asian civilization

ASIAN CIVILIZATIONHIS 033A

2ND SEMESTER OFSY 2010-2011Mr. Chris Mantillas

THE NATURE AND DEFINITION OF CIVILIZATION

Civilize- to bring or come out of a primitive or savage condition and into a state of civilization. Improve in habits or manners.

Civilization-the condition of being civilized; social organization of a high order, mark by the development and use of a written language and by advances in the arts and sciences, government, etc.

IMPORTANCE OF KNOWING ASIA

We are Asians and, thus, we should know more about Asia than any other region in the world.

Asia will dominate the world’s political, economic and, and spiritual developments in the near future.

The Philippines, due to its location and heritage, has always been the “light of Asia”, and today is still able to fulfill a great role in this Asian renaissance.

East and West

Geographers have sometimes divided the world into two parts: East and West.

The East (Orient) is the Asian world, said to be the region of the rising sun.

The West (Occident) is Europe and North America, said to be the region of the setting sun.

ASIA’S PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

Asia is the world’s largest continent, and includes many vast countries, such as the Russian Federation, and countries with huge populations, such as China and India. Its total area is 44.5 million square kilometers, one third of the land surface of the earth and with sixty percent of its population.


Total Land Area: 44,500,000 sq kmLargest Countries: Russia,12,780,824

sq. km. China, 9,596,960 sq.

km.Total Population: 3,840,000,000Highest Population: China,

1,306,313,812


Bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean. On the south by the Indian Ocean. On the east by the Pacific Ocean. On the west by the Ural Mountains,

Caspian Sea, Black Sea, and Aegean Sea. It is separated from North America by the

narrow Bering Strait, and from Africa by the man-made Suez Canal. In the southeast, it is linked by tropical islands like stepping-stones to Australia.

Western AsiaAlso called Near East because of its nearness to Europe, the Middle East lies midway between Asia and Europe. It includes the following countries:

1. Iran

2. Iraq

3. Syria

4. Lebanon

5. Jordan

6. Israel

7. Saudi Arabia

8. Kuwait

9. Bahrain

10. Qatar

11. United Arab Emirates

12. Oman

13. Yemen

North Asia

Includes the following countries:

1. Afghanistan

2. Russia’s Siberia

3. Kazakhstan

4. Kyrgyzstan

5. Tajikistan

6. Turkmenistan

7. Uzbekistan

8. Georgia

9. Armenia

South Asia

Includes the following countries:

1. India

2. Pakistan

3. Bangladesh

4. Sri Lanka

5. Bhutan

6. Nepal

7. Maldives

East Asia

Also called the Far East, this sub-region includes:

1. China

2. Japan

3. Taiwan

4. North Korea

5. South Korea

6. Mongolia

Southeast Asia

In this sub-region are:

1. The Philippines

2. Indonesia

3. Malaysia

4. Singapore

5. Thailand

6. Myanmar

7. Vietnam

8. Cambodia

9. Laos

10.Brunei

11.Timor Leste

Physical Features

Asia has towering snow-capped mountains like the Himalayas, Ural Mountains, and the Caucasus range.

Asia has many peninsulas, notably India, Indochina, Malaya, Korea and Kamchatka. These peninsulas contain excellent harbors and bays.

Asia is also the sight of numerous historic rivers that serves as highways of commerce and communications such as the Indus, Ganges, Brahmaputra, Amur, Yellow, Yangtze, Si Kiang, Mekong, Tigris and Euphrates.

Physical Features

Along the North Arctic Coast lies the tundra, frozen soil covered by snow most of the year and stretching from 150-500 km. in northern Asia.

South of the tundra extends the zone of the vast northern forests known as the taiga which covers most of Siberia from the Urals to the Pacific Ocean.

In the center of Asia, the forest gives way to semi-desert areas known as steppes, which stretch from Arabia to Mongolia.

Nine-tenths of the population in Southern Asia live in fertile river valleys and lower hills cultivated for crops.

