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Leading Ancient States

Roots of Chinese Civilization

According to the popular Chinese legend, it was the 1st pan ku who made the world
with the use of a hammer and a chisel. He completed this task after 18,000 years.
The people who preceded him also possessed pan ku’s distinct physical
appearance – they had several heads, a body resembled that of a snake and
enormous feet. It is widely held that some of the earliest and traditional Chinese
customs originated from these beings.

Xia Dynasty (2205- 1766 BC)

Prince Yu

• was regarded as the first prince of the legendary Xia dynasty

• He fought of the river to save his kingdom from destruction that


massive floods bring.

• “ If not for Yu, we would all have been fishes”

• Xia Dynasty lasted for 14 generations before declining & being superseded
by the Shang Dynasty.

• It cannot be ascertained that it was indeed Prince Yu who established the Xia
Dynasty in 2205 BC. It is possible that Prince Yu supposedly fought off was
the Huang Ho or Yellow River which may be found in Northwest China where
the early Xia and Shang civilization were founded.

Shang Dynasty

• Is almost similar with the Xia dynasty

• Materials and designs of buildings

• Animal bones and tortoise shells were used as talisman and for healing
infirmities

Heaven’s Mandate

• Is a concept in which Chinese people believed that kings were sent by gods
to rule over and administer them. They lead the people in making offerings
and seeking the intercession of their gods.

• Became the basis and justification for dynasties

Society’s leaders

• Compose of ruling families, officials of the king’s court, including those who
possessed mystical powers and advisers of the king’s entire family.

Ordinary people
• Peasants and their families

• Lived in the countryside

Shang were often at war with neighbouring people & moved their capital several
times, Shang kings could mobilize large armies for warfare and huge numbers of
workers to construct defensive walls and elaborate tombs.

The capitals were also moved several times due to the overflowing of the Huang
Ho. Shang priests performed many rituals including human sacrifices to implore the
gods to spare their kingdom from the rampaging waters.

The worship of ancestors were also widespread during the Shang. Kings were
buried with ritual vessels, weapons, jades and numerous servants and sacrificial
victims suggesting that the Shang believe in afterlife. The people believed that each
person had two kinds of spirits– one is left in this world and while the other one joins
the spirit world.

Shang dynasty ended in 110 BC due to unclear reasons. Some historians say
that it’s because the Shang leaders had last the “heaven’s mandate”, and therefore
must be replaced.

The last centre of the dynasty was set up in the province of Hunan.

CULTURAL LINKAGES

6th Century B.C.

- Cyrus the Great unified people of Iranian descent and created the
kingdom of Persia, eventually conquering and ruling territory from the
Mediterranean Sea to the Indus River.
Darius I

- The third Persian King


- Centralized the empire’s government and supported Zorogstrianism ( a
religion whose belief of good and evil and of heaven and hell may have
influenced other religions.)
330 BC

- Persia had been conquered by Alexander The Great (died in 323 BC), his
empire

broke apart into three kingdoms.

Alexander the Great

- Became king og Mecedonia when his father (Philip II) was assassinated in
336 BC.
- Led his troops in campaigns against Egypt and the Persian Empire.

The Seleucids ruled the Asian Kingdom, which broke into several states. One
of these, called Bactria, straddled the east-west and north-south trade routes.
Chinese silk and Indian cotton traveled across these routes to Greece and Rome in
exchange for glass, manufactured items and gold.

Before the nomadic Kushan tribes from Central Asia conquered Bactria, Greek
influences were dominant because the new rulers absorbed Hellenistic culture, or
Hellenism. Towards the 1st century AD, Greek was the international language of
business diplomacy.

Much or southwestern and Central Asia, however, was dominated by Parthia


and later by the Persian Sassanids. Beginning about 250 BC, the Arsacid Dynasty of
Parthia gained control of this large region. Due to the region’s central location, the
Arsacids dominated trans continental trade. Persian sassanids conquered Parthia in
224 AD, spreading Persian culture widely.

