Quiz 1 (chapters 1-3)

jati

a kinship group, the basic social organization of traditional Indian society, to some extent specialized by occupation. -The jatis were the several smaller groups within each level of the caste system.

the southern settlements in china around the yangzi valley was based on...

the cultivation of rice

Vaisya

the third highest caste that was made up of merchants and commoners, twice born

atman

-in brahmanism, the individual soul -the brahmanical beliefs and practices of early aryan society would gradually be replaced by hinduism

impact of greeks

-Alexander the great launched invasion in India leaving behind cultural influences

civilization

-a complex culture in which large numbers of humans share a variety of common elements

Ashoka, a buddhist monarch

-began his reign conquering, pillaging and killing but after converting to buddhism he began to rule benevolently -much of the population living under mauryan rule may have converted to buddhism

the mundaka upanishad

-best way to seek truth and tranquility was by renouncing material existence and adopting the life of a wandering mendicant

well field system

the theoretical pattern of land ownership in early China, named for the appearance of the Chinese character for "well," in which farmland was divided into nine segments and a peasant family would cultivate one for its own use and cooperate with seven others to cultivate the ninth for the landlord.

Dao

a Chinese philosophical concept, literally "the Way," central to both Confucianism and Daoism, that describes the behavior proper to each member of society; somewhat similar to the Indian concept of dharma. *idea of duty and idea of humanity

buddhism

a religion and philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama around 500 BCE (challenge brahmanical beliefs)

bodhi

wisdom; sometimes described as complete awareness of the true nature of the universe

Mandate of Heaven

The justification for the rule of the Zhou dynasty in China. The king was charged to maintain order as a representative of Heaven, which was viewed as an impersonal law of nature *heaven was viewed as an essentially benevolent force devoted to universal harmony and order that could be influenced by positive human action

ziggurat

massive pyramidal stepped tower made of mudbricks. It is associated with religious complexes in ancient Mesopotamian cities, but its function is unknown.

pariahs

members of the lowest level of traditional Indian society, also known as untouchables -were given menial and degrading task -no Indian would touch or eat food prepared by them -lived in ghettos

idea of humanity

sense of compassion and empathy for others

veneration of ancestors

the extension of filial piety to include care for the deceased, for instance, by burning replicas of useful objects to accompany them on their journey to the next world.

What are jatis ?

These kinship units, which comprised thousands of families, generally each performed a particular economic activity.

Shang dynasty details

Oracle bones used -Oracle bones were animal bones and shells used to communicate with the spirit world during the Shang dynasty. It is through these inscriptions that we know what we do about Shang culture.

Ancient Chinese women were generally:

Required to be subservient to Chinese men

Believed in the existence of immortal life forces

Buddhism Hinduism Jainism

bao-jia system

The Chinese practice, reportedly originated by the Qin dynasty in the third century B.C.E., of organizing families into groups of five or ten to exercise mutual control and surveillance and reduce loyalty to the family.

Sudras

represented the greatest bulk of the Indian population from ancient times, mostly peasants, artisans, or manual laborers

neither daoism or confucianism

provided significance to the mass of the population where philosophical debate over the ultimate meaning of life was less important than daily struggle for survival

Homo sapiens sapiens

-This hominid's name means "wise, wise human being."

neolithic china

early Chinese society emerged along the banks of two major river systems, the yellow and the yangzi -was separated from other civilizations by snow capped mountains and forbidding deserts and was compelled to develop on their own

karma

fundamental concept in hindu philosophy that rebirth in a future life is determined by actions in this or other lives

New kingdom details

-Defeat and expulsion of Hyksos -Loss of Canaan to Sea Peoples

Women led familial ceremonies for the dead

This is false. Ceremonies linking families with their ancestors were quite important in ancient India, and these rituals were led by the male head of the household.

Belief that women used sexual powers to control men

This is true. In ancient Indian society, there was a general concern that women used their sexuality to influence and control men

Women generally prohibited from inheriting property

This is true. Men held property in ancient India. The only instance in which a woman could inherit property was when a family had no sons. Then the property could pass to the surviving women.

eunuchs

castrated males used within households of Chinese emperors, usually to guard his concubines; became a political counterbalance to powerful marital relatives during later Han rule.

the Zhou dynasty

-longest lived dynasty in Chinese history

Cyrus the great

-Cyrus extended Persian control over the Medes, making media the first persian satrapy

Persian

-Emerged after the defeat of Nebuchadnezzar's Chaldean Babylonia -Nebuchadnezzar, the Chaldean king, made Babylonia the leading state in the region after the fall of the Assyrian Empire. In 539 BCE, the Persians conquered Babylon, its capital city, and incorporated it into the Persian Empire. -Led by Cyrus the Great

the new kingdom

-Middle Kingdom ended after Egypt was invaded by people from Western Asia known as the Hyksos -hyksos used horse drawn war chariots and taught Egyptians to use bronze in making farming tools and weapons

Paleolithic age

Old Stone Age (2,500,000-10,000 BCE) the period of human history when humans used simple stone tools -paleolithic people did not know how to grow crops or raise animals but they knew which plants to eat and animals to hunt

the Akkadian empire

The world's first empire. It formed when Sargon the Great conquered many of the Sumerian city-states and united them under one leader. -sargon, leader of Akkadians, overran the Sumerian city states and established a dynastic empire

Zoroastrianism

a religion founded by the Persian prophet Zoroaster based on the belief of one god as supreme and the enemy of evil -characterized by worship of a supreme god, ahuramazda, who represents the good against the evil spirit, Ahriman

ninhursaga

goddess associated with soil, mountains, and vegetation

The Indus Valley civilization

Harappa and mohejo-daro are two major cities where civilization arose

Homo habilis

-This hominid's name means "skilled human." -This species exhibited a brain that was 50% larger than those of its predecessors, the australopithecines. -This increased brain capacity helped H. habilis create simple tools by chipping the edges off volcanic stones.

the epic of Gilgamesh

An epic poem from Mesopotamia, and among the earliest known works of literary writing. -includes account of great flood -utanapishtim tells Gilgamesh the story of how he survived the flood

2 important sources of life for Egyptians was:

the nile river and pharaoh

All of the following are correct about the reign of Qin Shi Huangdi

Created a unified system of weights and measures -Ordered construction of roads throughout the empire -Qin Shi Huangdi oversaw the consolidation and organization of a degree of political centralization and power not seen in China until that point. Among the reforms and initiatives he undertook were the construction of a system of roads throughout his empire and the development of a unified system of weights and measures, both of which reflect the manner in which unity was imposed politically and economically across his domain. To aid in his system of authority, Qin Shi Huangdi also adopted a Legalist rather than Confucianist official philosophy, which justified the imposition of harsh laws and taxes, which Legalists felt would quell any dissent. Although these methods proved effective during Qin Shi Huangdi's lifetime, his empire broke apart soon after his death in 210 BCE over competition between different factions.

