Questions and Answers
What did Han Wudi emphasize during his reign?
The Han Dynasty had uninterrupted peace through all its reign.
False
Who was the author of the Arthashastra?
Kautalya
What significant bureaucratic structure was established during the Han Dynasty?
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The reign of Wang Mang is notable for ________.
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What religion did Vardhamana Mahavira found?
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Which empire did Ashoka Maurya belong to?
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Minoan society was known for its advanced writing system, Linear B.
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Match the following figures with their contributions:
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The term 'Pax Romana' refers to the ________.
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What was the purpose of Zhang Qian's mission to the west?
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Which goods traveled west along the Silk Roads?
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Buddhism first appeared in oasis towns of Central Asia along the Silk Roads.
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What happened to the population of the Roman Empire from the first to tenth centuries C.E. due to epidemic diseases?
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What was one effect of the internal decay of the Roman Empire?
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Match the following religions with their spreads.
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What was the impact of the Huns on the Western Roman Empire?
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What does Mesopotamia refer to?
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What led to the emergence of social classes in Mesopotamian urban society?
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The Sumerians constructed elaborate __________ networks by 5000 BCE.
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What was a key feature of the Harappan society?
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Which of the following were the two main cities of early Harappan society?
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What was the primary religion of the Aryans during their early period in India?
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The mandate of heaven was a concept developed during the Zhou dynasty.
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What did the Lawbook of Manu primarily address?
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Who is considered the legendary founder of the Xia dynasty?
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The first emperor of unified China was __________.
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The Qin dynasty is known for its harsh legalist policies.
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Study Notes
Chapter 2: Early Societies in Southwest Asia and Indo-European Migrations
- Urban societies emerged in Southwest Asia around 4000 BCE, specifically in Mesopotamia.
- Political authorities established to resolve conflicts as cities expanded, leading to the formation of states and empires.
- Emergence of social classes created complex social and economic structures in Mesopotamia.
- The Sumerians, dominant people in the region, built the world's first cities and started constructing elaborate irrigation networks around 5000 BCE.
- By 3000 BCE, Sumerian population approached 100,000, and cultural and economic centers developed in cities like Ur and Uruk.
- The term "Mesopotamia" means "the land between rivers," referring to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers' fertile valleys, pivotal for agriculture.
- Phoenicians engaged in maritime trade, linking Southwest Asia with the Mediterranean, and Indo-European migrations significantly influenced the region.
Chapter 4: Early Societies in South Asia
- Neolithic villages in the Indus River Valley date back to around 3000 BCE, with limited remains due to natural barriers.
- Major cities included Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, known for fortified citadels, granaries, and advanced urban planning.
- Harappan society featured standardized systems in weights, measures, architecture, and social structures, emphasizing fertility in religious beliefs.
- Decline began around 1900 BCE due to ecological degradation or natural disasters, leading to population abandonment of cities by 1700 BCE.
- Early Aryans, migrating into India, relied on pastoral economies and oral traditions, giving rise to the Vedic Age (1500-500 BCE).
- The caste system structured society into hereditary classes (varna)–including priests, warriors, merchants, and landless peasants–with subcastes (jati) emerging later.
- Patriarchal society developed, as emphasized in the Lawbook of Manu, detailing women’s roles and duties.
Chapter 5: Early Societies in Mainland East Asia
- The Yellow River, known as “China's Sorrow,” presented both fertile land and destructive flooding.
- The Xia dynasty is legendary, established around 2200 BCE, primarily attributed to King Yu's flood control efforts.
- The Shang dynasty (1766-1122 BCE) saw significant advances in bronze metallurgy, writing, and military organization, with numerous archaeological findings.
- The Zhou dynasty emerged post-Shang, introducing the “Mandate of Heaven” to justify rule based on virtue.
- Iron metallurgy expanded through China in the first millennium BCE, affecting military and agriculture.
- A vast network of social hierarchy included elite rulers, artisans, merchants, and peasants, all tied together by family and patriarchal structures.
Chapter 8: The Unification of China
- Confucius (551-479 BCE) emphasized moral values and social order, focusing on the cultivation of “junzi” (superior individuals).
- Key Confucian principles included ren (humanity), li (propriety), and xiao (filial piety).
- Daoism, founded by Laozi, advocated harmony with nature, promoting passivity and simplicity through the doctrine of wuwei.
- Legalism, exemplified by figures like Shang Yang and Han Feizi, prioritized statecraft and pragmatic governance through strict regulation.
- The Qin dynasty (221-206 BCE), led by Qin Shihuangdi, established centralized rule, standardized systems, and built massive projects like the Great Wall.
- The dynasty faced rebellion due to harsh policies and public dissatisfaction, leading to its collapse.
- During the early Han dynasty, Liu Bang restored order and expanded the empire, leading to economic prosperity and eventual social discontent.
