WHIH Classical Civilizations Part 1 (Persia-China-India) Study Guide PDF

Classical Civilizations Part I (Persia/China/India) Study Guide IMPORTANT REMINDERS: #1) The most important thing to remember about a Study Guide is that… It is a GUIDE! It is simply an outline of the main topics, important people, key events, etc that have been covered in the unit. But EVERYTHING...

Classical Civilizations Part I (Persia/China/India) Study Guide IMPORTANT REMINDERS: #1) The most important thing to remember about a Study Guide is that… It is a GUIDE! It is simply an outline of the main topics, important people, key events, etc that have been covered in the unit. But EVERYTHING we have discussed, taken notes on, read, watched, or done an activity on is fair game for the test and the retake!!! #2) History is a story!!! Memorization makes history boring, even to me! So try to approach your review of the unit like a narrative and not like a list of facts, dates, and people. It will help you to connect the people of the ancient world to their motives, decisions and behaviors and it makes the chronology much easier to understand and remember. Click the following link for some techniques on how to use a study guide: Reminders & How To's for a History Study Guide Geography Review your maps (Persia/China/India) and be prepared to identify political boundaries of empires and dynasties and key physical features (rivers, mountains, etc.) The Persians Cyrus and the establishment of Persia Darius I, Xerxes: what were their contributions to building and/or expanding the empire? ○ Don’t forget your “Engineering an Empire” worksheet Organization & administration of the empire- know the terms and how they helped make Persia a successful empire: ○ Satraps ○ Roads ○ Capital of Persepolis ○ Tolerant Rule Zoroastrianism: what are the basic beliefs? ○ The prophet Zoaster/Zarathustra ○ Dualistism: good vs. evil, Ahura Mazda & Angra Mainyu ○ How did it Influence on other monotheistic religions? ○ Avesta & the Gathas ○ What role did religion play in the empire? Classical India Hinduism One god, many forms: Brahman => Ganesha, Vishnu, and Shiva and many more Understand all of these words and how one leads to the other = Caste>Dharma>Karma>Samsara>Atman>Moksha Response to Hinduism: Jainism and Buddhism Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama c. 560B.C.E. - know his life story (i.e. our video questions) The Four Noble truths (know them all) and the Eightfold Path (know what it is) Nirvana The Middle Path and monastic traditions Rejects rituals and sacrifice, Hindu Gods, Atman (or individual soul – Buddhists are trying to get rid of the self) and Caste system Understand the similarities to Hinduism (karma, etc.)  Know about Theravada, Mahayana, Tibetan, Zen and the spread of Buddhism Empires Invasion of Alexander the Great and effects Maurya Empire (321 BC to 185 BCE): ○ Founded by Chandragupta Maurya: harsh but effective ruler, used secret police. ○ Kautilya outlines rules of gov’t, governing with force when necessary. ○ Rich empire with the largest city in the world, well-organized bureaucracy, and great road system ○ Greatest emperor: Ashoka. He converted to and spread Buddhism, set up stone pillars, brought peace and prosperity. Gupta Empire (320 CE to 550 CE): ○ Re-growth of Hinduism and decline (and eventually near disappearance) of Buddhism ○ Government much looser, power in the hands of regional officials. A time of prosperity through trade ○ A time of great advance in arts and learning: “Arabic” numerals, zero, smallpox vaccine, stupas = Golden Age for India. ○ Caste system becomes more complex, growing restrictions on women ○ Invasion (Huns) and disintegration of central power led to decline. Classical China Confucianism: ➔ Confucius (circa 550 BCE) ◆ Who is he and why is he important? ◆ The Analects ➔ Basic Tenants: Structure, order, education, government by moral force, Ren, Li, learn from the past ◆ The Five Relationships ◆ Filial Piety ◆ Confucian government and the civil service exams Daoism: ➔ Lao Tzu (circa 600 BCE) ◆ Who is he and why is he important? ◆ Dao De Jing- define and understand the significance ➔ Basic Tenants: ◆ The Dao or “The Way”, being one with nature, “going with the flow”, and Wu Wei ◆ Yin and Yang Legalism ➔ Han Fei & his role in establishing Legalist thought ➔ Basic Tenets: ◆ Strict laws and harsh punishments = The Two Handles ◆ Law should always come before morality ◆ Censorship and book burning – rejection of intellectualism and literacy ◆ Centralized and standardized government Qin Dynasty: 221-207 BCE ➔ Shi Huangdi (Emperor Qin) ◆ What role did Legalism play in his empire? ◆ His tomb and the Terracotta Warriors ➔ Achievements ◆ New centralized government & the forming of the first empire ◆ The Great Wall – why it was built ◆ Standardizing weights and coins, roads and canals, standard axle widths Why would standardization be important? Han Dynasty: 206 BCE-220 CE ➔ Important Emperors- know their contributions to the dynasty ◆ Liu Bang ◆ Han Wudi ➔ The Silk Road ◆ What was traded? ◆ How did the trade affect the empires that were connected by it? Be able to recognize the path of the Silk Road on a map. ◆ If you need it, a John Green Video ➔ How is the Han Dynasty a Confucian government? ◆ Describe the role of the civil service exams ➔ Social changes like, the growth of merchants and developments in the family structure ➔ Major achievements: ◆ Paper ◆ Horse collar & harnesses ◆ Advancements in the sciences, etc. ➔ Growth of Buddhism in China