Homo habilis

(man of skill) first to make stone tools -had a brain 50% larger than the australopithecines which allowed them for more sophisticated search for nourishment

Mesolithic age

The "Middle Stone Age," the period from 10,000 to 7,000 B.C. characterized by a gradual shift from a food-gathering/hunting economy to a food-producing one -shift from hunter-gatherers to farmers occurred when farmers began to cultivate crops along the flood plains of river systems

satrap

a governor with both civil and military duties in the ancient Persian Empire, which was divided into satrapies, or provinces, each administered by a satrap.

enki

god of earth rivers, wells, and canals

homo sapiens sapiens

modern humans -living and traveling in small groups these were hunter gatherers -these hominids encounter other hominids, neanderthals -by 30,000 BCE, Homo sapiens replaced the neanderthals

Which of the following two technological innovations are associated with the Paleolithic era?

the use of stone tools and fire

Who are theMauryas ?

-India's role in regional trade increased following the rise of this dynasty. -The rise of the Mauryas greatly increased India's role in regional trade. For example, the government of Chandragupta Maurya placed great emphasis on trade and manufacturing, as the government owned mines and established departments to promote agriculture and commerce. Additionally, Ashoka's decision to plant banyan trees and build rest shelters along roads helped traveling merchants.

Which of the following were accomplished, created, or discovered in ancient India?

-The development of "Arabic" numerals -Construction of rock chambers for monks and ascetics

political structure of Zhou dynasty

-adopted Shang practice of dividing the kingdom into a number of territories governed by officials appointed by the king -zhou king served at apex of the government -zhou kingdom was divided into a number of principalities governed by members of the heredity aristocracy

significant economic weakness of the han empire

-an inability to completely institute a system of direct taxation

ancient Chinese lifestyle

-first houses were constructed of wooden planks but later Chinese mastered the art of building in tile and brick -chinese houses in ancient times had little furniture and clothing was simple -in early times, most food was consumed in a porridge but the zhou dynasty did stir frying in a wok -alcohol in form of ale was drunk by higher classes and a rare luxury for the poor -under the Qin and han cities became the cultural hub of Chinese society

the Han dynasty

-founder was Liu bang (Han Gaozu) -maintained the centralized political institutions of the Qin but abandoned its harsh legalistic approach to law -confucianism became official ideology

the role of women In ancient India

-only males could inherit property -divorce was prohibited -child marriage was common for young girls

twice born

-the males of the higher castes in transitional Indian society, who underwent an initiation ceremony at puberty (first three classes)

Society and economy in Qin dynasty

-unified system of weights and measures, monetary systems and written forms of Chinese characters, and ordered construction of roads extending through empire -members of the aristocratic clans were required to live in the capital city so their court could monitor activities -unsympathetic to merchants -to supply armies a canal was dug that provided direct inland navigation from the yangzi river to Guangzhou in the south

different classes

1. brahmins 2. Kshatriyas (the warriors) 3. Vaisya 4. sudras 5. pariahs

longshan

A neolithic society from near the yellow River in China, sometimes identified by its black pottery.

yangshao

A neolithic society from near the yellow River in China, sometimes identified by its painted pottery.

stupas

a stone tower holding relics of the buddy, more generally a place for devotion

Assyrian culture

-kings tried to maintain old traditions by rebuilding damaged temples on the original foundations -3 capitals cities: Nimrud, Nineveh, and Khorsabad

neolithic revolution

(10,000-4,000 BCE) -development of agriculture, including the planting of food crops and the domestication of farm animals -the biggest change of this time was the shift from gathering plants and hunting animals for substance to producing food by systematic agriculture *this gave humans greater control over the environment *gave up nomadic way of life and lived in settled communities *expanision of the population

both assyrians and Persians

-both used military forces and violence to attain their empires -assyrian rulers were known for terror tactics and Persians were less cruel and more tolerant

Mauryan Empire

(321-185 BCE) This was the first centralized empire of India whose founder was Chandragupta Maurya. -chandragupta Maurya drove out the greek administrators that Alexander had left behind and established the mauryan empire at Pataliputra -chandragupta was fearful of assassination *all food was tasted in his presence *never slept twice in the same bed in his sumptuous palace -empire was divided into provinces ruled by governors -the provinces were divided into districts each under a chief magistrate appointed by a governor -the villages were governed by a council of elders

Which of the following are characteristics scholars have ascribed to the ancient Harappan civilization?

-An agricultural economy based on grains *Like the economies of Mesopotamia and Egypt, the economy of the ancient Harappan civilization was primarily agricultural. Archaeological evidence indicates that the people of the ancient Indus River Valley grew wheat, barley, rice, and peas. There is also evidence of cotton seeds, suggesting that they might have been the first to cultivate cotton. -Houses varying in size *Scholars have also determined the existence of socioeconomic stratification in this society, evidenced by the fact that the wealthy lived in larger houses while the poor lived in smaller dwellings in slumlike neighborhoods located near workplaces such as furnaces and areas used to pound grain. -defensive walls -Mud brick construction

Which of the following are elements of continuity between the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom eras of Egyptian history?

-Belief that pharaoh was divine -Aristocracy lived life of leisure -Throughout the ancient period, food—except in times of famine—was generally plentiful, allowing the aristocracy to concern themselves largely with leisurely activities, which formed the basis for elite culture. There was also consistent use and development of Egyptian hieroglyphic writing (although it never got reduced to a simple alphabet), and Egyptians of any era were interested in acquiring medical knowledge, even if not all classes of Egyptians received the same level of care. From the founding of the Old Kingdom on, pharaohs were established in the Egyptian worldview as divine. The broader religious tradition was polytheistic and featured complex and numerous rituals overseen by a highly organized (and powerful) priestly order. Changes did occur over time: There were many dynasties, each with its own qualities of rule. The capital sometimes moved to reflect the place a new dynasty had its base of control. Also, the building of large pyramids was a feature only of the early period of Egyptian history, while threat from the Hittites began only in the New Kingdom era.

Which of the following are major differences between the Old Kingdom, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom eras of Egyptian history?

-Canaan gained and lost during New Kingdom era -Restoration of old gods in New Kingdom era -Although building projects were a feature of all the periods, the building of pyramids—the iconic Egyptian structure—was less common after the Old Kingdom fell. -The capital moved depending on the era and the power-base of the current dynasty, of which there were more than two dozen. -Religious cults based on morality progressively became more "democratic" in the sense that non-elite Egyptians were allowed to join them beginning with the Middle Kingdom era. -Finally, technologies such as the working of bronze for weapons, brought to the Egyptians by the invading Hyksos, were effective in enabling Egypt to expand its domain. However, such weapons were not enough to maintain Egyptian power against the Hittites and the Sea Peoples, with whom Egypt came into conflict in the New Kingdom era.

political and social structures

-Indus Valley civilization likely started as tiny farming villages just as Mesopotamia -city of Harappa was surrounded by a brick wall and most buildings were constructed of mud brick -both Harappa and mohenjo daro were divided into large neighborhoods -Indus Valley society was not a centralized monarchy but a collection of towns and cities connected by ties of trade and alliance and ruled by a coalition of landlords and rich merchants -religion may have advanced past spirit worship to belief in a single god or goddess of fertility -animal sacrifice ceremonies to maintain fertility of soil and annual harvest -economy was primarily agriculture based -may have been the first to master cultivation of cotton -developed extensive trading network with Sumer and other civilizations

Which of the following are correct descriptions of Hammurabi's law code?

