NAME______________________________ PER.____ DATE______________________ TEACHER COPY
CHAPTERS 1 – 4 UNIT 1: LESSON 4 NOTES
CLASSICAL [STANDARDS THAT ARE SET AS A FRAMEWORK FOR LATER CULTURES]
EMPIRES OF THE EAST
The Maurya (Mou-ree-uh) Dynasty of India
Asoka, grandson of
Chandragupta, founder of
Maurya Dynasty

 Asoka most honored
emperor of India
 converts to Buddhism
elevating it to the state religion
 rejects violence (against
people & animals)
 rules by moral example
 sends missionaries across
India & Sri Lanka
 tolerant of all other religions
 brings peace, prosperity
 built stone pillars across India
with carved edicts or laws
 built hospitals, Buddhist
shrines, roads with travelercomforts across empire
 after Asoka’s death, Maurya
Dynasty’s power declined by
185 B.C.; followed 500 years
later by…
The Gupta (Goop-tuh) Dynasty of India
The Gupta
Leads the Golden Age of India
 devised simple math
system of writing numbers
 called “Arabic”
numerals today
 originated concept of zero
 developed decimal system
of numbers based on 10
 surgeons set bones &
repaired injuries
 introduced smallpox
vaccinations not seen in
Europe for another 1000
years
 built magnificent Hindu
temples
 Buddhists built splendid
stupas (large domed shrines)
with elaborately carved
gateways that told stories of
the life of the Buddha
 artists painted rich murals
depicting varied social classes
 rich Indian literature
collected & recorded fables &
folktales in Sanskrit that were
carried west to Persia, Egypt, &
Greece
 classical, intricate Indian
dance based on the state
religion of Hinduism
 decline by weak rulers, civil
war, & invasion by central
Asian nomadic White Huns who
destroyed everything in their
path
Classical China
Confucianism:
 philosophy to ensure
social order, good
government, & harmony
supported by 5 key
relationships among people
with proper behavior based
on filial piety
Buddhism:
 originally from India
 emphasized personal
salvation by appealing to
followers with its promise of
escape from suffering
through prayer, good works,
& devotion
PHILOSOPHIES
Legalism:
 philosophy emphasizing strict laws &
harsh punishments
 autocratic rule “wielding it like
lightning or like thunder”
 official policy of the Qin emperor
Daoism:
 philosophy that encouraged harmony
with nature rejecting conflict & strife
 the best kind of government is one that
governs least
DYNASTIC EMPIRES
OF CHINA
Zhou (Jo) Dynasty
1100 B.C. – 260 B.C.
 justified its rule by the Mandate of
Heaven
Han (Hahn) Dynasty
200 B.C. – A.D. 200
 kept China unified for 400 years
 established trade along the Silk
Road supporting a cultural diffusion
of ideas and customs
 introduced Buddhism to China
Qin (Chin) Dynasty
221 B.C. – 210 B.C.
 unified China
 ushered in China’s classical era
 built the Great Wall to protect itself
from invaders
 practiced Legalism
Asoka (Uh-soak-uh)
Maurya (mou-ree-uh)
Daoism (dow-ism)