Major Comparisons and Analyses: Foundation Period (8000BCE-600CE)
8000BCE: roughly period of Early Humans
600CE: Rise of Islam
1. Compare major religious and philosophical systems including some
underlying similarities in cementing a social hierarchy
Confucianism
Hinduism
Social system-bureacracy (li) five
Social system-caste system
relationships
(reincarnation)
Teachings(writing)- analects
The Vedas
Dao- duty to family and community
Dharma- Sacred duty
Gurus/mystics and teachers
Brahmins
Kshatriyas
Vaisyas
Sudras
Pariahs (outcastes)
2. Compare the role of women in different belief systems: Buddhism,
Christianity, Confucianism, and Hinduism
Role of
Role of Women in
Role of Women in
Role of Women in
Women in Christianity
Confucianism
Hinduism
Buddhism
Believed
 Lowly Valued
 Could be
 Women had
women
nuns
to be humble
 Ex: Laws of
had souls
Manu
 Role of
 Marriage
Many man
Mary,
was based
 Ramayana
valued
mother
on property

Buddhist
of Jesus
relationship,
wives b/
importan
therefore
they might
t
women are
benefit the
subordinate
family’s
to men
salvation
 5
It was
Relationship
appealing
s
to Chinese
 (Husband to
women b/c
Wife)
it led to a
 Lessons for
more
Women(Ban
meaningful
Zhao)
life
*Buddhist
Nuns
Songs
3. Understand how and why the collapse of empire was more severe in
western Europe than it was in the eastern Mediterranean or in China
Collapse of Western
Collapse of Byzantine
Collapse of Han Empire
Roman Empire
Empire
-Catholic Church- held
-Invaded by Turks-Power -Confucianism
Empire together
turned over to them
-Uniformity
-Feudalism
-Eastern Orthodox
-Period of Warring States
-Church held area
(schism weakens)
-Some political structure
together
-Invasions led to call for
-Plague, political upheaval the crusades
-Invaders-Visigoths,
Vikings
4. Compare the caste system to other systems of social inequality devised
by early and classical civilizations, including slavery
Caste System in India
Social classes/slavery
Social classes/ slavery in
in River Valley
Greece and Rome
Civilizations
(1)Kshatriyas-warriors
-Kings=military leaders -Greece-slaves at bottom.
(2)Brahmans-priests
-farmers were thought
-Farmers could go down
*eventually switched
of as a high class.
to slavery if they didn’t pay
(3)Vaisyas- traders and
-women were looked
off their debts.
farmers
as lower than men.
-women were looked as
(4)Sudras- commoners
-slaves were the lowest less than men.
and laborers
class-mentioned in
-Rome- Patricians and
(5)untouchables-outcastes Hammurabi’s code.
Plebeians.
but not slaves
-Patricians- higher than
No intermarriage between
classes or moving up of
down.
Plebeians.
-Elite class called the
nobles.
-Slaves were conquered
people, not race.
5. Compare societies that include cities with pastoral and nomadic societies
Mesopotamia
Egypt
China
India
Hyksos (chariots)- HunsIndo-Euros
Began with Sumerians
Egyptians learned barbarians,
infiltratedAkkadians invaded
about them
invaded from
natural
(settled)
Hitites
north, great
disasters,
Babylonians invaded
Kushites- Invaded wall built to
historians are
(settled)
from Nubia in the
stop them
unsure of
Indo-Euros invaded
south
Xiongnuimpact on
from the north
invaded from
Indians
Assyrians and Persians
Gobi, destroyed
invaded (empires)
by Wudi
6. Compare the development of traditions and institutions in major
civilizations
Indian
Caste system
Buddhism, Hinduismmajor religions
Jati-large groups based
on occupation
Jainism- protection of
animals
Chinese
Civil service – fighting in
army
Confucianism
Daoism
Legalism
Mandate of Heaven –
divine authority to rule
Filial piety
Dao similar to dharma
7. Describe interregional trading systems
Silk Roads
Indian Ocean Trade
Traded on this route was
Traded from china to
silk,drugs,
Europe
cotton,dye,gold, and ivory
established by pastoral
into the middle east
nomads
They received slaves and
Traded silk and other
gold from rome in these
products they were
routes
usually luxurious
Wine, pottery and metals
products
would also come from
Also many spices were
this trade route
included in these trade
Monsoons helped with
routes
the trade because it
provided winds to carry
ships
Greek/Roman
Stoicism
Polytheistic religion
Epicureanism –
Epicurean
Judaism
Later Christianity was
developed
Poleis- Athens
Trans-Saharan Trade
Gold Salt Trade
Merchants and
upperclassmen would
convert to Islam because
they would be introduced
with the religion over
these trade routes and
arab empire
Controlled by empires
that taxed the trade
routes
8. Compare the political and social structures of early civilizations:
Civilization
Political
Social
Mesopotamia
 City-states
 Slaves were lower class
 Govt. enforced
 Many laws concerning
religious duties
men/women and
slaves/owners in
 Kings were
Hammurabi’s code
military leaders in
times of wars
Egypt



Indus Valley


Pharaohs had
godlike status
Pyramids built as
tombs for pharaohs
Had absolute power
Strong
centralized
government
Planned cities







Slaves were lower class
Pharaohs, priests, nobility,
scribes were upper class
Craftsmen/slaves=middle
class
Social divisions were
not significant
Dravidians
Aryans
Caste system
Shang
 Mandate of
heaven
 Bureaucracy
 Civil service
exams
 State
Confucianism
 Sharp divisions between
nobles and peasants
 Community and family
put in front of individual
needs
 Patriarchal society
 Filial piety
Mesoamerica
(Toltecs and
Olmecs)



Militaristic
Had kings and
local rulers
Cults of sacrifice and
war
Andean South
America
(Chavins and
Nazca)


Militaristic
Had kings and
local rulers

Cults of war and
sacrifice