Ancient and Early Medieval India and China Study Notes

Comprehensive practice flashcards for the history and geography of South Asia and East Asia, covering major civilizations, religions, and dynasties from the Indus Valley through the Ming Dynasty.

Himalayan Mountains

The world's highest mountain range that protected India from invasions and served as the source for many important rivers.

Indus River Valley

The location of India's first civilization which supported agriculture and cities.

Ganges River Valley

A region of fertile farmland that became the center of later Indian civilizations.

Monsoons

Seasonal winds that bring heavy rain essential for farming; weak ones could cause famine.

Harappa

The first city discovered by archaeologists in the Indus Valley Civilization, for which the civilization is sometimes named.

Mohenjo-Daro

One of the largest cities of the Indus Valley known for its advanced city planning.

Indus Valley Achievements

Includes grid-pattern streets, standardized bricks, indoor bathrooms, and advanced sewage systems with covered drains.

Indus Valley Civilization Dates

This early river valley civilization existed from $2600-1700\,BCE$.

Indo-Aryans

Peoples who migrated into northern India after the decline of the Indus Valley, bringing the Sanskrit language and Vedic religion.

The Vedas

The oldest sacred texts of Hindu tradition, consisting of four main works: Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda.

Varna System

A social structure organized into four classes: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants/farmers), and Shudras (laborers).

Indra

The Vedic god associated with war and storms.

Mahajanapadas

Powerful states into which Northern India was divided between $600-321\,BCE$.

Dharma

A Hindu concept referring to a person's duty and moral responsibilities.

Karma

The belief that a person's actions create consequences.

Samsara

The cycle of rebirth in Indian religious traditions.

Moksha

The state of freedom from the cycle of rebirth.

Buddha

The "Enlightened One," born as Siddhartha Gautama, who sought answers about suffering.

Four Noble Truths

Buddhist teachings stating that life involves suffering caused by desire, which can end by following the Eightfold Path.

Jainism

A religion founded by Mahavira emphasizing nonviolence (ahimsa), truthfulness, and respect for all living things.

Chandragupta Maurya

The ruler who unified much of northern India and built India's first large empire.

Ashoka the Great

Mauryan ruler who converted to Buddhism after the Kalinga War and promoted peace, religious tolerance, and public works.

Bhakti Movement

A devotional form of Hindu worship characterized by emotional devotion and a personal relationship with a deity.

Gupta Empire

Considered India's Golden Age ($c.\,321-550\,CE$), known for advancements in the concept of zero, decimal system, algebra, and medicine.

Chola Empire

A powerful state in southern India known for its strong navy, Indian Ocean trade, and large Hindu temples.

Delhi Sultanate

A period from $1206-1526$ when Muslim rulers established a state in northern India.

Yellow River (Huang He)

Known as the "Cradle of Chinese Civilization" or "China's Sorrow" due to its fertile loess soil and frequent, destructive floods.

Xia Dynasty

Traditionally considered China's first dynasty, founded by Yu the Great, who was famous for flood control.

Oracle Bones

Items used by the Shang Dynasty for divination and recorded the earliest known Chinese writing.

Mandate of Heaven

The Zhou principle that Heaven grants rulers the right to govern, which can be lost if a ruler becomes corrupt.

Warring States Period

A time of constant warfare and political instability following the decline of Zhou authority.

Filial Piety

A core Confucian value of respect and obedience toward parents and ancestors.

Five Relationships

Confucian guidelines for social order including Ruler/Subject, Father/Son, Husband/Wife, Older/Younger Sibling, and Friend/Friend.

Daoism

Philosophy founded by Laozi that emphasizes living in harmony with nature and the concept of Yin and Yang.

Legalism

A philosophy associated with Han Feizi suggesting that humans are naturally selfish and require strict laws and harsh punishments.

Qin Shi Huang

The first emperor of a united China who standardized currency, writing, and weights, and connected the Great Wall.

Civil Service Exams

Tests used during the Han Dynasty to select government officials based on merit in Confucian classics and ethics.

Silk Roads

Trade routes connecting China with Central Asia, India, the Middle East, and Europe.

Han Dynasty Innovations

Major technological advancements including paper, the wheelbarrow, and the seismograph.

Tang Dynasty poets

The famous literary figures Li Bai and Du Fu.

Song Dynasty Innovations

The development of gunpowder, the compass, and printing technology.

Neo-Confucianism

A Song Dynasty philosophy that combined ideas from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism.

Yuan Dynasty

The period ($1271-1368\,CE$) of Mongol rule in China, founded by Kublai Khan.

Marco Polo

A European traveler who described the wealth and advanced society of China during the Yuan Dynasty.

Zheng He

A Chinese admiral who led seven major naval expeditions between $1405$ and $1433$ to display Chinese power and expand trade.