-It reinforced the authority of men in a patriarchal society. -it emphasized principles of just retribution for offenses. -Hammurabi's law code is one of the chief developments associated with early human civilization in Mesopotamia. Among its 282 laws are many that relate to injuries, theft and destruction of property, trade, and marriage and the family. Hammurabi's law code emphasized the principle of "an eye for an eye" and reinforced the role of men as head of the society. Men operated under different regulations in marriage, for instance, and were allowed to commit adultery. Hammurabi's law code was an early example of formalized, codified (i.e., written down and disseminated) law, and it also exhibits the complex material nature of a highly urban, religious, and structured society.

Neolithic Age details

-People built structures for storage. -Humans domesticated sheep, goats, cows, and pigs. -During the Neolithic Age, people controlled their food supply through systematic agriculture. They were able to secure food for longer periods of time by developing the ability to store food during harvests, which they could eat throughout the year. In the Paleolithic Age, people had not planted crops or stored food.

Middle Kingdom details

-Pharaoh as people's shepherd -considered the Egyptian golden age -This period also saw a shift away from the emphasis on the pharaoh's divinity and toward a philosophy in which the pharaoh should show concern toward his people and act as their shepherd. Bureaucratic reforms were also undertaken, better defining the borders of nomes (or provinces) and the powers and duties of each one's nomarch.

Which of the following are among the main tenets of Brahmanism?

-Powerful priestly class -Centrality of concept of sacrifice -Among its attributes were a variety of gods with different identities and areas of power, an emphasis on asceticism and sacrifice, and a powerful priestly class that oversaw religious matters.

decline of Egyptian empire

-Ramesses 2 helped restore Egyptian power one more time -he helped regain control of Canaan and restore Egypt as an imperial power -after the death of ramesess death the government weakened and new invasions by the sea people destroyed Egyptian power

Which of the following are among the main tenets of Buddhism?

-Rejection of concept of multiple, distinct gods -Emphasis on egalitarianism -Buddhism can best be seen as a reformation rather than a rejection of Brahmanist thought and practice, although in a number of areas it diverges from traditional Brahmanist beliefs -Buddhists do not believe in a panoply of distinct gods, and they also emphasize egalitarianism rather than endorse an elite priestly class. Women were allowed to join Buddhist monastic orders, but they were given an inferior position relative to men.

Which of the following statements best explains why there was a separation between the Jews and their non-Jewish neighbors, such as the Mesopotamians and Egyptians?

-The Hebrews practiced the rare tradition of monotheism, which prevented them from accepting the gods of their conquerors or new neighbors. -Without accepting new gods, the ancient Hebrews could not amalgamate into new societies when they were conquered or deported. Instead, the Hebrews solidified their monotheism in Babylon, holding onto Yahweh as the only god, which separated them from their non-Jewish neighbors.

Australopithecines

-The name Australopithecus (singular) means "southern ape" or "southern ape-man." -the first hominids to make and use simple stone tools -may have been bipedal, which would have enabled them to walk upright and move over long distances while using their arms for purposes other than walking.

The old kingdom details

-Upper, Lower Egypt united for first time -largest pyramids constructed -This period also witnessed ancient Egypt's first phase of major building projects, most notably the pyramid complex at Giza, while the Egyptian bureaucracy was formed and made into a system overseen by the office of the vizier.

hieroglyphics

-a highly pictorial system of writing most often associated with ancient Egypt -never developed into an alphabet -initially carved on stone but were later written on papyrus paper made from reeds that grew along the nile

The Persian empire

-after the collapse of the Assyrian empire, the Chaldeans, under king Nebuchadnezzar 2 made Babylonia the leading state in Western Asia -chaldean Babylonia was short lived when Babylon fell to the Persians -persians were an Indo-European speaking people. Primarily nomadic and were organized into tribes until the achaemenid dynasty unified them

the old kingdom

-arouund 3100 BCE a king called Menes united upper and lower Egypt -a breakdown in royal power could only mean that citizens were offending divinity and weakening the universal structure

consequences of the neolithic region

-began to engage in trade -began to specialize in crafts and a division of labor developed -men assumed working in the fields and herding animals, jobs that kept them away from home -women stayed in the homo performing household task that required considerable labor -men began to play dominant role in human society giving rise to patriarchy (society dominated by men) -began to develop armies and build walled cities

Sumerians

-believed that the gods ruled the cities, making the state a theorcacy (government by a divine authority) -believed kings derived their power from their gods -economy was primarily agriculture but commerce and industry became important too

nomadic people: impact of the info-europeans

-depended on hunting and gathering, herding, and farming -pastorial nomads overran civilized communities and forged own empires -indo europeans were most important nomadic people that spoke languages derived from a single parent tongue

Nubians in Egypt

-during the new kingdom, Egypt expanded to include Canaan and syria to the north and the kingdom of Nubia to the south -nubia was a major source of gold for Egyptians

society and economy in ancient Egypt

-god-king was at the top, an upper class of nobles and priests that aided the king, merchants and artisans -people used jewelry for self-adornment as well as a mark of social status -king owned all the land but granted portions of it to his subjects

the Hittites

-group of Indo-Europeans who moved into Asia Minor and Anatolia around 1750 BCE coalesced with the native peoples to form the Hittite kingdom with its capital at Hattosha -first endo-european people to make use of iron -in language, literature, art, law, and religion they borrowed much from Mesopotamia and native people they subdued

Hammurabi's empire

-hammurabi learned to divide his opponents and subdue them one by one -he gained control of summer and Akkad creating a new Mesopotamian kingdom -after his death, Hammurabis empire fell

a land of diversity

-india has an array of languages -both hinduism and Buddhism originated in India -in north India there is the Himalayan and Karakoram mountain ranges (highest peaks in the world) -south of the range is the valley of Ganges (India's holy river) -west is the Indus Valley river

who were the aryans

-indo European speaking people -pastorial people who migrated season to season in search of food for their herds -invented horse-drawn chariots and the stirrup -likely migrated into the Indian subcontinent from Central Asia

Collapse of Indus Valley civilization

-likely from natural causes because of social decay -mohenjo-daromay have been destroyed by an epidemic or natural phenomena

Paleolithic people

-lived in small bands of 20-30 people -nomadic moved to follow animal migration and vegetation cycles -invention of spear and bow and arrow made hunting easier -both men and women were responsible for finding food. Women gathered berries, nuts, and grains. Men hunted for animals -rough equality existed between men and women -made tools and used fire -found shelter in caves and created new types of shelter -did cave paintings

Civilization in Mesopotamia

-mesopotamia is the land between the rivers of tiaras and Euphrates -large scale irrigation made possible the expansion of agriculture in this region -the creators of the first Mesopotamian civilization were the Sumerians

Culture of Mesopotamia

-mesopotamians believed the world was controlled by supernatural forces -religion was a form of polytheism (having many gods; belief in or the worship of more than one god)

a characteristic considered necessary for civilization?

