ASIA: 8000 BCE – 600

CEUnit 1 Section 3

Faith System Key Terms

Dharma• Quality of

character• Righteousness in their religious life

Karma• The sum of

good and bad deeds done during one’s life that determines the outcome of one’s path in reincarnation

• More good than bad then you can move up in Reincarnation

• More bad than good and your reincarnation will be of lower status or another species

Reincarnation

• The rebirth in new lives for eternity unless you reach moksha

• Can be in human form or other forms of life (animal, insect…etc.)

Moksha/Nirvana

• Freedom from the differentiated, temporal, and mortal world of ordinary experience

• Perfect understanding and a release from life in this world

• Enlightenment

Asceticism• Self denial and meditation

• Giving up worldly pleasures in the pursuit of divine enlightenment

East Asia• Settlement of agricultural communities

began along the Yellow River in China around 8000 BCE

• By the 2nd millennium BCE the first Chinese dynasty emerged and foundation for 2 thousand years of Chinese history was established

• Over that time, China became an economic and political force that was often the envy of peoples near and far

Early River Valley of China• Like other river valley civilizations, early Chinese

settlements took advantage of the rich, fertile land along the Yellow and Yangzi Rivers– Plants and animals were domesticated– Stone and eventually bronze tools were used– Pottery was produced on a wheel and fired in a kiln– Labor was divided (stratification of labor by class and gender)– Political and social structures took shape

• The geography of eastern Asia kept Chinese civilizations isolated from those in the Middle East and the Indus River Valley

• The climate of the southern region was well suited for growing rice, which produces a very high yield but requires substantial time and labor– The population and the importance of the southern region

eventually exceeded that of the northern region

Beginnings of the Shang• In 1750 BCE the history of China truly began when

the Shang clan rose to power• From the Yellow River Valley, the Shang extended

their control by means of their military strength and strategy

• The Shang were ruled by a king, who was seen as an intermediary between the gods and the people.

• To expand and mange the land, the king was aided by an aristocracy that acted as generals, ambassadors, and public servants

• Conquered territory was governed by members of the royal family, and far-off lands were left to native rulers who swore their allegiance to the king

• Many of the conquered peoples were taken as prisoners of war and enslaved by the Shang rulers

Social/ Political/ Economic• Shang cities grew into political an social

centers– They were surrounded by agricultural areas– The cities were laid out on a grid – Served as hubs for a far-reaching trade

network which could have gone as far as Mesopotamia trading:• Jade• Ivory• Silk • Bronze Weapons

• Writing developed under the Shang and facilitated administration – even though only a small number of the elite had time to master this skill

The Zhou• 1027 BCE the last Shang king was defeated by the

Zhou• They established the longest-lasting dynasty in

Chinese history • The introduced the concept of the Mandate of

Heaven– This was the key to the dynastic cycle that would last

nearly 3000 years– To justify the overthrow of the Shang king, Zhou rulers

claimed that the new ruler had been chosen by “Heaven” and should be seen as the “Son of Heaven”

– As long as the king was a moral servant of the people, he would retain the Mandate of Heaven and China would prosper

– If the king became corrupt, then he would lose the Mandate of Heaven and this would justify a replacement

– Since the end of the Shang was marked by corruption, violence, greed and arrogance – the Zhou reasoning for overthrow was justified

Beginning of Warring States

• The Zhou dynasty retained many of the traditions and rituals of the Shang and was similarly decentralized– The dynasty was divided into 100+ territories –

each ruled by allies or relations of the king– Government officials were expected to rule in a

fair and moral fashion– This system worked will for a time, but around

800 BCE territories began to compete with one another for power until 480 BCE, when China entered the 200 year period known as The Warring States Period• Many states rulers imposed an authoritarian system

known as Legalism to keep their subjects under control and promote the state above the individual

– Legalism was based on the view that because human nature is evil, order is maintained with laws and punishment

Confucianism• Though his influence would not be felt until after his

death, Confucius 551-479 BCE established his teachings based on the culture and practices of the Zhou dynasty

• He drew parallels between the family and state, with the king serving as a father figure to his people and ruling with their interests at heart.

