Chapter 3 Ancient India and China

Chapter 3 Ancient India and China: 2600 B.C.–A.D. 550

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Chapter Focus Question

In what ways did the civilizations and empires of ancient India and China lay long-lasting social and political foundations?

Early Civilizations of India and Pakistan

Hinduism and Buddhism

Powerful Empires of India

Rise of Civilization in China

Strong Rulers Unite China

Section 1 Early Civilizations of India and Pakistan
Objectives

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Describe the Indian subcontinent’s geography.
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Understand the clues archaeology has provided about the rise and fall of the Indus civilization.
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Analyze the main characteristics of the Aryan civilization and the Vedic Age.
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Explain what ancient Indian epics reveal about Aryan life.

Terms, People, and Places

subcontinent

plateau

monsoon

Harappa

Mohenjo-Daro

veneration

Vedas

rajah

Indra

brahman

mystic

acculturation

Note Taking

Checkpoint (s)

How has geography affected where people live in the Indian subcontinent?

What evidence shows that Indus civilization included a well-organized government?

How were Aryan society and government structured?

What types of values are revealed in Indian epics?

Map Skills

The earliest civilization in the Indian subcontinent developed in the Indus Valley.

1. Locate

(a) Himalayas (b) Deccan (c) Indus River (d) Ganges River (e) Harappa

2. Place

What natural features did people benefit from by living in the Indus River valley?

3. Make Comparisons

How do you think the Narmada River valley would have compared to the Indus River valley as a site for a civilization to develop?

Biography

Mortimer Wheeler

Much of what we know about Indus civilization comes from the work of Sir Mortimer Wheeler (1890–1976), who directed the excavations of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro in the 1940s. Previously, Wheeler had led one of England’s first university archaeology departments, run a museum, and headed the first archaeological excavation to use trained volunteers rather than untrained laborers.

As well, through publications and frequent appearances on popular radio and television shows, Wheeler inspired thousands of people to visit his research sites. Indeed, Wheeler succeeded in fascinating the public with the work of archaeologists.

What did Wheeler contribute to archaeology?

Primary Source

Primary Source (2nd one in this section)

The gods’ creation of the universe is described in the Rig Veda. It says they divided the body of Purusha, the first man, into four parts to create the four social groups of ancient India. Which parts of the body became the warriors?

HW
SECTION 1 Assessment

Reading Skill: Recognize Sequence

2. Use your completed chart to answer the Focus Question: How have scholars learned about India’s first two civilizations, the Indus and the Aryan?

Comprehension and Critical Thinking

Analyze Information

3. Describe two ways in which geography and climate have influenced the people of the Indian subcontinent.

Recognize Sufficient Evidence

4. What types of evidence do you think archaeologists should look for to explain how the Indus civilization declined and became unknown to the world for 4,000 years?

Draw Conclusions

5. How reliably do you think epic literature tells us about Aryan life?

EC
Writing About History

Section 2 Hinduism and Buddhism
Objectives

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Outline the essential beliefs of Hinduism.
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Analyze how the caste system shaped India.
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Understand the key teachings of the Buddha.
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Explore how Buddhism grew and changed as it spread beyond India.

Terms, People, and Places

atman

moksha

reincarnation

karma

dharma

ahimsa

caste

Siddhartha Gautama

Four Noble Truths

Eightfold Path

nirvana

sect

Note Taking

Checkpoint (s)

How do the Hindu gods relate to brahman?

How did caste provide a sense of order in society?

What did Gautama hope to learn when he left home?

How do you think the collecting of the Buddha’s teachings helped the religion to spread beyond India?

Map Skills

Missionaries and merchants spread Buddhism to many parts of Asia. It still thrives there today—though it is not practiced much in India.

1. Locate

(a) India (b) China (c) Sri Lanka (d) Korea

2. Movement

How did Buddhism spread to Japan?

3. Synthesize Information

Looking at both maps, which arrows on the large map do you think represent the spread of Theravada Buddhism?

HW
SECTION 2 Assessment

Note Taking

Reading Skill: Recognize Sequence

2. Use your completed flowchart to answer the Focus Question: In what ways were religion and society intertwined in ancient India?

Comprehension and Critical Thinking

Summarize

3. Explain the roles of karma, dharma, and reincarnation in the process of achieving moksha. Hint

Analyze Information

4. What aspects of the caste system relate to basic Hindu beliefs?

Recognize Ideologies

5. According to the Buddha, how can people escape worldly suffering?

Draw Conclusions

6. What about Mahayana teachings do you think appealed to many people?

Writing About History

Section 3 Powerful Empires of India
Objectives

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Analyze how Maurya rulers created a strong central government for their empire.
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Explore the kingdoms that arose across the Deccan.
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Explain why the period of Gupta rule in India is considered a golden age.
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Understand how family and village life shaped Indian society.

Terms, People, and Places

Chandragupta Maurya

dissent

Asoka

missionary

golden age

decimal system

joint family

dowry

Note Taking

Checkpoint (s)

How did Chandragupta organize Maurya government?