-military and political structures -Urbanization -Distinct religious structure

the pyramids

-occurred in time of the old kingdom -large pyramids for the king's burial, smaller pyramids for his family and mastabas as tombs for the pharaoh's noble officials -believed humans had two bodies, a physical one and a spiritual one called ka. If the physical body was mummified and the tomb was furnished with all the objects of regular life then the ka could return

Indus Valley culture

-sculptures were the highest artistic acheivement -dancing girl is a metal sculpture from mohenjo-daro -writing was another achievement (clay seals and tablets) -in mesopotamia and Indus River valley, merchants used writing to mark official events or record commercial and other legal transactions

Assyrian society

-society in which ethnic differences were not important -identified by language and religion -society was hierarchical -father held authority over his wife and children -assyrian law was similar to Sumerian and Babylonian law but considerably harsher especially in regard to women -agriculture was the basis of Assyrian life and trade was second

Paleolithic Age details

-the name of this age signifies "Old Stone Age." -Humans were exclusively nomadic. -Because Paleolithic peoples depended on hunting and gathering for their survival, it was imperative for communities to continue moving to have access to a constant supply of plants and animals. When an area was depleted of its supply of plants and animals for gathering and hunting, the band of people would move on to a new area. -In the Paleolithic Age, people hunted wild animals but did not domesticate them. The term "Neolithic Revolution" refers to the shift from hunting and gathering to sedentary agriculture. In settled communities that relied on crop agriculture, humans also developed the ability to maintain herds of sheep, goats, cows, and pigs. This expanded their food production and enabled an increase in human population.

Darius

The third king of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. He ruled the empire at its peak. He organized the empire by dividing it into provinces and placing satraps to govern it. He organized a new uniform money system, along with making Aramaic the official language of the empire. He also worked on construction projects throughout the empire. -his polices widened the gap between the king and his subjects

Homo erectus

This hominid's name means "upright human." -What distinguished H. erectus from its predecessor was the size of its brain, which was nearly 33% larger than that of H. habilis. H. erectus was also the first human species to inhabit all parts of Africa and to be found outside of Africa.

True or false: The Neolithic Revolution led to greater equity between men and women.

false -Unlike during the Paleolithic era, which scholars argued saw men and women have a rough equality due to both genders' vital roles in finding and processing food, the Neolithic era saw men and women become separated into two different social classes. As agricultural work was the duty of men and provided the bulk of the food, men came to be regarded in Neolithic societies as having greater right to power and authority than women did.

megaliths

huge stones used as monuments

satrapy

one of the provinces of the ancient persian empire each ruled by a satrap

neolithic farming villages

permanent settlements that grew crops on a regular basis -the growing of crops on a regular basis gave rise to more permanent settlements known as neolithic farming villages

True or false: The early civilizations of Mesopotamia, India, Egypt, and China all emerged in river valleys that supported agricultural development.

true

True or false: The Indo-Europeans were significant because many languages in Europe and Asia are derived from the Indo-Europeans' mother tongue.

true -The Indo-Europeans were a group of nomadic peoples who originated in the steppe north of the Black Sea or perhaps in modern-day Iran or Afghanistan. The spread of the Indo-Europeans can be traced through the relationship between the many languages that share a common root in the Indo-European mother tongue.

A significant economic weakness of the Han Empire was:

An inability to completely institute a system of direct taxation

varna

Indian classes or castes -these class systems were absolute. Individuals were born and died in them -couldnt marry outside class usually

Encouraged extreme simplicity

Jainism

the rig veda

The first scripture in Hinduism, it has information about spiritual, scientific, and philosophy. -the best way to communicate with gods was through sacrifice, a procedure that was carried out through the intermediation of the fire god Agni

cuneiform

"wedge shaped" a system of writing developed by the Sumerians that consisted of wedge shaped impressions made by a reed stylus on clay tablets *primary goal of scribal education was to professionally trained scribes for the carriers in temples and palaces, the military, and government

Sumerian cities

-walls surrounded them -people in Mesopotamia used mudbricks for building -most prominent building in Sumerian city was the temple and built atop a massive stepped tower called a ziggurat

4 major social group

1. elites-included royal and priestly officials and their families 2. dependent commoners-elite clients 3. free commoners-farmers, merchants, fishers, scribes, and crafts people 4. slaves

the hebrews

A smaller early civilization whose development of a monotheistic faith that provided the foundation of modern Judaism, Christianity, and Islam assured them a significant place in world history -south of the Phoenicians lived the hebrews -monotheisim (belief in only one god)

civil service examination

An elaborate Chinese system of selecting bureaucrats on merit, first introduced in 165 CE, developed by the Tang Dynasty in the seventh century CE, and refined under the Song Dynasty; later adopted in Vietnam and with less success in Japan and Korea. It contributed to efficient government, upward mobility, and cultural uniformity. *population grew rapidly because government policies that used tax incentives to promote large families -failure to curb the power of the wealthy clans became major factor in collapse of dynasty

details on daily life for ancient china

Ancient Chinese society included a diverse array of social classes and customs associated with various regions. Common elements for the lower classes, however, were simply and sparsely furnished houses, as well as a reliance on a simple diet that strongly featured rice, millet, or soybeans, depending on the agricultural product of the region. Certain elements of thought and behavior tied the lower classes to the upper classes, such as a strong sense of male domination in home and public life. Women were expected to be subservient to men and were not accorded many legal rights and protections, no matter their social status.

Encouraged the "Middle Path"

Buddhism *Siddhartha Gautama became known as the Buddha, or the "Enlightened One," after experiencing a sudden and profound spiritual insight, which he called the "Four Noble Truths." He believed that understanding the nature of these truths would help individuals attain enlightenment.Before this moment of insight, Siddhartha experimented with asceticism. After six years as a wandering ascetic, he realized that neither asceticism nor luxury (which he had experienced as a prince) was any more likely to lead to spiritual insight. Rather, he encouraged the "Middle Path" between these two extremes. It was only after embracing this practice that he came to understand the "Four Noble Truths."

daoism

Chinese philosophy ascribed to Lao zi which holds that acceptance and spontaneity are the keys to harmonious interaction with the universal order; an alternative to confucianism -like confucianism it did not anguish over the underlying meaning of the cosmos but set forth proper forms of behavior for humans on earth -contends that the true way to interpret the will of heaven is not action but inaction -best way to act in harmony with universal order is to act spontaneously and let nature take its course

What makes the Chinese written language unique as well as different from its Mesopotamian and Egyptian counterparts?