INDIAN EXPANSION

The history and lives of the Indian people were influenced in a large part by
the country’s geography. Early India was composed of Pakistan, Bangladesh and
present day India.

India is shaped like a triangle; the sea bounds the eastern and western parts.
Its third side lies in the north and the huge mountains of the Himalayas and the
Hindu Kush serve as a wall.

India was not spared from attacks from invaders who passed through the
mountains. But while this may be so, foreign influences were not that effective in
altering the lives of the Indians.

The Aryan Settlement

The first phase of foreign invasion of India from the early stage up to the
middle ages. There where human made passages in the mountains that the foreign
attackers used to get to India. Another route that the western countries used was
through the sea in the 16th century when sea voyages were no longer dangerous
and when vessels were already more stable and sturdy.

In about 1500BC the Aryans settled in the upper reaches of the Indus,
yammuna, and gangetic plains. Aryans spoke a language from the indo European
family and worshiped gods. They passed through the Khyber Pass and bolan in the
hindu kush mountains. Before they successfully established a settlement in the
Indian plains known as “Hindustan’ (land of the Hindus), the Aryans engage in
battles against the daisyus. These are the natives of India who were called
“Dravidians.” According to the Aryans, the Dravidians were a race of short and dark
skinned people who lived in areas with high fences. By 800BC the Aryans ruled in
most of northern India, occasionally fighting among them or with the people of the
land they were settling in.

The Aryans destroyed the cities in Hindustan, and drove away the native
Dravidians. Intermarriages between the Aryans and Dravidians became
commonplace. Not long after, the Aryans themselves sought ways to disassociates
themselves with the Dravidians. Interaction, especially intermarriages between
Aryans and Dravidians were eventually prohibited.

The first civilization developed by the Aryans from 1500-900 BC is known as


the “Vedic phase”. Aryans were originated earliest forms of the sacred Vedas, a
collection of orally transmitted text of hymns of devotion to the gods. In fact, the
word Veda id defined as knowledge”. The rig Veda is regarded as the oldest Veda
and serves as a guide for morality among the Aryans (Knowledge about Aryans).

The Aryans lived in the rural areas. They were organized into tribes under
elected kings who served as a judge, priest and warrior. There were times when the
kings unites against the Dravidians, but there were also times when they fought
against each other.

As the Aryans slowly settled into agriculture and moved southeast through
the gangetic plain, they changed their styles in living and political structures. They
lived in houses made from hardened mud. Theirs were extended families where
even married children stayed in the same house. The father is the head of the Aryan
family. Women enjoyed a high status in Aryan society.

Instead of warrior leading a tribe, a n Aryan chieftain ruled over the territory,
with its society divided into hereditary groups. This structure became the beginning
of the caste system, which has survived in India until the present day. The four
castes that emerged from this era were the Brahmans (priest), the Ksahatriyas
(warriors and rulers), the Vaisyas (merchants, farmers, and trades), and the Sudras
(artisans, laborers, and servants).

The two great epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana contain gems of


information about Aryan life during the epic phase. The Mahabharata is an epic of
the battle between two noble families that dates from 400 BC and the Ramayana
talks about the life and struggles of rama.

The Aryans established city states along the coastline of the ganges river in
900 BC while they were engaged in territorial expansion. The small tribes combined
and grew, giving rise to larger kingdoms. The epic phase lasted 400 years.

The Aryans are said to be very good carpenters and makers of bronze tools.
They used horse drawn carriages, a reflection of Homeric culture. They also
worshiped many gods including Indra, the god of warriors; Varuna, the god of the
heavens; and Rudra, the god of rains.