• Coincidentally, social structure of the later Zhou period moved from the clan-based system to the smaller family model that included grandparents, parents and children

• Confucianism would eventually become the philosophy that future dynasties embraced as a means to establish clear social structure

Taoism• Another philosopher was

also inspired during the Warring States Period – Laozi or Lao Tzu

• Taoism or ‘the way’ was to be an alternative to the authoritarian nature of Legalism and the rigid hierarchy of Confucianism

• Taoism promoted an end to conflict by teaching people to follow the path (tao) and to accept the world instead of seeking to change it

Social Structure & Gender Roles

• Through both the Shang and Zhou dynasties, China’s patriarchal nature resembles that of many other early civilizations– The father was the head of the family– Women were expected to tend to the

household– Marriage was often an economic and

political tool to promote power among elite families

– Any land the family owned belonged to the father and was divided among his sons upon his death

Rise of Shi Huangdi & the Qin• The end of the Warring States Period came in the 3rd

Century BCE when the Qin, led by Shi Huangdi, defeated their rivals and created China’s 1st empire– The Qin was a totalitarian regime that promoted Legalism

and enacted laws to prevent the rise of a rival power that might challenge Shi Huangdi’s authority

– Examples:• Upon the death of an owner, land was divided among several heirs• Slavery was abolished to create a free labor force that would pay

taxes and provide labor and military service– Shi Huangdi standardized coinage and laws– He built thousands of miles of roads, canals and walls to

secure China– Upon Shi Huangdi’s death people rose up against the

oppressive rule

Han Dynasty• The rebellion upon the death of Shi Huangdi

finally ended with the establishment of the Han dynasty

• Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) is the classical period in Chinese history– Its cultural and political characteristics greatly

influenced all subsequent dynasties– Centered on the river valleys in the eastern portion of

the country• This fertile region produced crops that supported the

population and was the basis of the tax system– To build up the infrastructure, the government

required able-bodied men to donate 1 month’s worth of labor each year for the construction of palaces, temples, and roads• They were also required to donate 2 years of military service

Han Dynasty• With the expansion of the Han, Chinese culture and social

structure spread– The tenets of Confucianism established a clear hierarchy in

which individuals saw themselves as having a particular role in the family and society

• Fathers were the head of the family• A woman was to submit to her parents while she was young, her

husband while married and her son if widowed• The emperor was the “Son of Heaven’ who was to rule in a paternal

fashion so as to retain the Mandate of Heaven• Throughout the empire, peasants, soldiers, and administrators had

their own particular role under the rule of the emperor & they followed his word as law

Han Government• To administer the vast empire, Han emperors

relied on local leaders to collect taxes, organize labor, & defend the empire

• To get prestigious government positions, young men attended universities located around the country– Theoretically, this was a meritocracy that

provided an opportunity for anyone to rise through the hierarchy, • In reality it was the sons of the wealthy and privileged

classes who had the time and resources to study the Confucian classics and attend the universities

• In part because of this, a large number of peasants turned to Taoism – which questioned the hierarchy, rules, and rituals of Confucianism that kept most peasants on the bottom rung of the social ladder

Han Advancements• Han dynasty achieved many advances in technology that

sustained the empire and eventually reached Europe– The crossbow and the use of cavalry helped the Han withstand

challenges from nomadic people of Central Asia.– Military forces, people, and goods traveled the extensive road

system begun under the Qin and expanded by Han rulers– The watermill harnessed the power of running water to turn a

grindstone– The Han developed a horse collar that improved the use of

animals in agriculture• These developments, along with paper, eventually made

their way to Europe and the Middle East.• China’s most valuable innovation was the production of

silk– Silk was in high demand elsewhere in the world, and China

maintained a monopoly on its production for centuries

Downfall of the Han• Unable to maintain a large empire over vast

territories, the Han dynasty ended in 220 CE:– The cost of maintaining a military presence on the frontier – Coupled with corruption within the government– Peasant rebellions – The rise of regional warlords

• Returned China to a period of political, economic, and cultural fragmentation that lasted until the Sui unification of the late 6th Century CE.