Its maintenance of an ideographical format -Ancient Chinese writing emerged as early as the Shang era (and perhaps earlier), and as in early Mesopotamia and Egypt, it was ideographic and pictorial in form rather than phonetic and abstracted. However, whereas a phonetic system of letters emerged in Mesopotamia and Egypt to aid in the connection between writing and speech, in China the written system remained ideographic even after it had reached a great level of complexity. It may be that an ideographic rather than phonetic system of writing was helpful in bridging gaps in dialect and pronunciation that existed across the vastness of the Chinese landscape and society.

Zhou Dynasty details

Little central authority & Iron becomes common -By the late Zhou dynasty, the actual authority of the emperor had been reduced greatly, and he reigned largely as a figurehead. The late Zhou period is also called the Warring States Period, because power lay with provincial warlords who fought one another for land, power, and influence. In this way, China at this time resembled the feudal European kingdoms of the Middle Ages. Iron replaced bronze as the metal of choice during the Zhou dynasty. Chinese blacksmiths began to make weapons, tools, and other items (even coins) out of iron in the eighth or ninth century BCE. One important result was the development of iron plowshares, allowing for deep plowing for the first time in Chinese history. -Written form of Chinese characters

what is theGanges River valley ?

The arrival of the iron plow helped turn this area into one of the most densely populated regions on earth.

Which of the following accurately describes gender relationships in ancient Indian society?

The dominance of males over females was manifested in a variety of areas of marital life.

Predominantly patriarchal culture

This is true. Ancient Indian society was predominantly patriarchal, meaning the social organization was dominated by men. The only exception to this rule was the Malabar coast, which had a matriarchal society.

Polygamy uncommon, except in the upper classes

This is true. Polygamy was not very common in ancient India. The main exception to this general practice was the upper classes. It was also acceptable for a man to take a second wife if his first wife was barren.

legalism

a Chinese philosophy that argued that human beings were by nature evil and would follow the correct path only if coerced by harsh laws and stiff punishments. Adopted as official ideology by the Qin dynasty, it was later rejected but remained influential.

sanskrit

an early Indo-European language in which the vedas were composed -after aryans arrived it declined as a spoken language and was replaced by a simpler tongue known as Prakrit

jainism

an indian religion that stresses extreme simplicity -buddhism began to compete with -resembled buddhism in it rejected the reality of the material world but more extreme -founded by mahavira -insistance on a life of poverty

the Shang dynasty

beginning of Chinese civilization was the xia dynasty founded by yu, who introduced irrigation and draining floodwaters threatening to inundate the north china plain -xia dynasty was eventually replaced by the Shang

daily life in ancient china

family took sacred quality as a microcosm of entire social order

an=

god of sky

enlil

god of wind

nirvana

in buddhist thought; enlightenment, the ultimate transcendence from the illusion of the material world

Filial Piety

in traditional china, a hierarchal system in which every family member has his or her place, subordinate to patriarch who has certain reciprocal responsibilities

the Phoenicians

located on eastern Mediterranean coast; invented the alphabet which used sounds rather than symbols like cuneiform -attacks by the sea peoples from the west and aggressive neighboring tribes caused Hittite power to end -after Hittite destruction the Phoenicians came to power -they improved their ships and became great international sea traders -established a number of new colonies in western meditterainian -their alphabet would be passed to greek -best known as transmitters who used 22 different signs to represent the sounds of their speech

Australopithecus

the earliest humanlike creature that flourished in eastern and southern Africa 3 to 4 million years ago -first hominids to make simple tools -may have also been bipedal (walked upright on two legs)

Kshatriyas

warriors -originally, the warrior class of aryan society in India; ranked below (Sometimes equal to) brahmins; in modern times often government workers or soldiers

brahmins

member of the hindu priestly caste or class. Duties included studying hindu religious scriptures and transmitting them to others orally

The great debate - Confucianism, Daoism, and Legalism

-Confucius proposed the familial hierarchy as the model for the ideal sociopolitical hierarchy. In this patriarchal society, the father was at the head of the family, followed by the sons, then the wife, and last, the daughters. In Confucian thought, this familial hierarchy translated into a society where the ruler was like the father, public officials had the status of sons, and commoners were in the position of wives and daughters. One of the main goals of this comparison was to help people on all levels understand their obligations to one another and to promote a dutiful society -State control and a powerful government were hallmarks of Legalist thought, while minimalism and a small bureaucracy would have been more likely in a Daoist society. -the Legalist would argue that the key to a good government is strict laws. Legalists argued for a strong state, and one element of this strong state was strict laws that were enforced with communal punishments. They justified this kind of legal code because they believed that human nature was corrupt and needed to be controlled, by force (or the threat of force) if necessary. Benevolence and honoring a just ruler were important elements of Confucian thought, while simplicity was a hallmark of Daoism. Both Confucianism and Daoism encouraged people and governments to avoid violence whenever possible.

middle path

-a central concept of buddhism which advocates avoiding extremes of both materialism and asceticism

Egyptian civilization

-egypt like Mesopotamia was a river valley civilization

Characteristic elements of average daily Chinese life for commoners were:

Simple and sparsely furnished houses

the after life and prized possessions...

like pharaohs, Chinese rulers fulled their tombs with prized possessions from daily life

Silk Road

eastward into china came grapes, metals, glass objects, and horses from Persia and central asia -china exported goods especially silk to countries to the west -bulk of trade went overland through Central Asia (Silk Road) -silk trade stimulated an increase in mutual curiousity between china and other civilizations to the west -consequence of silk trade communication and introduction of buddhism from India

indian religion

is a blend of aryan and Dravidian culture -buddhism, hinduism, jainism, and sikhism

duty

it was the responsibility of all individuals to subordinate their own interest and aspirations to the broader needs of the family and community

sati-

the hindu ritual requiring a wife to throw herself on her deceased husband's funeral pyre

diffusion hypothesis

the hypothesis that the yellow river was the ancient heartland of Chinese civilization and that technological and cultural achievements radiated from there to other parts of east Asia

the impact of geography

-nile was longest river and created areas that was fertile -miracle of the nile was its annual flooding -fertile land from nile was called "Black land" -nile river split into 2 major branches forming the delta, triangle shaped territory called lower Egypt to distinguish it from upper Egypt -egypts important cities developed at the tip of the delta -egyptian civilization remained more rural since they did not need massive irrigation systems that was required in Mesopotamia -unlike Mesopotamia which was subject to constant invasion, Egypt had natural barriers that protected it -Nile made transportation and communication easier -unlike people in Mesopotamia, Egyptians faced life with a spirit of confidence and stability of things

earliest hominids to latest

Australopithecines Homo habilis Homo erectus Homo sapiens sapiens

Which of the following was a way that the Assyrians amassed their power?