Climate and Rainfall

Asia has all kinds of climates known to man, ranging from the freezing cold of Siberia’s Arctic region to the scorching heat of Western Asia’s deserts.

Rainfall is extremely scarce in North Asia, abundant in Southeast and South Asia, and relatively little in the Middle East.

Asia has both temperate and tropical climates. In the north, temperate climate is felt in the very cold winters and very hot summers. The climate in southern Asia is dominated by the “monsoon”, an Arabic word for rainy season, when several months of the year bring heavy rainfall. In the Philippines, heavy rain and strong winds are called “typhoons”, from the Chinese word “tai fung” meaning strong wind.

Natural Resources

About 60% of the oil reserves and 50% of world coal deposits lie beneath Asian strata (e.g. Middle East, Brunei and Indonesia).

China produces 50% of the world supply of antimony (mineral used in steel) and 30% of tungsten (minerals used for light bulbs).

China and Siberia are rich in coal and natural gas deposits, as well as oil.

Malaysia is the world’s greatest producer of rubber and tin. Indonesia is the greatest exporter of kapok, pepper and quinine. The Philippines ranks first in hemp production, second in coconut and

sugarcane, and fifth in tobacco. About 90% of the world’s rice comes from Asia. Burma (Myanmar),

Vietnam and Thailand are the greatest rice producing countries of the world.

Most of the world supply of teak comes from the jungles of Borneo, Myanmar, Cambodia and Thailand.

Bangladesh is the leading producer of jute, the tough fiber for making sacks.

The world supply of tea comes largely from Sri Lanka and India.

Natural Wonders

Mt. Everest is the world’s highest peak at 29,028 ft. located on the Nepal-Tibet border.

The world’s lowest land area is the Dead Sea at 303 m. below sea level. It is actually a salt lake located in the Israel-Jordan border.

The world’s largest archipelago is Indonesia consisting of 13,000 islands.

The Caspian Sea in Siberia is the largest lake (inland sea) on earth. Lake Baikal, also in Siberia is the world’s deepest lake at 5,710 feet

deep. The Philippine Deep is one of the deepest ocean depth at 10,918

meters below sea level. The world’s largest bay is India’s Bengal Bay with a shoreline of 2,250

miles. The world’s longest strait is the Malacca Strait, located between

Indonesia and Malaysia (485 miles). The world’s narrowest strait is the San Juanico Strait between the

islands of Samar and Leyte in the Philippines.

Man-Made Wonders

The Great Wall of China. Built by Emperor Shih Huang Ti (220-221 B.C.). With a length of 2,700 km. long across North China, it took more than 10 years to finish, and more than 200,000 men labored on the project.

The Ifugao Rice Terraces of the Philippines. Built 2,000 years ago, if placed end to end, they would extend more than 22,500 km., eight times longer than China’s Great Wall or more than half the circumference of the Earth.

The Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Hailed by Western writers as “the most beautiful and most perfect of all buildings in the world”.

Borobudur Temple in Java, Indonesia. The Angkor Wat in Cambodia. The Shwe Dagon, the fabulous golden pagoda in Rangoon,

Burma (Myanmar). The Dome of the Rock an Islamic Shrine in Jerusalem.

Peoples of Asia

Brown Race-represented by Filipinos, Malaysians and Indonesians.

Yellow Race-represented by the Chinese, Koreans and Japanese.

Aryan or Indo-European- a branch of the white race represented by Afghans, Iranians and Indians.

Semitics- a branch of the white race represented by Arabs, Jews, Iraqis and Syrians.

Red Race- Siberian and Soviet Asian who migrated to North America and became ancestors of American Indians.

Eurasians/Amerasians-result of mixed marriages (part European, part Asian or part American, part Asian).

Asian Character Traits

Spirituality. Because the Asian has an innate spiritual nature, there is spiritual dimension to everything he does.

Fatalism. The Asian does not believe that he is the “master of his soul”.

Stoicism .The Asian calmly accepts death, pain, illness and misfortune.

Hospitality . No matter how humble their situations, Asians will serve and pamper their guests.

Extended family relationships . Strong bonds of love and kinship among Asian family members.

