Empires of India and China 600 B.C. A.D. 550

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Chapter 4

• Empires of India and China (600 B.C. A.D. 550)

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Section 1

• Hinduism and Buddhism

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Hinduism

• Grew out of many varied beliefs
• Basic beliefs
• All the universe is part of the unchanging,
  all-powerful force called the Brahman
• Brahma Hindu god known as the Creator
• Ultimate goal was to achieve Moksha- union with
  the Brahma
• Obey the law of Karma- only way caste could be
  changed
• Reincarnation- rebirth of the soul in another
  bodily form

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Teachings of the Buddha

• Siddhartha Gautama- founder of Buddhism
• Life is full of suffering
• Eightfold path- a middle road between a life
  devoted to pleasure and a life of harsh
  self-denial
• Ultimate goal is nirvana- union with the universe
  and release from the cycle of rebirth

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Similarities

• Both Hindus and Buddhists stressed nonviolence
  and believed in Karma, dharma, Moksha, and cycle
  of rebirth.
• Buddha rejected priests and many Hindu gods.
  Also rejected the castes system.

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Section 2

• Powerful Empires of India

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Maurya Empire

• Created a strong central government
• Asoka most honored Maurya emperor. Converted to
  Buddhism

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Kingdoms of the Deccan

• People had different languages and traditions
• Women enjoyed high status
• Rulers were tolerant of all religions and foreign
  settlers

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Section 3

• Pillars of Indian Life

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Castes Systems

• Governed every aspect of life
• Lowest ranking caste- untouchables
• Each caste had its own leaders and its own
  occupation

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Family Life

• Ideal was the joint family- extended family all
  lived under one roof
• Family was patriarchal- headed by father or
  oldest male
• Parents had a duty to arrange good marriages for
  their children based on caste

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Village Life

• Villages were self-sufficient
• A village council administered the govt. of
  Indian villages

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Section 4

• Philosophy and Religion in China

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Teachings of Confucius

• Confucius developed a philosophy, or system of
  ideas, that was to ensure social order and good
  government.
• Taught the Chinese people that their most
  important duties was respect for parents (filial
  piety)

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Legalism versus Daoism

• Legalism- Pass strict laws and impose harsh
  punishments on lawbreakers
• Daoism- govt. is unnatural and is the cause of
  many problems.
• Best govt. is the one that governs the least

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Buddhism in China

• Promised an escape from suffering
• Presented Buddha as a compassionate, merciful god
• Taught that anyone could gain salvation through
  prayer, good works, and devotion

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Section 5

• Strong rulers unite China

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Shi Huangdi

• Emperor who united China
• Had all books of philosophy and literature burned
• Ordered the building of the Great Wall
• Replaced feudal states with military districts
  governed by loyal officials

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Han Rulers

• Imposed govt. monopoly (complete control of a
  product or business by one person or group) on
  iron and salt
• Opened up the Silk Road, a trade route linking
  China and the west
• Based their rule on the teachings of Confucius
  philosopher whose ideas helped shape Chinese
  civilization for 2500 years

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Han Golden Age

• Invented the seismograph to measure earthquakes
• Made paper out of pulp
• Diagnosed diseases
• Developed anesthetics
• China became most technologically advanced civ.
  In the world under the Han dynasty