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Ancient India & China
The Indus & Huang He
River Valleys
Geography of India
Three mountain ranges form the northern border of the Indian sub-continent
Winter monsoons (from the northeast) are dried out as they pass over the mountains
Summer monsoons (from the southwest) bring rains from the Indian Ocean
Temperatures range from 70° in the winter to 120° in the summer
Harappan Civilization
Developed in the Indus River Valley, during the Copper Age, 2500-1500 BC
Cities were built on man made islands or surrounded by levees to protect them from unpredictable flooding
Cities showed urban planning with brick buildings and grid patterned streets
Harappan Technology
Harappan homes had indoor plumbing (3900 years before Europe & the US)
Cities had sewers to dispose of waste water
Advanced manufacturing of pottery, metallurgy (jewelry & metal goods), and weaving
Harappan Unknowns…
Harappan language remains unknown, can not be translated
Civilization declined after 1500 BC after tectonic shifts
Indus River changed course, land exhausted, earthquakes, etc. disrupted trade and ruined the economy
Geography of China
China is isolated mountains, deserts, and the ocean cut off China from the world
Third largest country in the world
Only 10% of land is good for farming
Population lives in the Huang He & Chang Jiang River Valleys in Eastern China
Ancient China
Civilization developed in the Huang He & Chang Jiang River Valleys 4000 years ago
Oldest, continuous civilization in history
Isolation caused ethnocentrism, China was the center of the universe
Dynasties
Legendary Xia Dynasty started by Yu developed flood control & irrigation systems to tame the Huang He River
Shang Dynasty, 1700-1027 BC, left written records
Zhou Dynasty introduced the Mandate of Heaven, the emperor ruled because the gods said he could
Feudalism
Form of government based on land ownership and promises of loyalty
Emperor gives nobles land and in return they promise to fight for him
Chinese Culture
Family is the center of Chinese culture
Families are patriarchal, sons even outrank their mothers
Rigid social structure, warrior-nobles rule over the peasants
Polytheistic religion, spirits of ancestors asked to speak to the gods
Chinese Technology
Complex written language, each symbol is a syllable
Roads & canals made trade easier
Used money, not barter
Blast furnaces allowed the development of iron tools and weapons
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