CHINA & INDIAUnit 2

Ancient China

The Longest Continuous Civilization in the History of the World.

The Shang Dynasty was the first dynasty of Ancient China.

Est. Rule between:1750 – 1500

BCE

The Shang Used chariots to

dominate the farm people of the region

Later Developed:1. Bow & Arrow2. Crossbow3. Repeating Crossbow4. Stirrups: Ride & Shoot at same time

***Even Alexander & Romans didn’t have this this military technology hundreds of years later

The Shang

Much of our info. comes from oracle bones

The population was 95% peasant and 5% elite Shang.

The Indian Subcontinent Harappa declines

(Indus River People) – 1750 BCE

Indo-Aryan Invaders will spread throughout the subcontinent- from the Himalayas

& Hindu Kush - to Deccan Plateau

Establish a very unique culture(isolation)

Indo-AryansArrived through the Khyber and Bolan Passes

Dravidians(Native Indians) Descendents of the

Indus River People(Harappans)

Dark Skin Called Dalits today Have faced

discrimination and prejudice since ancient times

Not allowed to Marry or Closely Associate with the Aryans

Classes of People begin to Develop

Called the Varna System

1. Brahmins – priests/teachers

2. Kshatriyas – warriors/rulers

3. Vaishya – merchant/artist

- the largest(twice –born groups:initiation/baptism)

4. Sudras – unskilled jobs- servants / dravidians- not allowed to study the Vedas

Eventually a group will form below the Sudras

Varna System (caste system)

Evolved into over 300 divisions in Indian Society

Based on:- the color of a person’s skin- wealth - type of work

Today this system is outlawed in the World’s largest democracy

How many songs do you have on your iPod?

1st Time Period in Indian History Vedic Age

“Age of Knowledge” 1500-500 BCE Long Sanskrit hymns

memorized by priests Myths & Tales of Gods Rituals and Sacrifices(Basis of the Hindu

Religion) Priests gathered in 4

collections called

Vedas Rig-Veda : 1,028

hymns

Assignment

Complete the worksheet on the early dynasties of China

Map NOT ASSIGNED

Unit 2 Test --- Tuesday

Matching - 20 T & F - 20 Multiple Choice - 80 Essay (2 of 5) - 20

140 points

Turn in Study Guide