Development of a complex network of communication -Chief among these were a fearsome military machine that allowed the Assyrians to crush its enemies in battle, a system of kingship in which the ruler's power was considered absolute, and the development of a complex system of communication that allowed the political center to be connected to the far-flung parts of the empire.

how did Indian class system survive

-provided a identity for individuals in a highly hierarchical society -class was also a means for new groups such as mountain tribal people to achieve a recognizable place in the broader community -the jati was a primitive form of welfare system

which of the following accurately describes the class system introduced by the aryans?

-society was organized into a hierarchal structure defined by ethnic and family background

beliefs of ancient china

-spirits of deceased human beings lived in the atmosphere for a time before ascending to heaven or hell. If spirits were not taken care of by family members they would become evil and haunt survivors

han dynasty manufacturing and trade

-stiff taxes on trade in effort to limit commercial activities -merchants were disqualified from seeking office, restricted to residence, and viewed as parasites -relied om waterways for bulk of transportation. New canals were dug -move into foreign trade. More was transported by overland caravans on the silk road -currency was further standardized -progress in textile manufacturing, water mills, and iron casting -paper invented and development of rudder and fore permitted ships to sail wind

early beliefs of Shang

-the Shang had begun to believe in the existence of one transcendent god known as Shang di -time went on, Chinese concept of religion evolved from a vaguely anthromorphic god to a more impersonal symbol of universal order known as heaven (tian) -life was a dynamic process of interaction between the forces of yang and yin could not be reversed -traditionally believed that bad times will be followed by good times and vice versa -belief there was some mysterious law of nature that could be interrupted by human beings led to attempts to predict the future

brahmanism

-the early religious beliefs of the aryan people in India, which eventually gave rise to hinduism -concept of sacrifice was a key means of community with celestial forces brahmins played a key role in these ceremonies -ideal of asceticism, subjecting oneself to painful stimuli to replace sacrifice as a means of communicating with the gods -ascetiscism evolved into the modern practices of yoga -early holy scripture for ascetics was the Upanishads

reincarnation

-the idea that the individual soul is reborn in a different form after death. In hindu and buddhist thought, release from this cycle is the objective of all living things

nomadic people and the Great Wall

-the nomadic xiongnu had unified many groups operating in the region and posed a threat to Qin -chinese principalities began to build walls of stone to keep them out

daily life in acient India: the family

-the oldest male had legal authority over entire family unit -family ceremonies were conducted to honor the departed and to link the living and dead -males were superior *women couldn't be priest or study the vedas *males had monopoly in education *guru-teacher

3 types of religious structures:

-the pillar -the stupa -the rock chamber

indian science

-devised numerical system that we know as arabic numbers -astronomy-->they charted the movements of heavenly bodies and recognized the spherical nature of the earth at an early date -quality of their textiles and massive stone pillars erected during the reign of Ashoka

the role of the family

-during the zhou dynasty family became more important because the need for cooperation in agriculture -due to cultivation of rice being highly intensive children were considered essential to the family unit -loyality to family members was more important than loyalty to broader community or state

indian culture literature

-earliest form consisted of the four vedas which were passed down orally until finally written down after the aryans arrived in India

Life of Siddhartha Gautama

-founder of buddhism -trained in martial arts -dedicated his life to determining the cause and seeking the cure for human sickness -he meditated under a tree and eventually received enlightenment to the meaning of life -siddhartha accepted much of the belief concept of reincarnation and the role of karma . He praised nonviolence and the idea of living a life of simplicity from the ascetics

more on daoism

-Daoism developed during the Warring States Period as an attempt to end the violence and warfare prevalent during the age. One of the key elements of this philosophy was to find the "path" of right conduct in a world without absolute morality. Daoists believed that the best way to end the violence of the age was to follow the "path," known as the Dao. This path was enduring but undefinable, which meant that it encouraged people to find their own way to right conduct. At the same time, Daoism encouraged people to recognize that the world lacked absolute morality or meaning. -Although it would never really function as a system of government, Daoism presented an alternative to Legalism and Confucianism and had an enduring impact on the development of Chinese political and social philosophy. -the Confucian scholar would argue that a ruler should rule by instilling a sense of justice, because it is a component of the Confucian ideal of a dutiful, hierarchical society that is based on the familial model. He would argue that this system would foster a moral government that administers society with integrity and promotes justice. He would not encourage establishing a sense of force (a Legalist principle) or passivity (a Daoist ideal).

Assyrian

-Well-known for committing atrocities on captives

Qin dynasty details

-Written form of Chinese characters existed in both the Zhou and Qin periods. It was during Qin Shi Huangdi's reign that the Chinese characters were unified and ordered in one system. -Ruthless censorship & Estates divided among peasants -The Qin dynasty followed the Legalist tradition, which held that people are inherently dishonest and evil and require compulsion to act correctly. To enforce this, the Qin ruthlessly censored the speech and expression of the Chinese people and even attempted to restructure the family. Qin Shi Huangdi, the longest-reigning Qin emperor, sought to break the power of the landed nobility, who could challenge his power, and give their lands to the peasants. In this way, he eliminated potential rivals to the throne, ingratiated the peasants to him personally, and secured direct tax revenues for the central government.

more on economy and society

-had large scale water control projects and contructed canals to facilitate the transport of goods from one region to another -biggest achievement was construction of a massive water control project on the min River, a tributary of the yangzi -used natural fertilizers, the collar harness, and the technique of leaving land fallow to preserve or replenish nutrients in the soil -cultivation of wet rice had become prime source of food in china -during the late zhou, economic wealth began to replace noble birth as the prime source of power and influence -important item of trade in ancient china was silk (used for clothing and quilts and also to wrap the bodies of dead prior to barial) -jade also important trade item; assumed sacred quality -pieces of iron shaped like a knife or round coins with a hole in the middle were used as a form of money

debate over good and evil

-in the analects, Confucius asserted that humans' moral instincts were neutral at birth. Their minds must be cultivated to bring out potential goodness -philosopher menicus maintained human nature was essentially good -Xunzi said evil is inherent in human nature and could be eradicated only by rigorous trained with instructor

social structures of Shang dynasty

-in the neolithic period, the farming village was basic social unit of china. Villages were organized by clans rather than by nuclear family units -earliest form of true writing in china dates back to the Shang dynasty and was inscribed on shells or animals bones -poorer peasants didn't own farms and had to work on the land of the chieftain -the aristocrats not only made war and served as officials but were landowners -shang known for mastery of art of casting bronze -bronze tools and weapons were expensive because tin was not as readily available as copper

trade and manufacturing

-india became one of the most advanced trading and manufacturing civilizations in the ancient world -when copper and gold coins were introduced from the Middle East this led to development of banking but village trade continued to be conducted by means of cowry shells

han dynasty economy

-land taxes weren't high but had to be paid in cash rather than grain -food production increased because of natural fertilizer and the use of iron tools that brought new lands under plow but increased population decreased familys farm plot

politcal structure of Qin dynasty

-legalism was adopted as official idealolgy -books with ideas contrary to official orthodoxy was torched -unlike zhou, Qin was a highly centralized state -central bureaucracy was divided into 3 primary ministries: a civil authority, military authority, and a censorate -below central governing there provinces and counties. Unlike zhou system, these levels did not inherit positions but were appointed by the court