Dynasty Video http://www.youtube.com/user/historyteachers#p/search/0/NIC4zom3w0g

South Asia• The diversity and culture of the

Indian subcontinent developed because of its geographic isolation from the rest of Asia, as well as a combination of political forces– The Himalayas act as a barrier

between India and the rest of Asia to the north

– The Indian Ocean is a barrier to outside influence on the other 3 sides

– Access is really only available by passing over the Hindu Kush Mountains and traversing the Thar Desert

• Despite its diversity and relative isolation, the region would achieve cultural and economic influence throughout Asia

Indus River Valley • Shortly after Mesopotamia and Egypt developed

civilization, the Indus River Valley became the next settled civilization

• Limited archeological excavation of the majority of Indus sites due to the high water table leaves much knowledge of the Indus unknown– Two sites have been excavated:

• Harappa • Mohenjo-Daro

• What we have been able to determine from these sites:– Extensive urban planning– Strong central authority ruled– High level of knowledge and skills of population:

• Plumbing• Irrigation• Potter’s Wheel• Metalworking

Vedic Age• Approximately 1900 BCE the cities were abandoned

perhaps because of:– Political, Economic, and social failures brought on by

natural disasters such as earthquake or flood• They were replaced with smaller patriarchal villages that

relied on herds of animals and limited farming• Around 1500 BCE nomadic warriors from the

northwest migrated to India– These warriors were the Aryas or Aryans and their

religious texts were the Vedas, hence the reason this age is referred to as the Vedic Age

– They were lighter skinned and spoke Indo-European languages

• After 1000 BCE the Aryas competed with the darker-skinned Dasas who spoke Dravidian languages– The Dasas were pushed south and VARNAS, skin color,

became the basis for making sharp social divisions known as Castes

Mahabharata Video: http://www.youtube.com/user/historyteachers#p/search/0/xKn7-xXyLpY

CastesBrahmins -•priests and scholars •Work is supposed to be peaceful and pure

Kshatriyas -•rulers, military and government officials

Vaishyas – •farmers, landlords, artisans and merchants

Sudras -•peasants, servants, and workers in non-polluting jobs

Not mentioned in the Vedas

Slaves or dasas – •not very many in number and acted as personal servants to the upper classes

Dalit – •known as the untouchables and called by some as the Harijan or “children of God” since no one else would have them•Worked polluting jobs such as:•Dealing with the bodies of the dead, gravediggers – animals or humans•Tanning leather and leather manufacturing•Butchers or slaughterhouse workers•Cleaning human and animal waste in places with no sewer system•Untouchable by the other castes – literally and in some regions of India contact with the shadow of a Dalit left a person polluted or tainted.

Rules of the Caste• Your caste was established at birth Castes

determined occupation, marriage and association. – Endogamy was practiced – this is marriage within

one’s social category• People from different castes did not

intermingle if it could be avoided. • Intermarriage was not permitted and working

to move up in class did not occur. • Those that did not comply with the society

rules were severely punished, deemed as a shame upon the whole family and in very severe circumstances were ejected from their caste to make their lot among the Dalit.

• Escape from this was through reincarnation in the next life if you had built up enough good karma

• Because of Varnas and belief in reincarnation the caste system became an ingrained part of Indian society

Jainism• Founder – Mahavira “The Great

Hero”• Everything has a soul and

therefore should not be harmed• Complete Nonviolence• Belief in Asceticism – complete

renunciation of personal needs and possessions

• This concept was in competitions with the Vedic religion and its tenants

AHIMSA – the ideal of nonviolence and respect for all life

symbolized by an open

palm of peace

Buddhism• More competition for the

Vedic Religion was Buddhism

• Rejected the Caste system• Founder Siddhartha

Gautama:– An Indian prince who

sought enlightenment. – Through a 49 day

meditation he achieved understanding and became the Buddha

Four Noble Truths of Buddhism

1. Life is filled with suffering and sorrow

2. The cause of suffering is people’s selfish desires and the temporary pleasures of this world

3. The way to end all suffering is to end all desires

4. The way to overcome desires is via the 8-fold path

The 8 Fold Path(pre-step) Right

Association – associate with

others on the path to Nirvana

Right Views – seeing the world through 4 Noble

Truths

Right Resolve – wanting to

behave correctly and justly

Right Speech – telling the

truth, speaking kindly

Right Conduct – being goodRight Livelihood

– having a job that supports a moral

life

Right Effort – trying to keep your mind focused on

the good

Right Mindfulness – paying attention to what you think and

feel

Right Concentration –

meditating as Buddha did to reach

Nirvana

NIRVANA

Buddhism Evolves• Buddhism was more popular than Jainism and

gained in influence throughout Asia as it was carried on the trade routes to the rest of Asia