How do you think trade helped link the separate kingdoms of the Deccan?

How did religion influence learning and the arts in Gupta India?

Describe the structure of a typical Indian family.

Map Skills

Maurya and Gupta emperors were able to unite much of India under their rule.

1. Locate

(a) Ganges River (b) Indus River (c) Tamil Kingdoms (d) Hindu Kush (e) Nalanda

2. Movement

How did geography limit the northward expansion of both empires?

3. Analyze Information

What region of the Indian subcontinent remained separate from both the Maurya and the Gupta empires?

HW
SECTION 3 Assessment

Reading Skill: Recognize Sequence

2. Use your completed timeline to answer the Focus Question: In what ways did Maurya and Gupta rulers achieve peace and order for ancient India?

Comprehension and Critical Thinking

Make Comparisons

3. Compare the approaches of Chandragupta and Asoka to ruling the Maurya empire.

Analyze Information

4. Describe three achievements of the Gupta period that made it a golden age.

Recognize Ideologies

5. How did the roles played by family and village in Indian life reveal the value of placing the needs of the community or group above those of the individual?

EC
Writing About History

Section 4 Rise of Civilization in China
Objectives

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Understand how geography influenced early Chinese civilization.
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Analyze how Chinese culture took shape under the Shang and Zhou dynasties.
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Describe the religions and belief systems that developed in early China.
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List some achievements made in early China.

Terms, People, and Places

loess

clan

dynastic cycle

feudalism

Confucius

Laozi

philosophy

filial piety

oracle bone

character

calligraphy

Note Taking

Checkpoint (s)

In what different ways did people live in ancient China?

How was China governed during the Shang dynasty?

Explain three ways that China expanded during the Zhou dynasty.

What did early Chinese communities do to ensure good harvests?

Explain the different ways in which Confucianism and Daoism taught that people should live their lives.

For what purpose did writing begin in China?

Map

Shang and Zhou Civilizations

Map Skills

Today, China extends west from the Pacific Ocean deep into central Asia. Its first civilizations existed in the eastern part of the modern-day country.

1. Locate

(a) Chang River (b) Gobi (c) Huang River (d) Anyang

2. Place

What physical features acted as obstacles to contact outside China?

3. Draw Inferences

In which directions from China do you think it was easiest for the Chinese to make contact with other people? Why?

Confucius

Confucius (551 B.C.–479 B.C.) decided at an early age to dedicate himself to education and public service. He felt that educated people had a responsibility to serve in government so that they could translate their good ideas into action.

As a teacher, Confucius spread education to both rich and poor. He inspired thousands of followers with his guidelines about the proper way to live. As a public servant, he did not fare so well, however. His high standards of conduct often brought him into conflict with corrupt officials. According to Confucius, “The superior man understands righteousness. The inferior man understands profit.”

Why do you think people were inspired by Confucius’ teachings?

HW
SECTION 4 Assessment

Reading Skill: Recognize Sequence

2. Use your completed chart to answer the Focus Question: What characteristics defined the civilization that developed in China under its early rulers?

Comprehension and Critical Thinking

Summarize

3. What geographic challenges did China’s early rulers face when trying to unite China or make alliances with peoples outside of China?

Synthesize Information

4. What were the characteristics of the Shang and Zhou government and social structure?

Analyze Information

5. What aspects of Confucianism and Daoism do you think contributed to their long-lasting influence?

Draw Inferences

6. How do the various cultural developments of early China still affect the lives of people today?

EC
Writing About History

Section 5 Strong Rulers Unite China
Objectives

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Understand how Shi Huangdi unified China and established a Legalist government.
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Describe how Han rulers strengthened the economy and government of China.
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Outline why the Han period is considered a golden age of Chinese civilization.
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Analyze why many Chinese people accepted Buddhist ideas.

Terms, People, and Places

Shi Huangdi

Wudi

monopoly

expansionism

civil servant

warlord

acupuncture

Note Taking

Checkpoint (s)

What kind of government did Legalists favor?

How did Han emperors further economic growth?

What sorts of achievements made the Han period a golden age?

Why did Buddhism appeal to many people in China?

Map

Qin and Han Empires

Map Skills

Under the Qin and Han dynasties, Chinese rule expanded significantly, as did the Great Wall (pictured below).

1. Locate

(a) Great Wall (b) Qin empire (c) Han empire (d) Chengdu (e) Takla Makan Desert

2. Place

What natural barriers helped protect China from invaders?

3. Draw Conclusions

How did the Great Wall’s placement relate to the extent of the empires? What does this tell you about where invaders came from?

HW
SECTION 5 Assessment

Reading Skill: Recognize Sequence

2. Use your completed chart to answer the Focus Question: How did powerful emperors unite much of China and bring about a golden age of cultural achievements?

Comprehension and Critical Thinking

Summarize

3. What were three steps Shi Huangdi took to unify China?

Demonstrate Reasoned Judgment

4. What aspects of the civil service system do you think allowed it to last for such a great length of time?

Determine Relevance

5. Select three achievements made during the Han period and describe why you think they were significant advancements.

EC
Writing About History