India class system

-light skin people (aryans) came to imply high status whereas dark skin (indigenous people) suggested the opposite -classes determined ones occupation, status in society, and hope for ultimate salvation

political organization of Shang dynasty

-mainly agricultural society ruled by an aristocratic class whose major occupation was war and control over key resources such as metal and salt -combat was carried on by means of two horse chariots -the Shang king ruled with assistance of a central bureaucracy in the capital city. Realm was divided into a number of territories governed by aristocratic chieftains appointed by the king -shang ruling elite believed in the existence of supernatural forces and thought that they could communicate with those forces to obtain Devine intervention on matters of this world -oracle bone purpose was to communicate with gods -sky god, known as di, was supreme force

women in ancient china

-male dominance -men worked in fields while women raised children and served in home -men governed society -men were permitted to have more than one wife and divorce a spouse who didn't produce a male child -women couldn't own property and there was no dowry system

Indian farmers

-most fortunate were those who owned their own land -faced unpredictability of the climate (monsoon zone). If rains were late, people usually starved

indian culture architecture and sculpture

-other Indian achievements -until the time of the mauryas, aryan buildings had been constructed of wood with rise of the empire stone began to be used

economy and society of zhou dynasty

-peasants worked on lands owned by their lord but also had land that they cultivated for their own use -well field system -trade and manufacturing were carried out by merchants and artisans who lived in walled towns under the direct control of the local lord -slaves performed menial tasks and worked on local irrigation projects

the Qin dynasty

-period of the warring states was when several of the small principalities into which the zhou kingdom had been divided evolved into powerful states where competition intensified into a civil war *state of Qin emerged as a key player in conflicts -Qin society was ruled with ruthless efficiency -subdued their rivals through conquest or diplomatic maneuvering

which of the following were ways that geography influenced ancient Chinese civilization?

-two great river valleys that produced high cultivation density -great mountains and deserts that ting the northern and western frontiers *In the north and west are great mountains and deserts, while other parts of China are similarly rugged and difficult to cross. This led to an isolation of Chinese civilization from other advanced Asian civilizations. Further, although China has great agricultural potential, it also has relatively little arable land, with only 12% suitable for agriculture (compared with 23% in the United States). Thus, early agricultural communities first developed in two great valleys surrounding the Yellow and Yangzi rivers because these areas had the bulk of China's fertile soil and reliable water supply. The high density of cultivation in these areas in turn produced a high population density, which led to the emergence of more complex social, economic, and political systems in the river valleys.

three of the most important ancient Chinese philosophies

-were confucianism, legalism, and daoism -confusianist believed in the centrality of duty and humanity in thought and social interaction while legalists believed humans were essentially evil unlike Confucianist that believed the best way to interpret the will of heaven was accomplished through inaction

basic characteristics of civilizations

1. an urban focus 2. new political and military structures. Armies were organized to gain land and power and for defense 3. a new social structure based on economic power *kings, priest, political leaders, warriors > common people (artist, farmers)> slaves 4. development of more complexity in a material sense *organized trade grew *people began to work occupations other than farming 5. a distinct religious structure 6. development of writing 7. new forms of artistic and intellectual activity

reasons for India's failure

1. decline in regional trade during the first millennium 2. tenacity of the aryan tradition with its emphasis on tribal rivalries

five relationships

1. husband and wife 2. parent and child 3. elder and younger brother 4. ruler and Minister or subject 5. friend and friend -in traditional china, the hierachrial interpersonal associations considered crucial to social order within the family, between friends, and with the king -sons were subordinate to his father, wife to her husband, the younger brother to his older brother, and all were subject to the ruler

differences with the new doctrine

1. siddartha denied the existence of an individual soul 2. denied the ultimate reality of the material world and taught that it was an illusion that had to be transcended 3. his idea of achieving nirvana was based on his conviction that the pain, poverty, and sorrow that afflict human beings are caused essentially by their attachment to the things of the world 4. bodhi (achieving this is the key step on the road to nirvana) 5. accepted idea of reincarnation but rejected the division of humanity into defined classes based on previous reincarnations 6. rejected the panoply of gods that had become identified with brahmanism and forbade his followers to worship his person or image after death

pharaoh

A king of ancient Egypt, considered a god as well as a political and military leader. -viewed as absolute ruler of Egypt

brahman

A single spiritual power that Hindus believe lives in everything -a term for the supreme god

Confucianism

A system of thought based on the teachings of Confucius that developed into the ruling ideology of the Chinese state

Believed that past life actions determined a person's current station in life

Hinduism *Hinduism developed as Vedic religious belief and practice changed during the middle of the first millennium BCE. This faith drew upon Dravidian cultural ideals and responded to the challenges posed by Jainism and Buddhism. Although Hinduism continued to emphasize the importance of the Vedic rituals performed by Brahmin priests, the inclusion of new religious ideas resulted in the recognition of multiple ways to gain divine favor. One of these paths was through intense, personal devotion to a god or goddess. Hindus seem to have embraced this religious practice from Dravidian culture because it permitted closer relationships between individuals and the gods, without the mediation of a Vedic priest. This change proved immensely popular, and Hinduism now recognizes millions of gods and goddesses. Still, the multiplicity of deities did not deny the existence of a single divine force. Rather, Hindus believed that all gods were manifestations of this divine unity. This belief was not part of Buddhism. Even though followers of Mahayana Buddhism revered bodhisattvas, these enlightened people were not considered divine beings or part of a single divine force.

neanderthals

In Europe, another human species lived and adapted to life in the cold climates of the last Ice Age. -relied on a variety of stone tools and were the first people to bury their dead

Which of the following was a way that the Persians amassed their power?

Incorporation of conquered elites into a new political system -The Persians employed a system of rule that was very different than the Assyrians had used before them. The empire's founder, Cyrus, chose to incorporate the elites of the societies he conquered so that local expertise and investment became tied to the throne. Likewise, he did not require his subjects to all follow a single state religion, which won him support from a variety of religious groups such as the Jews. Later, another Persian leader, Darius, divided the empire into twenty provinces known as "satrapies," which allowed for more efficient and consistent tax collection and mobilization in times of war.