A sense of continuity . Whatever man does affects nature.

Indirect reasoning . To the Asian there is no such thing as objective truth; truth is always relative.

Ancient Civilizations of Asia The Mesopotamian Civilizations In ancient times, Iraq (then known as

Mesopotamia) was the first cradle of civilization.

Several ancient civilizations thrived in this fertile plain “between two rivers”- Sumerians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Chaldeans and Persians.

Mesopotamian Civilization

The world’s first ancient civilization dawned at Sumer, Mesopotamia (Sumerians), as early as 3,500 B.C. They developed a high civilization which was later absorbed by the Babylonians.

The greatest Babylonian ruler was Hammurabi, founder of the empire and author of the famous Hammurabi Code (1800 B.C.).


After the fall of Babylonia, the warlike Assyrians dominated Mesopotamia and built their own empire (1100-612 B.C.). The Assyrian Empire flourished in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley.

Following the collapse of the Assyrians, the Chaldeans rose to power. Their greatest ruler was Nebuchadnezzar who built the “Hanging Gardens of Babylon,” one of the seven wonders of ancient world.

The Persians, under Cyrus the Great conquered Iraq in 538 B.C.

Then came Alexander the Great and his successors. Iraq also fell under the power of the Parthians and

the Sasanians.


Mesopotamian Contributions to Civilization.

1. The Sumerians invented the first plow and the first wheel. The plow revolutionized farming and the wheel gave birth to the pottery industry and revolutionized transportation. They were the first people to domesticate plants (barley, oats, millet, etc.) and animals (dogs, cats, oxen, etc.)


2. The ancient Mesopotamians were the first people in the world to develop a system of writing, the cuneiform, so called because of its wedge-shaped characters. The term cuneiform came from the Latin words cuneus (wedge) and forma (form).


3. The world’s first written laws were written in ancient Mesopotamia. According to recent archeological findings, the first written code of laws was made by Ur-Naman, king of the Sumerian city-kingdom of Ur, about 2050 B.C. Three centuries later, King Hammurabi of Babylonia, promulgated his written legal code (1750 B.C.).


4. The ancient Mesopotamians developed the world’s first written literature which consisted of lyric and epic poetry, folklore tales, proverbs and romantic stories.One of the Mesopotamian epics was the Epic of Gilgamesh, which narrates great flood sent by angry gods to destroy peoples, animals and plants on earth. This epic antedated the story of the Great Deluge (flood) in the Old Testament, in which Noah and his family survived.


5. Ancient Mesopotamians were the world’s first astronomers. They were the first people to chart the movements of the sun, moon and stars; to make the first calendar of 12 months a year and seven days a week.Because of their belief that stars and planets affect the lives of men, they developed astrology and devised the twelve signs of the zodiac.


6. Mathematics was first developed in ancient Mesopotamia. The Sumerians who were expert mathematicians, devised the sexagesimal, that is, counting by 60’s. They divided the hour into 60 minutes, and the minute into 60 seconds.


7. The ancient Mesopotamians were the first builders of cities, palaces, temples, and other massive structures, all of which were made of clay bricks. The Mesopotamian cities of Babylon, Nineveh, and Ur were among the oldest cities in the world. Among the wondrous structure in ancient Mesopotamia were the palatial library of the Assyrian king, Ashurbanipal (669-626 B.C.), said to be the world’s oldest library; the famous “Hanging Gardens of Babylon,” which was built by the Chaldean king, Nebuchadnezzar (604-561 B.C.) and the ziggurat, a temple of many stories with an outside staircase leading to the top, a forerunner of the modern skyscraper.

Mesopotamian CivilizationsIn Medicine:Mesopotamian medicine was a combination

of magic, prescription and surgery.They believed that demons and evil spirits

caused sickness and that magic spells could drive them out.

Physicians could force the demon out by giving the patient a foul tasting prescription.

Medicine grew from superstition to an early form of rational treatment.


In Religion and Theology:They believed that many gods run

the world, but they are not equal due to their different jobs (e.g. taking care of music, law, sex and victory) against those with lesser task (basket weaving etc.)

