ANCIENT EMPIRES
Shea Brady & Kelly Mogensen
Civilizations
People of India
Asoka
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Became king in 269 B.C.
Started out as ruthless
killer (100,000+
soldiers/civilians)
Converted to Buddhism
“Peace to all beings.”
After conversion,
planted trees, dug wells,
and built rest houses.
Chandra Gupta
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Married into royalty
Expanded empire by war
and conquest
His empire had 3 main
achievements:
Astronomy – lunar eclipse
Mathematics – zero, pi, 365 days
in a year
Medicine – 2 important medical
guides, could perform surgery
India Religion
Hinduism
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Founded by Aryans
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Holy Books – Vedas & Upanishads
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Enlightenment – Moksha
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Caste System – Varna
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Violent
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One god many forms
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Atman- every person has a soul
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Jainism
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Karma
Buddhism
 Meditation
 Reincarnation
 Want to reach
enlightenment
 Similar views on
how to reach
enlightenment
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Founded by Siddhartha
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No holy books
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Enlightenment – Nirvana
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No caste system
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Peaceful
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No gods
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four noble truths
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Eight fold path
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Southeast Asia
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Jatakas- teach ideas
India Religion
Hinduism
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Brahma – creator
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Vishnu – protector
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Shiva – destroyer
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Individual soul – atman
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World soul – brahman
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Priests – brahmin
Buddhism
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Persia
Rulers:
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Cyrus “the Great” – 1st king,
tolerance, most successful in
expanding empire
Cambyses – son of Cyrus,
conquered Egypt in different
ways
Darius – not related, 10,000
immortals army as body
guards
Xerxes – son of Darius, fights
against Greeks in Persian war,
burns Athens to the ground
(1/2)
Achievements:
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Zoroaster – prophet,
founded Zoroastrianism,
early monotheistic religion
Royal Road – built during
Darius’ reign, aided travel
& trade over empire,
1600 miles long
Tolerance
Cultural respect
10,000 immortals
Persia
(2/2)
Imperial Bureaucracy
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Dividing an empire into
provinces with local
leaders to rule or run them
having different satraps
report back to the king on
the status of the empire
from each province
Persia split into 20
provinces under Darius’
rule
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China
Han Dynasty
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Qin dynasty and
Huangdi falls
China falls into civil war
Liu Bang becomes
leader of the Hans
Wudi follows Liu Bang
and continues to improve
empire
(1/2)
Silk Road
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Trading route from China
to Africa and Europe
Extended into India and
other parts of northern
Europe
All kinds of goods traded
Spread goods, culture,
religion, ideas, and
diseases all across the
world
China
Qin Shi Huangdi
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Halted internal battles
Defeated neighboring
invaders, doubling and
unifying China (its size)
Autocracy
(2/2)
Great Wall
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Offered protection for
China
Enemies had to go
around Tibet to get
through
Built along mountains
Filled with dead bodies
to help keep wall up
Forced labor
Achievements
* - Wudi
Invention of Paper*
Civil Service Program*
Created and Traded Silk*
Civil Service Exam*
Invented the harness,
plow, and wheelbarrow
Invented watermills for
grain
Chinese Philosophies
Types of Philosophies
Confucianism
Confucius
Legalism
Hanfeizi
Daoism
Li Si
Laozi
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Confucianism
5 Key Relationships
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Father to son
Elder brother to
younger brother
Husband to wife
Ruler to subject
Friend to friend
(equal)
Philosophies
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Harmony and proper
government
Follow a code of ethics
Filiel Piety – loyalty and
respect for parents
People are naturally good
Education will improve
society and advance one’s
civilizations
Confucianism
Role of Government
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Ruler must not only
enforce laws, but set
an example
The best rulers are
virtuous
Writings
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Recorded ideas in the
Analects
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Philosophies
Legalism
Philosophies
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Nature of man is evil*
Emphasis on law and
order
Pass strict laws and
apply harsh
punishments
Role of Government
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Only the ruler has
authority and he needs
to us it (autocracy)
Qin Shi Huangdi started
the Great Walls
No written records of
Legalism
Burned all educational
books
Back to Chinese
Philosophies
Daoism
Philosophies
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Seek harmony with
nature
Belief in the Yin &
Yang – natural rhythm
of life
Role of Government
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Government should not
play a role
Writings:
 Dao De Ching
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Philosophies