By about 7th century, the small kingdoms in the Ganges were embroiled in
conflict. Among these kingdoms, the state of Magadha which was hen under the
Saisanuga dynasty from the Kshatriya family prevailed. According to Jain
documents, king Bimbisara, a follower of Buddha, administered Magadha. Magadha
prospered due to a flourishing trade with Babylon, Indonesia in the Philipines.
Bimbisara was said to have been killed by his son Ajatasatru who was responsible
for expanding his father’s kingdom. Ajatasatru established Pataliputra as the
kingdoms capital city.
The nandas who were from a lower social ousted the Saisanuga dynasty.
Under nandas, Jainism and Buddhism continued to spread. Darious invaded
gandhara and the lower Indus community in 516 BC.

India is source of gold and soldiers brought to Persia. With the fall of the
Persian Empire, India was left open to yet another western invasion, this time from
the Greeks. The Greeks were resolute in their desire to overthrow Persian forces all
over the world. This prompted Alexander the great to travel to Persia.

Alexander and some 30,00o soldiers transverse the Indus river in 330 BC to
reach India. Alexander and his troops first entered Punjab, after which they
proceeded to Taxila, a rich community in India. Upon their return in Punjab, they
passed through Jhelum where they engaged the forces of Porus, an Indian king in a
fierce battle. After emerging victorious, Alexander was all set to proceed to the
Ganges but his men were not so ecstatic in following him anymore. Not even
Alexander promises of his men sharing in whatever riches they would find in Asia
were enough to convince his men to go with him. After three days of mulling it over,
Alexander decided that his mission of invasion ends there. Alexander instead went
to Babylonia where he contracted malaria and died in 323 BC.

Aside from the establishement of the greek empire, Alexanders invasion of


northwest India yieled no other significant result. The linkage between India nad the
west that started from the achaemenid period of the Persian empire further
developed.

Selecus nicator I, the patron of the Seleucids, attempted to take over the
territories established by Alexander. Fortunately, the native Indians led by the
mauryans thwarted his plans.

THE MAURYAN EMPIRE (321- 184 BC)

Chandragupta Maurya, the leader of the armed forces of the Nanda king in
Magadha, established the Mauryan Dynasty with the help of a Brahman priest
named Kautilya. Chandragupta attempted to kill the king of Nanda. His plan was
exposed and so he was banished from Magadha together with Kautilya.

According to tradition, Chandragupta went to Punjab where he met up with


Alexander the Great. When Alexander left India, Chandragupta effectively drove
away India’s invader both old and new. Chandragupta came back to Magadha to kill
the Nanda king. In 322 BC, Chandragupta established the Mauryan Dynasty and
established its center at Pataliputra.

Over a period of ten years, Chandragupta was able to take control of Punjab
as well the plains of Indus and Ganges Rivers. Since then, he was proclaimed not as
king, but as emperor.

Chandragupta Maurya alone decided on all matters. His ministers ably


assisted him in the dispensation of his duties. To town became the fundamental unit
of government. The towns formed one district, and together the districts made up a
province. A viceroy who was a member of the royal family ruled the province.
Chandragupta known for being ruthless leader, there were always threats to
his life. His palace had secret tunnels that he could use to escape should danger
arise. He always had someone taste his foods and drinks for fear and being
poisoned. He seldom left his palace, and saw to it that his time was spent in
managing the affairs of the state.

Under the powers of the Mauryan emperor:

• the whole of India remained united

• the economy progresses because of effective leadership

• the empire depended on agriculture

• the state sought ways to further improve irrigation and embarked on flood
control projects

• the Mauryan people also made their livelihood from mining and trading

• commerce flourished as a result of the outstanding road system that the


emperor ordered built

The emperor did not interfere on matters of religion. People were free to choose
and practice their faith. Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism spread throughout the
Empire.

Kautilya was very good adviser to the emperor. He authored the Arthasastra,
which was a political discourse stated that a leader would have to employ both good
and bad means in order to maintain his authority.

Although the emperor was callous and merciless toward his enemies, he was
lenient and bighearted to his loyal followers. This is Chandragupta’s legacy to those
who come after him.

After his death in 298 BC, his son Bindusara who ruled until 273 BC replaced
Chandragupta. Under him, the empire expanded. Ashoka, who was Chandragupta’s
grandson, was able to defeat the Kalindas (now Orissa state).