Mesopotamian gods were human in form but they are powerful, immortal and can make themselves invisible.

Ancient Civilizations of Asia The Indus Valley Civilization Indian civilization began in the Indus

Valley up north about 3,000 B.C. The ruins of the ancient cities are

found in Mohendro-daro and Harappa (now in Pakistan).

The early dark-skinned people called the Dravidians built cities, temples, and art works as old as those of China, Egypt and Mesopotamia.

Indus Valley Civilization

About 2,000 B.C., the fair skinned Aryans invaded the Indus Valley. They spoke Sanskrit and founded small kingdoms in the fertile plains of north India. They gave India the Vedic literature, Sanskrit epics, Hinduism, and the caste system.


Vedic Literature.The Vedic literature reflects the life and

culture of the ancient Aryans of India. It consist of four literary works:1. Vedas. Composed of hymns, prayers,

rituals, magic and poetry. They were written about 1,000 B.C. and were the earliest sacred books of Hinduism.

2. Brahmanas. Prose texts containing observations on religious rites. Also includes legends of the exploits of ancient kings and heroes.


3. Arankayas. Books of instructions for the hermits in the forests. They contain elaborate rules for the performance of religious ceremonies.4. Upanishads. Books of instructions given by a father to his son or the teacher to his pupil.


Sanskrit Epic.The two great Sanskrit epics of ancient India

were the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.According to tradition, the Mahabharata was

written by Byasa about 500 B.C. It is the longest epic poem in the world. The Mahabharata tells the tale of the five brothers’ struggle to recover the throne from their wicked cousins.

The Hindu god Krishna helps them win the bloody battle.


The Ramayana is shorter and was written by Valmiki, also about 500 B.C.

This tells the story of Prince Rama, the seventh reincarnation of the Hindu God Vishnu.

When his beautiful wife Siva was abducted by Ravana, demon god of Ceylon, Rama invaded Ceylon with an army of monkeys. After many bloody battles, he killed his enemy, rescued his wife, and returned to India with his victorious army of monkeys.


Hinduism.The Aryans, laid the foundation of

Hinduism, India’s main religion today and the source of many modern cults.

Hinduism is the world’s oldest organized religion. It began as nature worship (animism) as the Aryans prayed to forces of nature for favors. They have 300 million gods and goddesses representing natural forces and personified gods to fit human needs.


The chief Hindu god is Brahma, the creator and world soul. Lesser gods are Vishnu (preserver) and Shiva (destroyer).

Between these gods and man are bewildering number of other gods- nine versions of the divine mother, an elephant god, a good luck god, sun god, earth god, etc. These gods intercede for man according to Hindus.

They also believe in the karma (destiny) and reincarnation (a good soul is reborn after death into a higher status; a bad soul into a lower status or animal).

After a cycle of births and deaths, the soul of a good man is finally rewarded by being absorbed into Brahma, the creator and source of true happiness.

Much of the beliefs and practices of Hinduism have been spread worldwide by informal organizations led by gurus, spiritual teachers.


Caste System.The caste (class) system has become part of

Indian life due to the religious approval given to it by Hinduism. It divides people into rigid castes or classes:1. Brahmans, priests and scholars.2. Kshatriyas, rulers or warriors.3. Vaishyas, farmers, artists and merchants4. Sudras, workers and slaves.5. Untouchables, persons who do not belong to any

class and do the dirtiest work like cleaning toilets and collecting garbage.


The caste system began as a race prejudice of the fair Aryans against the dark Dravidians. To dominate them further, the Aryans made class divisions a holy law.

Thus, untouchables may not enter temples or public baths and wells, for they would desecrate or pollute others caste and offend the gods.


Buddhism. In the 6th century B.C. a new religion started in the

Indian subcontinent which rejected Hinduism. This was Buddhism named after its founder

Gautama Buddha. Buddha taught all men the four “Noble Truths”, and

these are:1. Man’s life is filled with suffering.2. Man’s suffering is caused by his selfish desires.3. Man can end his suffering by conquering his selfish

desires.4. After ridding himself of suffering, man attains the state

of Nirvana (perfect happiness).


