
Geography benefited the northern
empires because:
› Mountains kept out invaders
› Indus and Ganges
Rivers provided
water and fertile soil
Efficient central government allowed
faring and trade to prosper
 Provided a stable background for
advances in learning and arts
 Central government gave great power
to local leaders
 Local leaders elected by merchants and
artisans
 Women were not allowed to serve on
councils

Hinduism had strong influence on Gupta
life
 Gupta dynasty promoted Hinduism
 Village life effect through the caste
system
 Had effect on culture
and intellectual
achievements






People believed that Karma (all the good
and bad things they had done in life)
determined their caste
People could not change their caste in
their lifetime but could be born into a new
one
The Untouchables were outcasts who lived
harsh lives
Untouchables were given “impure”jobs
Untouchables had to live apart from Gupta
society
Zero and decimal system
 Arabic numerals
 Medicines
 Stupas, large dome shaped shrines

After fall of Han Dynasty, China was
divided for nearly 400 years until Tang
Taizon took power and established the
Tang Dynasty
 Ruled China from 615-907
 Forced Vietnam, Tibet and Korea to send
tribute
 Corruption, drought and rebellion
contributed to collapse of Tang China

960 AD Zhao
Kuangyin
united China
under Song
Dynasty
 China
prospered
under Song
rule
 Eventually
Mongols from
the north
invaded and
conquered
the Song
Dynasty in
1279

Set up schools to
prepare for civil service
exam = highly
educated ruling class

Land reform: Redistributed land to
peasants
 Paper money
 The grand canal – linking the Huang He
and Yangzi
 Calligraphy- fine handwriting’
 Porcelain
 Influenced Japanese life
