Classical India and China
Classical China's form of government was a bureaucracy in which they called dynasties. They had many different dynasties throughout their time like the Zhou, Shang, etc. China's geography helped them isolate themselves from foreign invaders, and helped them remain unified. The mountains surrounded all of Western China, and they had the Pacific Ocean on their Eastern side. Their economy was mostly based on agriculture. They also made pottery and other arts to trade with each other and other civilizations. During some time, their belief system was Confucianism, founded by Confucius.
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Classical India's form of government was also a bureaucracy based on religion, in which they called the Caste System. Their main religion ,Hinduism, influenced their government and culture heavily. Their two major ancient cities were called Mohenjo Daro and Harappa. Later on they had two dynasties called the Mauryan and Gupta Empires. From Hinduism, a new belief system emerged from it called Buddhism. after some time, Buddhism was rooted out of India and made its way to China, thanks to the Silk Road.
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Foundational beliefs of HinduismHinduism has no specific record of having a specific founder. It is believed to have existed for many years. Hinduism is considered to be a polytheistic religion because they believed in many gods such as Vishnu, Sita, and Brahma. In India, the people there lived under the influence of the Caste System. In the Caste System, there were Brahmins, Kshatryia, Vaishya, Sutras, and Untouchables. The Brahmins were the higher class in which they were priests and were educated, the Kshatryia were warriors and nobility, the Vaishya were merchants and land owners, Sutras were commoners, peasants, and servants, the Untouchables were outcasts and the lowest of the castes. Hindus believe in rebirth and Karma. While the Buddhists believed to follow the Eightfold Path and reach Nirvana, Hindus sticked with the caste system, their gods, and Karma.
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Foundational beliefs of ConfuciansimConfucianism was founded by a man named Confucius. He lived during the Zhou dynasty and was looking for a way to stabilize China. At the time, China was undergoing chaos thanks to the fall of their previous dynasty, the Han Dynasty. People were confused and scared, because they believed that there was no Mandate of Heaven. Confucius believed that the only way for a society to have peace and stability is to have Filial Piety. He believed that there should be respect between families, friends, and rulers. He wrote all his teachings into a book called the Analects. Over time, Confucianism became part of China's classical tradition for many years.
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The impact of the Silk RoadThe Silk Road was a major trade route in which people traded for many years. This trade route stretched from China , through India, all the way to the Mediterranean region. Chinese merchants would trade jade, silk, and other valuable Chinese goods. They would usually trade with Greece and Rome. They would return with gold, silver, and wool. The fact that Chinese people and Greeks could trade beside their distance away from each other is quite amazing because this route is stretched on long distances, crosses many places and is beneficial to everybody. Another benefit from the Silk Road is that new ideas , technology, and religions were also interchanged, along with goods and other merchandise.
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Vocab:
Karma: The belief that the things that happen based on previous actions and future actions.
Nirvana: State of peace and rebirth in which all Buddhists try to achieve.
Eightfold path: standards that Buddhists follow to reach Nirvana; right views, speech, intention, action, effort, livelihood, concentration and mindfulness.
Mandate of Heaven: Ancient Chinese belief that the heavens choose who governed the dynasty based on their ability to rule fairly.
Filial Piety: Confucian philosophy that claims that there should be a relationship between inferior men and women to superior men.
Karma: The belief that the things that happen based on previous actions and future actions.
Nirvana: State of peace and rebirth in which all Buddhists try to achieve.
Eightfold path: standards that Buddhists follow to reach Nirvana; right views, speech, intention, action, effort, livelihood, concentration and mindfulness.
Mandate of Heaven: Ancient Chinese belief that the heavens choose who governed the dynasty based on their ability to rule fairly.
Filial Piety: Confucian philosophy that claims that there should be a relationship between inferior men and women to superior men.