To attain Nirvana, a person must follow the “Eight Folds Path” consisting of:1. Right belief2. Right aspiration3. Right speech4. Right conduct5. Right livelihood6. Right effort7. Right remembrance8. Right meditation


Buddhism is split into two branches:1. Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) which

involves priests. By first century A.D., Mahayana Buddhism reached Tibet, China, Korea, Japan and Southeast Asia.

2. Hinayana (Lesser Vehicle) which is a personal direct worship, remained in Nepal and Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Ancient Chinese CivilizationThe world’s oldest continuing civilization,

with a recorded history of 5,000 years.Chinese prehistory dates to the Peking

Man who settled in the Huang Ho (Yellow River) half a million years ago.

At the time of the small states in Mesopotamia, Indus Valley and Egypt, China’s north and central plains had been populated by peasant stock of the New Stone Age.

Ancient Chinese CivilizationAccording to myths, Chinese

civilization began with three sages and five good emperors who were credited with various improvements in society: 1. Agriculture2. The plow3. Silk Industry4. Compass5. Writing6. Calendar

Ancient Chinese CivilizationThe Chinese Dynasties.

Xia (Hsia) Dynasty (2205-1766 B.C.)Founded by Emperor Yu.

Shang Dynasty (1766-1122 B.C.), Was the first to have writing, metal working, cities and

chariots. Shang kings were military chieftains and high priest. Shang society was marked by sharp status distinctions. Shang Royal family and aristocracy lived in large

houses. Shang farmers were essentially serfs of the aristocrats.

Ancient Chinese CivilizationZhou (Chou) Dynasty ( 1050-256 B.C.)The Zhou recognized the Shang as

occupying the center of the world.The Zhou Dynasty built on the

accomplishments of its predecessors.Heaven gives the king the mandate to

rule only as long as he rules in the interests of the people.

The Zhou rulers set up a decentralized, feudal system.

Ancient Chinese CivilizationThey sent out relatives and trusted

subordinates with troops to establish walled garrisons in conquered territories.

Glimpses of what life was like at various social levels in the early Zhou Dynasty can be found in the Book of Songs, which contains the earliest Chinese poetry.

Ancient Chinese Civilization Many of the folk songs are love songs like:

Please, Zhongzi,Do not leap over our wall,Do not break our mulberry trees.It is not that I begrudge the mulberries,But I fear my brothers.You, I would embrace,But my brothers’ words-those I dread.

Ancient Chinese CivilizationA Soldier’s Song of Complaint:

Which plant is not brown?Which plant is not sad?

Have pity on us soldiers,Treated as though we were not men.

Ancient Chinese CivilizationA deep distrust of women’s involvement in

politics:

Clever men build cities,Clever women topple them.

Beautiful, these clever women may beBut they are owls and kites.Women have long tongues

That lead to ruin.Disorder does not come down from heaven;

It is produced by women.

Ancient Chinese CivilizationAge of Philosophers.China produced three (3)

outstanding philosophers during the Zhou dynasty- Confucius (551-479 B.C.), Lao Tzu (604-517 B.C.) and Mencius (373-289 B.C.)

Ancient Chinese CivilizationConfucius (Kung-fu-tzu, the Scholar). China’s greatest philosopher. Did not intend to found a new religion. He travelled throughout China to teach

virtues such as:1. Righteousness2. Propriety3. Wisdom4. Piety5. Loyalty

Ancient Chinese Civilization These virtues according to him must

guide human relations, such as between ruler and subjects, parents and children, husband and wife, older and younger siblings, and friends.

Ancient Chinese Civilization The Golden Rule influenced Chinese life.

On humanity:The master said:“When you go out, treat everyone as if you were

welcoming a great guest. Employ people as though you were conducting a great sacrifice. What you do not want done to you, do not do to others. Then neither in your country nor in your family will there be complaints against you.”

