Hinduism
Hinduism has no single founder and no single
sacred text. It grew out of the beliefs of the
diverse groups who settled in India. In
Hinduism, salvation is achieved through a
spiritual oneness of the soul.
Buddhism
Buddhism developed in India, and is
based on many of the core concepts of
Hinduism and on the teachings of the
Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama.
Siddhartha Gautama’s found the religion Buddhism. His
teachings eventually spread across Asia. He explained the
Four Noble Truths which are:
All life is full of suffering, pain and sorrow.
The cause of suffering is the desire for things that are really
illusions such as riches, power and long life.
The only cure for suffering is to overcome desire.
The way to overcome desire is to follow the Eightfold Path.
Chandragupta and Asoka
Chandragupta was a young adventurer who
first gained his power in the Ganges Valley. He
then conquered northern India. His grandson
Asoka was the most honored Maurya emperor.
His rule brought peace and prosperity and
helped unite the diverse people within his
empire. He built roads and rest houses for
travelers. After his death, Maurya power
declined.
Kingdoms of the Deccan
The Deccan was divided into many kingdoms, each
with its own capital. The Tamil kingdoms which
occupied much of the southernmost part of India,
were sometimes ruled by queens. Trade was
important to the Tamil kingdoms. They have left a
rich and diverse literature, poets would describe
fierce wars and heroic deeds as well as ordinary
routines of their daily life.
Caste System
Caste was linked to Hindu beliefs. To
them, people in different castes were
different species of beings. Complex
caste rules governed every aspect of
life-where people lived ,what the ate
and how they dressed. The caste
system gave people a sense of identity.
Each caste had its own occupation and
its own leaders.
Golden Age of the Guptas
About 500 years after the Mauryas, the
Gupta dynasty united much of India.
Emperors organized a strong central
government that promoted peace and
prosperity. Trade and farming
flourished across the Gupta empire.
Family Life
The ideal family was the joint family in which parents
children, grandchildren and their offspring shared a
common dwelling.
Children learned their family duties from an early
age. Children worked with older relatives in the fields
or at a family trade.
A woman’s duty was to marry, show devotion to her
husband and raise children. Women had few rights
within the family and society.
Confucius
Confucius was a brilliant scholar who hoped to
become an adviser to a local ruler. He took
little interest in religious matters. Instead he
developed a philosophy that was concerned
with worldly goals. He put filial piety, or
respect for parents, above all other duties. In
the centuries after Confucius died, his ideas
influenced every area of Chinese life.
Daoism
The founder of Daoism was known as Laozi, or “old
master.” He is credited with writing The Way of Virtue,
a book that had a large influence on Chinese life.
Daoists sough to live in harmony with nature. They
viewed government as unnatural and the cause of
many problems. Gradually, people blended Confucian
and Daoist teachings. People took beliefs and practices
from each. Confucianism showed them how to behave.
Daoism influences their view of the natural world.
Shi Huangdi
Emperor Shi Huangdi abolished
feudalism in China. His most
remarkable achievement was the Great
Wall. It became an important symbol
to the Chinese people, dividing and
protecting their civilized world.
The most famous Han emperor, Wudi,
took China to new heights. He
strengthened the government and
economy. He followed a policy of
expansionism by increasing the amount
of territory under Chinese rule. He
fought many battles to expand China’s
border. He also opened up a trade
route called the Silk Road, that would
link China and the west for centuries.
Silk Road
Emperor Wudi opened up a trade route, later
called the Silk Road, that linked China and the
west. New foods such as grapes, cucumbers
and walnuts went to China from western Asia.
Eventually, the Silk Road stretched for 4,000
miles, linking China to the Fertile Crescent in
southwestern Asia.
The Han period was one of the golden
ages of Chinese civilization.
Han scientists wrote texts on
chemistry, zoology and botany.
Chinese physicians diagnosed diseases,
experimented with herbal remedies
and other drugs.
Han China was the most
technologically advanced civilization in
the world.
Regents exam questions
1. The terms Brahma, Dharma, and Moksha are most closely associated
with which religion?
(1)Judaism
(3) Hinduism
(2)Islam
(4) Anism
2. -Art and literature flourished during the Gupta Empire.
-Indian scholars developed the concept of zero
-Indian provinces were united after 200 years of war.
The information in these statements refer to:
(1)Effects of European involvement in India
(2)India’s Golden Age
(3)Effects of isolationism
(4)Islamic achievements in India
3.One similarity between the Gupta dynasty in India and the
Tang dynasty in China is that each dynasty
(1)Promoted equality for religion
(2) made advances in the arts, science and mathematics
(3) Gained overseas colonies
(4) Developed a representative government
4. The use of the Silk Road in Asia and caravan routes in northern
Africa and southwestern Asia encouraged
(1) Self efficiency
(2)Cultural isolation
(3) ethnocentrism
(4) cultural diffusion
5. The five relationships taught by Confucius encouraged people
to
(1) Improve their position in life
(2) Maintain social and political order
(3) Respect and worship nature
(4) Serve the needs of religious people
Answer Key:
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.
• 5.
(3)
(2)
(4)
(2)
(2)
By:
Kaila Calabrese