Indus Valley Civilization Overview

Indus Valley Civilization

When: 2500-1500 BCE
Where: Between Pakistan and Northwest India today
Himalayas: Played a crucial role in shaping Indian civilization by isolating it, leading to a unique culture
Hindu Kush: Served as the only gateway to the Indus Valley.
Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro: Twin capital cities, Harappa being a large village, & Mohenjo-Daro-an administrative center.
Public Works: Included public bathrooms, assembly halls, and wide streets.
Art & Architecture: Featured temples & statues, notable for the Great Bath (a sacred bath used for cleansing)
Advanced Measurement: A notable element of the civilization.
End of Civilization: Invaded by Aryans, sudden attack on Mohenjo-Daro, & Harappa being destroyed.
Aryans: Nomadic people with no known art, architecture, or written works.
Social Classes (Aryans): Warrior-nobles, priests, and commoners.

Indus Valley Religions

Hinduism: A way of life with no founder believing in reincarnation (Samsara).
Hindu Social Classes: Brahmins (priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (farmers, traders and merchants), Sudras (laborers), and Dalits/Untouchables (outcasts).
Hinduism Principles: Brahman (return to Brahman), Dharma (a person's life purpose), and Karma.
Buddhism: A path to enlightenment with founder Siddhartha Gautama.
Hinayana (Old Buddhism): A type of Buddhism
Mahayana (New Buddhism): A type of Buddhism in which one god rules over lesser gods.
Jainism: Founded by Mahavira (a great hero). Key principle is Ahimsa (non-violence).

Egyptian Civilization

Government: Theocracy, Pharaoh treated like a god, Pharaoh's decisions the law.
Unification of Egypt: King Menes unified upper and lower Egypt using the Nile River.
Cities: Memphis & Thebes (capital).
Kingdoms (1st): Old Kingdom: Building of pyramids representing wealth & power of pharaohs. Ended due to high costs, civil wars, and invasions; collapse marked by crop failures.
Kingdoms (2nd): Middle Kingdom: Flourishing trade, mummification of common people. Arts and temples, period of peace in Egypt. Ended due to leadership power struggles & Hyksos attacks
Kingdoms (3rd): New Kingdom: Age of empire, expansion through military conquests, and peace. Ruled by dynasties. Ended due to Assyrian and Persian invaders.
Egyptian Social Classes: Pharaohs, Viziers/Priests, Scribes, Craftsmen, Peasants, Slaves/Servants.
Women: Respected, could inherit, sell properties, and enter business.
Occupation: Artisans, dancers, acrobats, priests, and servants
Writing: Hieroglyphics (pictures), Hieratic (formal)
Rosetta Stone: Key to deciphering ancient Egyptian writing.

Egyptian Religion

Polytheistic: Belief in many gods.
Book of the Dead: Collection of rituals, customs, spells etc for life after death.
Mummification: Preservation of bodies for the afterlife.
Tombs: Homes of the dead.
Afterlife Rituals: Osiris weighing of the dead person's heart based on if they are a good or a bad person.

Chinese Civilization

Family/Government: Respect for elders, men controlling family (elder woman authority), women following men, Emperor.
Religious Beliefs: Supernatural forces, life after death, and veneration of ancestors.
Oracle Bones: Used to communicate with the gods by asking questions and looking at the cracks in turtle shells or oxen bones to read the answer.
Social Class: King/Emperor, Aristocrats, Peasants.
Writing: People could learn the same writing language even if spoken languages were different.
Rivers: Yangtze (Chiang Jiang) and Huang He (Yellow River). Yangtze River made China half isolated.
Environmental Challenges: Huang He flooding and borders (China's isolation), natural disasters, and barbarians (outside groups).
Mandate of Heaven: Ruler's justified rule based on people's well-being . Removal if things go poorly.
Fall of Dynasties: Political instability, peasant revolt, noble revolt, barbarian invasion.
Silk Road: Important trading route spreading ideas, beliefs, & religion .
Great Wall: Public work built from Han to Ming dynasty to protect borders.
Terracotta Warriors: Art and architecture built to protect the Emperor’s tomb.
Forbidden City: Built for the Emperor; no ordinary people allowed inside.
Chinese Civilization Contributions: Gunpowder, papermaking, printing, compass, Diamond sutra, civil service exams.
Chinese Schools of Thought: Confucianism (Founder: Confucius, do not do unto others what you do not want done unto you), Daoism (Founder: Laozi, humility).

Korean Civilization

Location: Korean Peninsula between China and Japan - known for High mountains and sparkling Streams, DMZ separating North and South Korea.
Gojoseon: Earliest Korean civilization before divisions.
Three Kingdoms of Korea: Koguryo, Baekje/Paekche, Silla (Koguryo was the largest; Baekje/Paekche shared culture & language with China and Japan; Silla was the smallest, but became the strongest).
Koguryo: Powerful culture, advanced tech, and close ties to China (founder was Jumong).
Baekje/Paekche: Connected to China and Japan due to maritime trade. Buddhism and Chinese characters spread throughout Asia.
Silla: Eventually strongest, centralized government, hierarchical social classes, and allied with China’s Tang Dynasty.
Unified Silla: Three kingdoms fought for control, Tang Dynasty of China aided Silla's victory in unifying the peninsula bringing peace.
Koryo Dynasty: 400 years of rule, civil service based on examinations, and spread of Buddhism.
Joseon Dynasty: Founded by Yi Song-gye (new dynasty) and the longest Korean Dynasty known as the Yi dynasty; capital at Hanseong (Modern Seoul), and Confusian government.
Sejong the Great: Created Hangul alphabet, a writing system to help the commoners become literate.
Korean Society: King, Yangban (Nobles), Chungin (Middle Class), Sangmin (Common people, lower social status), and Cheomin (slaves, butchers shamans, etc).
Korean Family: Duty, loyalty, honor in the family head (father). Importance of bowing to show respect.
Korean Shamanism/ Confucianism: Cultural & Religious practices, Joseon promoted Confucianism (ethics, relations, and respect for tradition).

Early Indian and Chinese Influences on Southeast Asia (SEA)

Purpose of influence: India came to SEA to trade and spread Buddhism and China came to SE Asia to trade and colonization.
Material Culture: India (rouletted ware, knobbed vessels, glass beads, semi-precious stones, and ivory), and China (ceramic vessels, bronze artifacts).

Japanese Civilization

Migration from mainland Asia: Migrated from the Asian mainland divided into clans.
Geographic Location: River valleys, mild climate and sufficient rainfall. Importance of sea (fishing industry)
Zen Buddhism: Meditation focused, based on Mahayana Buddhism, aimed at enlightenment (seating meditation).
Kami Tree: Sacred tree, part of Shinto religion.
Scriptures (Japan): Haiku, Tanka, Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana .
Japanese Culture: Importance of societal norms, respect, traditions, values.
Japan Dramas: Noh and Kabuki (traditional performances)
Women: Lived basic life, depended on husbands.