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Ancient Chinese CivilizationConfucius considered the family the

basic unit of society. He extolled filial piety, which to him

meant more than just reverent obedience of children toward their parents:

Ancient Chinese CivilizationOn Filial Piety:

The Master Said:“You can be of service to your father and

mother by remonstrating with them tactfully. If you perceive that they do not wish to follow your advice, the continue to be reverent toward them without offending or disobeying them; work hard and do not murmur against them”

Ancient Chinese CivilizationHe gave high moral and ethical

values to an otherwise materialistic, oppressive, and rigid society.

His teachings were popular and compiled in five classics and four books

Ancient Chinese CivilizationOn leadership:The Master said:

“Lead the people by means of government policies and regulate them through punishments, and they will be evasive and have no sense of shame. Lead them by means of virtue and regulate them through rituals and they will have a sense of shame and moreover have standards.”

Ancient Chinese CivilizationOn the power of study:The master said:“I am not someone who was born wise.

I am someone who loves the ancients and tries to learn from them.”

“I once spent a whole day without eating and a whole night without sleeping in order to think. It was of no use. It is better to study”

Ancient Chinese CivilizationLao Tzu (The Old Scholar).The founder of Taoism, another

human ethics-based religion.According to him in his work Tao Te

Ching (Way of Virtue): Anyone can find true happiness by practicing the virtues of humility, patience and self-control.

His followers transformed his philosophy into a religion of black magic and superstition.

Ancient Chinese CivilizationMenciusLike Confucius travelled around

offering advice to rulers of various states.

Human nature is fundamentally good, as everyone is born with the capacity to recognize what is right and act on it.

People have the right to overthrow a government by violent means.

Ancient Chinese Civilization The Art of War. Attributed to Sun Wu

appeared between 453 to 403 B.C.. Master Sun analyzed battle tactics and

ways to win wars without combat by deceiving the enemy.

He argued that heroism is a useless virtue that leads to needless deaths.

Discipline is essential, and he insisted that the entire army had to be trained to follow the orders of its commanders without questioning them.

Asian Dynasties and Empires Early Indian DynastiesThe Mauryan Empire (322-185

B.C.E.) The first Hindu Empire. Founded by

Chandragupta Maurya who rallied the Indians and drove away the Greeks after the death of Alexander the Great of Macedonia.

The empire covered the whole Indian peninsula, except south India.

Indian Dynasties

The grandson of Maurya, Asoka, became the greatest Maurya emperor 273-232 B.C.)

He rebelled against his brother older brother, the rightful king and succeeded in his bloody bid for the throne.

He made Buddhism the state religion and sent missionaries to other Asian countries.

He built inns, orphanages, hospitals, and led an exemplary life.

Indian Dynasties

Ashoka conquered Kalinga (Orissa) on the east coast of India.

100,000 were killed in the battle. Ashoka was consumed with remorse

and revulsion at the horror of war. He supported the doctrine of not

hurting humans or animals.

Indian Dynasties

Whatever good I have done has indeed been accomplished for the progress and welfare of the world. By these shall grow virtues namely: proper support of mother and father, regard for preceptors and elders, proper treatment of Brahmans and ascetics, of the poor and destitute, slaves and servants.

-Ashoka

Indian Dynasties

Gupta Empire (India’s Golden Age) During this empire (320-647 A.D.), India

glowed with magnificent cultural achievements.

Founded by Chandragupta I, raja of Magadha, around 320 A.D.

United north India and received tribute from states in Nepal and the Indus Valley, thus giving large parts of India a period of peace and political unity.

Indian Dynasties

Invasion of the Huns- greatest challenge. The migration of nomads from Central

Asia shook much of Eurasia. Administrative system is not as

centralized as the Mauryan. The Gupta kings were patron of the arts.

Sanskrit masterpieces were preserved , and traditional epic poems and verses on mythological themes were reworked and polished.

Indian Dynasties

The Arabic numerals are of Indian origin.

Gupta rulers were Hindus but tolerated all faiths.