Chapter 9: State, Society, and the Quest for Salvation in India
- The Mauryan dynasty unified India temporarily after Alexander the Great’s withdrawal, with Chandragupta Maurya's conquest beginning in the 320s BCE.
- Kautala’s “Arthashastra” provided a manual for governance and administration.
- Ashoka Maurya (268-232 BCE), a significant ruler, expanded the empire and implemented policies promoting stability and welfare, inscribing edicts on pillars.
- Post-Ashoka, the Mauryan Empire declined due to financial issues, paving the way for the Gupta revival in the early centuries CE.
- The Kushan dynasty succeeded in controlling Northwest India, reaching its peak under Emperor Kanishka (78-103 CE).### Gupta Dynasty and Silk Road Trade
- Founded by Chandra Gupta (375-415 C.E.), the Gupta dynasty played a crucial role in the Silk Road trading network.
- More decentralized compared to the Maurya dynasty, the Gupta faced invasions from the White Huns, leading to its decline.
- Post the fifth century C.E., the Gupta dynasty existed nominally with regional kingdoms dominating.
Economic Transformation and Social Structure
- Towns developed across India after 600 B.C.E., facilitating trade of manufactured products and luxury goods, especially along the Ganges.
- Economic exchanges included trade with Persia, China, the Indian Ocean basin, and Mediterranean regions.
- The caste system evolved with new social groups of craftsmen, artisans, and merchants forming sub castes, or jati.
- Vaishyas and shudras experienced increased wealth, while old Aryan beliefs became less relevant.
Religious Dynamics in Classical India
- Jainism emerged under Vardhamana Mahavira (5th century B.C.E.), promoting principles of nonviolence (ahimsa) and soul purity, though deemed too demanding compared to Brahmanic traditions.
- Early Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 B.C.E.), emphasizing the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and personal salvation (nirvana).
- Buddhism appealed to lower castes by rejecting caste hierarchies and using vernacular languages, leading to rapid growth supported by monastic organizations.
- Mahayana Buddhism evolved with a focus on the bodhisattva ideal and increased lay participation, distinguishing it from early Buddhism.
Development of Hinduism
- The epics Mahabharata and Ramayana were revised to align with Hindu beliefs, highlighting the god Vishnu in the former.
- The Bhagavad Gita encapsulates Hindu ethical teachings and the quest for salvation through fulfilling caste duties.
- Hinduism gradually supplanted Buddhism in India, promoting a philosophy centered on caste responsibilities.
Mediterranean Society: The Greek Phase
- Minoan society flourished on Crete (late third millennium B.C.E. to 1450 B.C.E.), becoming a hub of Mediterranean trade influenced by Phoenicia and Egypt.
- Mycenaean culture (2000 B.C.E.) arose, adapting Minoan scripts and expanding influence into Anatolia and the Mediterranean.
- Greek city-states (poleis) emerged, exemplified by Sparta and Athens, with contrasting social structures and political systems.
- The Persian Wars (500-479 B.C.E.) solidified Greek unity against external threats, notably during battles like Marathon and Salamis.
Expansion of the Roman Republic and Empire
- Rome, founded in 753 B.C.E., transitioned from a monarchy to a republic in 509 B.C.E., creating a constitution that included consuls and the Senate.
- Tensions between patricians and plebeians resulted in tribunes gaining power to protect plebeian interests.
- Roman expansion included conflicts with Carthage during the Punic Wars, establishing dominance in the Mediterranean.
- The transition to empire involved significant figures like Julius Caesar and his assassination, establishing Octavian (Augustus) as the first emperor.
Roman Economy and Society
- Trade flourished across the Mediterranean with specialized agricultural production from latifundia and developed urban infrastructure in Rome.
- The cosmopolitan city of Rome saw wealth distributed unevenly, leading to social tensions exemplified by the phrase "bread and circuses" to placate the poor.
- Slavery was a significant part of society, with large proportions of the population in servitude, influenced by events like Spartacus's uprising.
Cross-Cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads
- Trade routes connected China to the Roman Empire, facilitating the flow of goods such as silk, spices, and jewelry.
- Buddhism spread along these routes, becoming established in Central Asia and China, supported by missionaries and monasteries.
- Christianity also expanded via trade, with significant growth in the Mediterranean; Nestorian communities developed in Central Asia.
- Epidemic diseases, such as smallpox and measles, reduced populations significantly in both the Roman Empire and China.
Decline of Empires
- The Han dynasty faced internal strife and was ultimately divided into three kingdoms by 220 C.E. after general factions gained control.
- The Roman Empire struggled with leadership crises, marked by barracks emperors, leading to its eventual division under Diocletian and Constantine.
- Germanic invasions culminated in the fall of the Western Roman Empire (476 C.E.), while Eastern Roman authority persisted, laying foundations for future Byzantine dominance.
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Review the key concepts and events from Chapter 2 of AP World History, focusing on early societies in Southwest Asia and the Indo-European migrations. These flashcards cover the emergence of urban societies, political authorities, and state-building in Mesopotamia.