One of the most important pieces of ancient Indian literature is the

Mahabharata , which is the longest epic poem in world literature (more than 90,000 stanzas in length). While the story recounts a great war between cousins, the epic also focuses onmoral and ethical concerns .

state confucianism

The integration of Confucian doctrine with Legalistic practice under the Han dynasty in China; became the basis of Chinese political thought until the modern era. *han rulers wanted to restore key components of the Qin system of centralized government -government was headed by a grand council including representatives from all 3 segments of government -retained Qin local government system, diving the empire into provinces and districts -Qin system of selecting government officials based on merit rather than birth

confucianism

The system of ethics, education, and statesmanship taught by Confucius and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and conduct. -the analects is a collection of sayings supposedly uttered by Confucius. Has provided moral and philosophical guidance to countless generations of chinese -better to assume there was a rational order to the universe and then concentrate on order the affairs of this world. -concern was with human behavior (behave in accordance with the Dao) -many of the key ideas looked forward rather than backward -believed the government should be open to all men of superior quality and not limited to those of noble birth

What arethe Pacific Rim and the Middle East ?

Trade networks through India connected these regions. -Indian trade networks connected communities from the Pacific Rim to the Middle East. The other options list regions that were connected with India, but merchants from each of these regions did not need to pass through India to trade with each other.

Mesopotamian religion:

Was reinforced by the intensity and unpredictability of the region's environment. *Mesopotamian religion is noted for its wrathful gods, as witnessed in many Mesopotamian myths that speak of the gods' violent acts toward humanity. Scholars believe that this characteristic is due to the unpredictable nature of the water supply in the valley between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. As the amount of water that made its way down the rivers was dependent on the amount of snow that had fallen in the mountains to the north, some years the water level would be low, while sometimes farms and cities would be destroyed by a deluge of water. This led to a feeling that gods were fickle and quick to punish humanity for a perceived lack of reverence.

Three of the most important ancient Chinese philosophies were Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism. Confucianists believed in the centrality of _____________in thought and social interaction, while Legalists believed that humans were essentially ___________Daoists, unlike the Confucianists, believed that the way to interpret the will of Heaven was accomplished through _________________

duty and humanity evil inaction *The three key ancient Chinese philosophical traditions were Confucianism, Legalism, and Daoism. Confucianists were concerned with rational rather than metaphysical understandings of the universe and humanity's place in it. They felt that each person should act in accordance with his or her own Dao, or Way, to ensure proper behavior and interaction with other people. In this way, Confucianists stressed duty and humanity in their philosophical treatises. Legalists, unlike Confucianists, believed that humans were not essentially good but were instead essentially evil and thus required harsh rules to keep them in order, while the final tradition, Daoism, also differed from Confucianism in that it argued that inaction and not action was the best method for discerning the will of Heaven.

During the mid to late second century BCE, the Indian subcontinent saw an Indo-European group, the Aryans, come to prominence. Later, following a brief period of Greek domination in India's northwest in the late fourth century BCE (under the Macedonian king Alexander the Great), a new Aryan state known as the Mauryan Empire took hold across most of the Indian subcontinent.... ___________which comprised thousands of families, generally each performed a particular economic activity.

jatis *In theory, all members of a jati were expected to perform the same economic activity, but such uniformity was not always possible. Often people from the same jati held different occupations.

Warring States Period

time of warfare between regional lords following the decline of the Zhou dynasty in the 8th century B.C.E. -was critical in the development of political and social philosophy in ancient China. Faced with continual warfare, literally hundreds of schools of thought developed on how to end the violence and restore order. Different schools had different understandings of the causes of this violence, the way to end it, and the role of government. The three most important schools that developed were Legalism, Confucianism, and Daoism.

True or false: Han authorities combined certain Legalist institutions with Confucian doctrine to create a state philosophy that was generally Confucian but included methods of centralization derived from Legalism.

true The Han dynasty signified a return to Chinese unity after the civil war that followed the death of Qin Shi Huangdi, the founder of the Qin dynasty. In the area of philosophy and the state, Han rulers restored the primacy of Confucian principles but maintained certain Legalist institutions that were helpful for the purpose of centralization. Although on many levels Han China was an incredibly successful and wealthy society, there were certain problems associated with taxation and the consolidation of wealth in the hands of the aristocracy that plagued Han rulers throughout the dynasty's era. One major issue was the empire's inability to completely reform the tax system so that taxes were taken directly from the citizenry. As it was, the aristocracy was able to amass huge amounts of wealth at the expense of the peasantry (who were not allowed to pay taxes in goods but rather only in cash), making state finances constantly unstable.

The earliest civilizations in India arose in _________________

river valleys

Akhenaten and religious change

-amenhotep IV introduced the worship of aten, god of the sun. He closed the temple of other gods and lessened power of priesthood -his attempt at religious change failed

The Assyrian empire

-the Assyria, located on the upper tigris river -Ashurbanipal was one of the strongest Assyrian rulers. Subject people such as Babylonians resented Assyrian rule and rebelled against it soon after his rule the empire disintegrated -Cyrus the great united the Persians and led them to conquer most of the near east and Assyrian empire -assyrians had effective military leaders and fighters -military was capable of waging guerrilla warefare in mountains

The aryans in India

-the invention of the iron plow and development of irrigation enabled the aryans to clear the dense jungle growth along the Ganges river and transform the Ganges valley into one of the richest agriculture regions in South Asia -had own writing system based on Aramaic script

4 important deities:

1. an 2. Enlil 3. Enki 4. ninhursaga

the code of Hammurabi

a written code of rules that guided the ancient society of Babylon; dates back to 1772 B.C. -reveals society with a strict justice system -penalities for crime depended on social class of victim -parents arranged marriages for their children -husbands but not wives were permitted to sexual activity outside marriage

Which of the following accurately describes the class system introduced by the Aryans?

Society was organized into a hierarchical structure defined by ethnic and family background. -the Aryans are considered responsible for the introduction of a caste system in which ethnic and personal backgrounds dictated one's place within a rigid hierarchy -in general darker-skinned peoples were considered of a lower status than lighter-skinned ones. In the area of gender, the Aryans relied on a highly male-dominated understanding of the world, with women considered to be minors under the care of first their fathers and later their husbands.

Which civilization required massive state intervention to develop irrigation systems?

Mesopotamia

dharma

a set of laws that set behavioral standards for all individuals and classes in Indian society -rulers followed as well

raja

originally a chieftain in the aryan society of early India, a representative of the gods; later used more generally to denote a ruler -rajas claimed to be representatives of gods, they weren't viewed as gods themselves

maharajas

originally a king in the aryan society of early India (a great raja) later used more generally to promote an important ruler

evidence of human origin strongly supports the __________________ not the ____________________

out of Africa theory, multi regional theory