Imperial Dynasties of ChinaQin (Chin) Dynasty (221-206 B.C.)Marks the beginning of the Chinese

empire.The state of Qin, succeeded in

unifying China for the first time in many centuries.

The king of Qin decided that the title “king” was not grand enough and invented the title “emperor”.

Imperial Dynasties of ChinaShi Huang Ti became the First

Emperor.The Great Wall of China was built to

keep the Tartars out of North China.

Imperial Dynasties of ChinaHan Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) An early peak of political and cultural

development. Trade along the “Silk Road” (Central

Asia) flourished. When Rome fell in the West, China

became the great civilizer of Eurasia. Buddhism was introduced. Paper was invented , and the first

official records were written.

Imperial Dynasties of ChinaTang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.)Founded in Xian by Li Yuan after

disorders when the Tartars invaded north China.

China became the mightiest empire in the world while Europe was in the dark ages.

The Golden Age of Chinese poetry. Tu Fu (God of Poetry), China’s greatest poet, became an idol of the people.

Imperial Dynasties of ChinaSung Dynasty (960-1280 A.D.) Founded by General Chao Kuang Yin. Under this empire, China became the

greatest nation in the world. Her exports of silk, tea and ceramics were

prized possessions in Europe, the Middle east and the rest of Asia.

Early records described China’s early trade with the Philippines and other countries in S.E. Asia (Records of Foreign Nations by Chao Ju-kua from Fujian province)

Ancient Chinese CivilizationYuan Dynasty (13th century) Mongol rule began when Genghis Khan and

his Mongol holders overran north China and Russia.

Kublai Khan established the capital at Peking (Beijing).

He fostered education, culture and foreign relations with western nations.

The Venetian traveler, Marco Polo visited China and his tales stirred western interest to explore the east.

Ancient Chinese CivilizationMing Dynasty (1368-1644 A.D.) The local Chinese, led by Chu-Yuan Chang,

revolted and ousted the Mongols. The ouster resulted in the start of the Ming Dynasty.

Ming emperors restored local cultures-Confucian classics in schools and civil service.

China became the mistress of Oriental Seas, and their fleets patrolled the seas of South East Asia and the Indian Ocean.

Philippine Sulu Sultans paid tribute to the Ming Emperor, and so did other Asian nations.

Ancient Chinese CivilizationManchu Dynasty (1644-1911) Founded by Taitsung who led the Manchus from

the northeast frontier to conquer China. The Manchus were nearly ousted in several

revolts by the native Chinese. But the Manchus were conquered by the

splendor of Chinese culture and blended into the background.

The 4th Manchu Emperor, Chien Lung (1736-96) ushered a new era of prosperity.

China occupied Tibet, Turkestan, Burma, Nepal and Vietnam.

Ancient Chinese CivilizationChinese Contribution to Civilization

1. China invented the first paper, brush and ink for writing, the first printing press, the first gunpowder for festival and warfare, and the first compass and water mill.

2. Introduction of the sericulture (silk industry), the use of silk clothes which changed dress fashion worldwide.

3. Gave mankind the Confucian philosophy which still exerts a great influence over the minds of modern people.

Ancient Chinese Civilization

3. Invented the first paper money (flying money). The first newspaper in the world, the Peking Gazette, appeared during the Tang Dynasty.

4. She gave the world the fan, umbrella, paper lantern, chopsticks, kites, calligraphy, and pagoda architecture.

5. Introduced rocket warfare.6. The Great Wall of China.

Quiz No. 2 Asian Civilizations Identification. (5 points)

1. Known as the cradle of civilization.2. The oldest continuing civilization in the world.3. The early dark skinned people of Indus Valley Civilization.4. The first Hindu (Indian) empire.5. Considered as the world’s oldest organized religion.Enumeration6-10. The 5 classes of people under Hinduism.11- 13 Give three (3) imperial dynasties of China.14-15 Give two (2) important contributions of Mesopotamian

Civilizations.16-17. Give two (2) important contributions of Ancient

Chinese Civilizations.18-20. Name the three (3) greatest philosopher of China.

asian civilization

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