Classic Civs Notes
Day 1 - Aryan Migration and Hinduism Aryans, Indo-Europeans from the Hindu Kush mountains, introduced horse-drawn chariots. Rajas (Kshatriyas) led early tribes, becoming maharajas as Aryans migrated south for agriculture. The Vedas, Hinduism's holy texts, were created by Aryans. The Mahabharatha is another key text. Aryans established the Varnas (caste system), a rigid, birth-based structure rooted in Jaatis (jobs). Hinduism originated in the IRV; Aryan migration introduced the Vedas, which were interpreted by the Upanishads. The Bhagavad Gita is central. Core belief: All is Brahman. Goal: Moksha (union with Brahman) by escaping Samsara (cycle of life and death) through fulfilling Dharma (caste duty). Karma (cause and effect) determines one's caste in the next life. Hinduism is monotheistic, reinforcing the caste system; higher castes are closer to Moksha. Castes: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Sudras, Untouchables. Hindus worship cows and are generally non-violent.
Day 2 - Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama founded Buddhism after observing suffering, realizing desire causes it. Nirvana (releasing desires) is the goal, accessible to all, unlike initial Hindu interpretations of Moksha. Reincarnation is common to both religions. Four Noble Truths: 1. Life involves suffering. 2. Desire causes suffering. 3. Ending desire ends suffering. 4. Follow the Eightfold Path to end desires. ###### Eightfold Path (Middle Way): 1. Right understanding 2. Right purpose 3. Right speech 4. Right action 5. Right job 6. Right effort 7. Right mindfulness 8. Right concentration (meditation)
Buddhism is atheistic and rejected the caste system.
Day 3 - Dynasties Alexander the Great conquered NW India in 326 BCE. ###### Mauryan Dynasty Chandragupta Maurya established India’s first centralized rule after defeating Greek forces. His advisor, Kautilya, wrote the Arthashastra. Ashoka, Chandragupta’s grandson, expanded the empire to its peak, unified India, and converted to Buddhism, spreading the religion. After his death in 232 BCE, the empire fragmented. The iron plow transformed the Ganges into a major agricultural hub, boosting trade and manufacturing. Mauryan accomplishments: 4 provinces, extensive roads, religious tolerance, free healthcare. Gupta Dynasty India fragmented post-Mauryans. Trade flourished with Rome and China via the Silk Road. Chandra Gupta I established the Gupta empire. His son, Samudra Gupta, expanded it through conquest, and Chandra Gupta II further expanded through marriage/treaties. Economy relied on trade/agriculture, supported by iron and coinage. Hinduism spread. Advancements: astronomy, mathematics (zero, decimals, ), medicine. Decline after Chandra Gupta II's death (c. 410 CE) due to invasions by Huns and nomads. ANCIENT CHINA: Day 1: Chinese Dynasties
Late Zhou Dynasty: The well-field system was a feudal political/economic system. Aristocratic families owned land; peasants worked it and their own land, paying taxes to landowners who also raised armies.
Qin Dynasty: China’s first empire, ruled by Qin Shi Huangdi (a legalist) at age 13. He ended the warring states period, had a strong peasant army, increased agriculture, and standardized coinage. He divided the country into 36 districts, forcing nobles to live in Xianyang, and redistributed land to peasants. He murdered Confucian scholars and burned Confucian books. Established 3 ministries (civil, military, censorate) with merit-based positions for a strong central government. Accomplishments: 4k mi roads, uniform writing/currency/weights/measures, merchant class, Great Wall of China, government monopoly (wine, salt, mining), terracotta army. Decline: Qin Shi Huangdi died in 210 BCE; peasants, tired of forced labor and high taxes, ended the dynasty.
Han Dynasty: Liu Bang, a former peasant general, became Emperor Han Gaozu. He introduced Confucianism, established an imperial bureaucracy, lowered taxes, and softened punishments. The Han period is China’s greatest. Accomplishments: roads/canals (Grand Canal), Great Wall expansion, merit-based civil bureaucracy (Confucian schools), paper, wheelbarrow, water wheel, improved iron casting, rudder/fore-and-aft rigging, government-manufactured weapons, Silk Road development, rest/post stops. Civil service exams and academies trained bureaucrats (30k students by late 1st century BCE). Society: free peasants, family emphasis, women secondary but influential. Decline: growing wealth gap, tax increases, plague (Yellow Turban Revolt), corruption, conflicts with Huns, divided into three rival kingdoms in 220 CE.
Day 2: Chinese schools of thought
Warring States period: no centralized rule, regional conflicts. Philosophies emerged (Legalism, Confucianism, Daoism) to bring order. Confucianism: Confucius (Zhou period) believed in rule by merit. His teachings (Analects) stated humans were generally good, everyone had a dao (duty), and should serve family/community (filial piety).