Gupta Dynasty (320-500AD) (Golden Age of Hinduism)

 320AD: Chandragupta I, ruler of Magadha kingdom,united the people and


founded the Gupta Dynasty

 North India: capital of Gupta Dynasty

1. They got the control over rich mineral deposits and trade in Ganges
sea

2. Political alliance with the Licchayi and married a Licchayi princess

Samudragupta
(335-375AD)
 Chandragupta I died in 335 AD

 Samudragupta: his son continued the quest for territorial expansion

 Defeated powerful feudal states

 He took the kingdoms of and Padmavati, Malwas, the Yaudheyas, the


Arjunayanas, the Maduras and the Abhiras, he had incorporated over twenty
kingdoms extended from the Himalayas

 firm believer in Hinduism

 He gave himself the titles King of Kings and World Monarch. He is considered
the Napoleon of north India.

Chandragupta II

 Son of Samudragupta

 Instrument of peace and

Development to north India

 Supported art and sciences

 Information about his leadership can be found:

 Writings of Fa Hsien-chinese Buddhist

 Writinmgs of Kalidasa

According to Fa Hsien:

 People lived a prosperous and plentiful life

 The king was generous, patient and never resort harsh punishment

 Hospitals- free health services

 Travelers- free accommodations

“Golden Age of Indian Civilization”

A. Literature

 dramas and poems of Kalidasa

ex. Sakuntala- romantic drama

 Puranas- collection of myths and philosophical dialogues, basic source


for tales of gods central to Hinduism

 Vishnu, Shiva and Shakti


B. Science and technology was higher than Europe

 The use of Zero

 Decimal System

C. Trade and Commerce

 Indian products were traded to Southeast Asia

 India sold spices and cinnamon to Rome

 Taxes on agricultural lands- wealth of Gupta Dynasty

 Chandragupta II died in 413 AD, he was replaced by Kumaragupta

Skandagupta (455 AD)

 on his reign, the tribe of Huns already entered Northwest part of the
kingdom

 He made use of all his strenghth but nothing happened

 And his death in 467 AD signaled the fall of the Gupta Dynasty

 By 16th century, the dynasty was just a part of the memory

 Fall of Gupta resulted to political division of India

Harsha(606 AD)

 A kind leader just like Ashoka

 His kingdom was the only one in terms of strength, to replace Gupta Dynasty

 His death in 647 AD reverted India to darkness due to absence of a strong


leader to unify India

Expansion of the Chinese Civilization

Zhou Dynasty (1050-456 BC)

 In 11th century, ZHOU dynasty rose against and defeated Shang Dynasty

 Traditionally, it was divided into two periods:

 Western Zhou (1050-770 BC)

 Capital: near the Luoyang

 Eastern Zhou(771-456 BC)

 Capital: further east to Lu


Western Zhou

 Stable and peaceful life

 Zhou kingdom into→ smaller feudal states→ feudal lords( chosen by Zhou
rulers)

 Obedient feudal lords→ freedom and authority

 Under them were the nobility members

 Under them were the peasants-food production

 “li”- set of complex rules of social etiquette and personal contact

 Civilized: practiced li

 Barbarians: never practiced li

 Zhou Dynasty’s supremacy= very effective armed forces

 King YU- last emperor of western zhou→ disowned his son and gave the
throne to his other son →queen’s father sought help of other feudal lords and
attacked Luoyang → king was killed and they moved the capital to Lu…….
And gave way to Eastern Zhou

Eastern Zhou Dynasty

 People set up communities in the rich valley of Yangtze

 Fewer feudal states< nobility

 Power was laid to larger states

 As a result: king →mere figurehead of the state →priestly functions

 Power of eastern zhou declined

 After more than 500 years, dynasty ended

Four major forces that threatened to replace the dynasty:

