Key Developments in Early Human and Indian History

Homo sapiens

Modern humans who improved hunting, building, community living, and food gathering.

Neolithic Era

Began 10,000 years ago, leading to larger settlements and agriculture.

Agricultural revolution

Shift to permanent settlements for a stable food source.

Pleistocene epoch

Period of glaciation and warming, influencing hominid development.

Glaciation effects

Hominid migration and physical adaptations in colder climates.

Neanderthals

Stockier, more powerful hominids adapting to icy climates.

Colonization of Europe

Started around 730,000 years ago near Rome.

Foragers

Main human activity for most of history.

Sophisticated foraging techniques

Includes fishing, using stone grinding tools for flour.

Oldowan Industry

Set of tools made from quartz pebbles and sharp stone flakes.

Hand axes

Tools used by humans starting around 1.5 million years ago.

Fire usage

Started by Homo erectus around 1.6 million years ago for various purposes.

Lascaux paintings

Show religious beliefs, gender-specific tasks, and hunting scenes.

Agriculture in Mesopotamia

Began with foragers in the region.

Younger Dryas event

11,000 years ago, affecting food staples in Abu Hureya.

Breastfeeding in Paleolithic era

Practiced until children were three or four years old.

Indian subcontinent geography

Impacted by the Himalayas, influencing history and interactions.

Harappan Civilization

Mysterious civilization with advanced urban planning and social organization.

Vedic Age

Named after Vedas, marked by Indo-Aryan migration and kingdom formation.

Varna system

Social hierarchy based on occupation during the Vedic Age.

Caste system

Rigid social hierarchy evolved from the Varna system in Indian society.

Dharma Scriptures

Ethical and legal texts emphasizing adherence to caste roles

Duties (dharma)

Responsibilities associated with caste and life stages

Upanishads

Philosophical texts introducing Brahman, Atman, transmigration, and karma

Bhakti

Shift towards devotional worship in Hinduism

Shiva and Vishnu

Prominent Hindu deities during devotional worship era

Siddhartha Gautama

Founder of Buddhism, known as the Buddha

Four Noble Truths

Teachings identifying suffering, desire as root cause

Eightfold Path

Buddhist means to achieve liberation from suffering

Mauryan Empire

Notable for centralized administration under Chandragupta and Ashoka

Arthashastra

Treatise on statecraft attributed to Kautilya

Silk Roads

Trade routes facilitating land-based exchange

Globalization

Increasing interconnectedness between different parts of the world

Gupta Empire

Classical age known for cultural and intellectual achievements

Kalidasa

Renowned Sanskrit poet and playwright during Gupta rule

Tributary overlordship

System extending Gupta influence while allowing local rule

Indian feudalism

Fragmented authority with obligations between lords and vassals

Chola Kingdom

Southern Indian power known for temples and maritime strength

Delhi Sultanate

Muslim rule marking a significant shift in Indian history

Neolithic Cultures in China

Transition to settled agriculture in distinct regional cultures

Longshan Culture

Successor to Yangshao culture with greater complexity

Xia Dynasty

Early Chinese dynasty with limited contemporary sources

Shang Dynasty

Chinese dynasty with substantial archaeological evidence

Mandate of Heaven

Concept of rulers' legitimacy from Heaven, justifying rule

Feudal System

Land granted to kinsmen for loyalty, military aid, and tribute

Warring States Period

475-221 BCE era of infantry armies, state centralization, and military treatises

The Art of War

Influential military treatise by Sun Tzu emphasizing strategy

Confucius

551-479 BCE philosopher advocating moral virtues and social harmony

Ren

Confucian virtue of benevolence and humaneness

Li

Confucian principle of ritual, etiquette, and social norms

Filial Piety

Respect, obedience, and care for parents and elders in Confucianism

Junzi

Confucian noble person embodying virtues and leadership

Daoism

Counterpoint to Confucianism, emphasizing harmony with nature

Tao Te Ching

Foundational Daoist text attributed to Lao Tzu

The Tao

Daoism's concept of natural order and harmony

Wu Wei

Daoist philosophy of non-action and acceptance of natural flow

Balance and Harmony

Daoist emphasis on equilibrium between opposing forces

Qin Dynasty

221-206 BCE era of centralized rule, Legalism, and standardization

Imperial Confucianism

Han Dynasty's adoption of Confucianism in governance

Bureaucracy and Administration

Han Dynasty's hierarchical system for governance and law enforcement

Economic Growth

Han Dynasty's prosperity from agriculture, trade, and technological advancements

Military Expansion

Han Dynasty's territorial growth under Emperor Wu

Buddhism

Indian-origin religion that gained prominence in China

Spread through Trade

Initial dissemination of Buddhism by merchants along the Silk Road

Adaptation and Sinification

Process of integrating Buddhism with Chinese culture

Korea and Japan State Formation

Influenced by Chinese civilization despite distinct cultures

Goguryeo

Early Korean kingdom during the Three Kingdoms Period

Baekje

Early Korean kingdom influenced by Chinese ideas

Silla

Early Korean kingdom that unified the Korean Peninsula

Yamato clan

Powerful clan in Japan during the Kofun Period

Prince Shotoku

Key figure in introducing Chinese reforms in Japan

Tang Dynasty

Chinese dynasty known for effective administration and cultural influence

Song Dynasty

Chinese dynasty with economic prosperity and technological advancements

Liao and Jin dynasties

Northern nomadic empires challenging the Song Dynasty

Kaifeng

Capital city of the Song Dynasty

Civil service examinations

Merit-based system for selecting government officials

Moveable-type printing

Innovation in printing that increased literacy

Gunpowder

Invention with significant impact on warfare

Footbinding

Painful practice restricting women's mobility

Yuan Dynasty

Chinese dynasty founded by the Mongols

Genghis Khan

Mongol leader known for vast conquests

Kublai Khan

Grandson of Genghis Khan who unified China under Mongol rule

Pax Mongolica

Period of stability and connectivity under the Yuan Dynasty