where did Budhism spread to?

India, China, Japan, Thailand, and surrounding areas

How did Budhism spread?

through trade

What did Akosa do?

Fought wars of expansion that killed hundreds of thousands and came to regret the destruction

What did Akosa convert to and what did he promise?

Budhism, and promised he would rule over his subjects fairly and be non - violent

The _____________ fell apart after the death of Akosa

Mauryan Empire

When was the golden ages for India?

The Gupta Empire

What were the astronomical advancements in India (Gupta Empire)?

Used stars to figure out there position at sea and tracking time for invaders'

Proved earth is round after seeing a lunar eclipse with it’s curved shadows

What caused the advancements of astronomy in India? (Gupta Empire)

expansion of trade

What were the mathematical advancements of India? (Gupta Empire)

Invented Arabic Numerals'

Developed a number 0

Calculated value of pi

Developed a decimal system

What natural resources did India produce for trade?

Spices, diamonds, saphires, gold, perls, and beautiful wood

What role did India establish for themsleves in the Silk Road?

Middle Men (Go between business transactions)

Who did India trade by sea with?

Eastern Africa, Rome, and Mesopotamia

Which of the following empires was founded by Chandragupta Maurya and is known for its centralized government?

A) Gupta Empire

B) Maurya Empire

C) Mughal Empire

D) Harappan Civilization

B) Maurya Empire

The Silk Road helped to facilitate cultural and economic exchanges between which two empires during the classical period?

Maurya Empire and Han China

Which philosophy, promoted during the Qin Dynasty in China, emphasized strict laws and harsh punishments to maintain social order?

Legalism

Which Indian empire is known for its achievements in science, mathematics, and culture during the classical era, including the concept of zero?

Gupta Empire

What was the primary goal of Confucianism in China during the classical period?

To promote social harmony through moral behavior and respect for authority

Describe one major achievement of the Maurya Empire under the rule of Ashoka.

One major achievement of the Maurya Empire under Ashoka was the spread of Buddhism across India and other parts of Asia. After the Kalinga War, Ashoka embraced Buddhism and issued a series of edicts that promoted non-violence, religious tolerance, and moral governance.

Explain how the caste system influenced social structure in ancient India.

The caste system in ancient India divided society into social groups, with individuals born into specific castes that determined their social status, occupation, and even interactions with others. It reinforced a rigid social structure, limiting mobility and social equality but also organizing society in terms of duties and responsibilities.