• The religion did evolve as it spread and there were two main groups of followers:

Mahayana Buddhists

•Worshipped Buddha as a god•Revered Bodhisattvas, who were enlightened men and women who forsook nirvana to help others lead a proper life

Theravada Buddhists

•Followed the original teachings•Prohibited the worship of a divine Buddha or pictures of him

Competition formalizes Hinduism• Due to the competition of Buddhism and Jainism, the

Vedic Religion evolves into what is known today as Hinduism

• Hinduism still retains the caste system but the Brahmin caste is not the only class that can have access to interaction with the gods

• Hinduism emphasized that individuals should have a personal relationship with one god which would be a manifestation of the same universal force

• Adopting many aspects of Buddhism to build off of its popularity, Hinduism was able to push Buddhism out of its land of origin – India– The only exception to this was the brief resurgence during

the reign of Asoka during the Mauryan Empire

Disconnected India

• The diversity, geography, and social structure of the subcontinent made political unification rare in its early history

• Language & customs differed across India, as did the organization and economic nature of each region

• A stronger deterrent to political unity was the complicated social hierarchy and its promotion of caste identification over loyalty to a centralized political power

• In spite these factors promoting decentralization, the Mauryan and Gupta Empires emerged and helped create a unified civilization in India

Mauryan Empire

• In 324 BCE the Mauryan Empire rose out of a landscape of competing kinship groups and independent states

• ¼ of agricultural production was paid to the king who also controlled mines, issued coinage and oversaw a large and powerful army

• The king also appointed relatives and allies in each district to tend to administrative affairs

Mauryan Contributions and

Collapse• Mauryan King Asoka , the founder’s grandson– After a brutal military campaign across most of

the subcontinent he was able to extend the borders of the empire

– He converted to Buddhism and began preaching nonviolence and tolerance

– He inscribed his moral codes in large pillars throughout the empire

• During Mauryan reign there was road construction and development of towns which increased the presence in land and sea trade networks that connected East and Southeast Asia with the Middle East and Europe which continued even after the Mauryan Empire was attacked by outsiders and fell in 184 BCE

Gupta Empire• After about 500 years of political rivalry and upheaval,

the Gupta Empire came to power in much the same way the Mauryan Empire had

• Gupta leaders controlled both agriculture and mining• They required that their subjects donate labor to

construction projects • However the Gupta Empire was not as centralized as

the Mauryan Empire– A strong army helped the Gupta retain control – but as

distance from the center increased so too did the autonomy of the local leaders

– Gupta kings were able to increase loyalty amongst the more autonomous by offering them incentives for their allegiance

• The Gupta Empire collapsed in 550 CE when it was attacked by the Huns of Central Asia

Advances under the Gupta

• Influential role in regional trade• Interest in the arts and sciences

increased• Mathematicians invented the

concept of zero and developed “Arabic” numerals that are used in much of the world today

Role of Women• The role of women changed as the economy of South Asia

developed– Increased trade created an urban middle class that valued property and

undermined women’s rights to own or inherit it– Opportunities for influence outside of the home were limited and women

in India, like their counterparts in China under Confucianism, were expected to obey their fathers, husbands and sons

• In parts of India (more rural) women were expected to commit sati– This meant throwing herself on the funeral pyre of her husband or else

be shunned by the community (many were “helped” onto the fire or were forced into prostitution)

• Buddhism and Jainism did provide women with some freedom from male domination in the Hindu empire

• Upper-class women had access to education and enjoyed more freedom than the poor

Southeast Asia• Including Indochina, Malaysia, and the many islands

extending out into the Pacific Ocean• Vast amounts of fertile land a climate that enables multiple

growing seasons promoted population growth and produced plants and animals that would eventually be exported to other regions– Wet rice– Soybeans– Sugarcane– Chickens– Pigs

• Periodic disruptions of overland trade across Asia increased the role and power of Southeast Asia as sea trade expanded

• Trade routes also brought Buddhism to the area as Indian missionaries and East Asian pilgrims passed through on their way to and from India