A. Wu

B. Chu

C. Yue

D. Chin- led by Lu Puwei, defeated the Zhous

 256 BC- Zhou Dynasty ended

Zhou’s Contributions to China’s History


1. Economic development through

expansion of trade and commerce

2. Calligraphy: system of written communication

 It is an art of turning square Chinese characters into expressive images


by the responsiveness of paper as well as the speed and pressure of a
pointed Chinese brush

3. Teachings of Confucius and Loa Tzu

 Most important

 Basic foundation of Chinese society

Confucianism

 a Chinese ethical and philosophical

system developed from the teachings

of the Chinese philosopher Confucius

 Principle of good conduct, practical

wisdom and proper social relationship

 "Do not do to others

what you do not want done to yourself"

TEACHINGS:

A. Paternalistic government

B. Leader’s responsibility over his followers

C. In education, the famous quote:

 “in education there is no class distinction.

D. 5 levels of interaction that bring unity and harmony in society:

 Father and son

 Husband and wife

 Older and younger siblings

 Friends

 Leader and follower

Taoism
 2nd to Confucianism

 Tao= “way”

 “one must do nothing”( wuwei)

 Give birth to “Hsu” in art

 “blank paper”

Ch’in Dynasty (221-206 BC)

 Defeated all feudal states and unified the whole China

 Lasted 15 years

 Major contribution: “China”

 Leader: Qin Shihuangd, who confiscated all the properties of feudal lords

 Ordered construction of Great Wall of China

 Major infrastructure: irrigation system and roads

 Before the use of bricks, the Great Wall was mainly built from Earth or Taipa,
stones, and wood.

 During the Ming Dynasty, however, bricks were heavily used in many areas of
the wall, as were materials such as tiles, lime, and stone. Consequently,
stones cut in rectangular shapes were used for the foundation, inner and
outer brims, and gateways of the wall.

 Length: 8,851.8 km (5,500.3 mi)

 Shihuangdi’s death in 210 BC= fall of dynasty

 Result: widespread chaos

 Two tribes that fought for political power:

 Liu Pang- won in 206 BC → new dynasty

 Hsiang Yu

Han Dynasty(206-220 BC)

 Liu Pang/Kao Su: leader

 Major contribution: in public administration

 Examination for government officials


 “scholar-gentry”- intelligent people who passed the
examinations

 Accounts of people’s life under Han Dynasty:

 Writings of Suma Chien- “Father of Chinese History”

Under Wang Mang’s Administration:

 China became miserable and the people returned the power to Liu Pang and
transferred the capital to Luoyang

 Chinese invented paper from fiber, trunk of trees and abaca

 Silk production- improved due to invention of “weaving machine”

 Discovery of compass

 Weapons and tools from steel

 The next phase in China was chaos

Sui Dynasty(581-618 AD)

 Yang Jian/ Wen Ti- leader

 Military commander who reunified China

 Construction of Grand Canal- a canal going to Chang-an and connected


Yang Zhou to Yellow River

 604: Wen Ti was succeeded by his son Yang Guang → Yang Dynasty →
failed

 618: Yang died and Li Yuan declared himself an emperor of T’ang


Dynasty

T’ang Dynasty(619-907 AD)

 Li Yuan: emperor

 One of the high periods of traditional Chinese civilization

 China → cultural center of East Asia

 Chang-an →capital

 Tai Tsung/ Li Shi Min- son of Li Yuan

 Implemented the policies that made T’ang Dynasty famous

Policies:

1. Land Reform
2. Government Reforms

3. Legalist System

 Confucius’ teachings became the basis for interaction among people in


society

4. Military System

Contributions:

A. Art

 Listening to music, painting and poetry

 Machine that use wooden blocks for printing

 “Golden Age of Poetry”

B. Buddhism
University of the Assumption

San Fernando Pampanga

College of Nursing

Asian Civilization

Leading Ancient States

BSN 3A

Group 3

Irish Gale R. Lagman

Catherine Makabali

Nheyshielle Salalila

Sarah Zablan

Ruby Anne Morales

Korina Marie D. Flores

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