Indian & Chinese Empires

African Civilizations

321 BC-Chandragupta Maurya killed the Nanda

king, declared himself ruler and established the Mauryan Empire

Raised a vast army and soon had control over a large empire

Used tough policies, including spying on people and political assassination to hold empire together

Divided empire into four provinces, headed by a royal prince Provinces were divided into districts

Establishment of Mauryan Empire

Asoka

Leader of Mauryan Empire following the death of his fathers

Also waged war to expand the empire

Studied and promoted Buddhism

Built extensive roads to visit all of India Made travel easier and

increased communication

A Period of Turmoil

Followed Asoka’s deathRegional kings challenged central government

Led by Chandra Gupta India’s second Empire Expanded the empire through conquest Most families were patriarchal, headed by the

oldest male Growth of Hinduism during this time Great period of achievement in the arts,

religious thought and science

The Gupta Empire

Changes in Buddhism Some began to teach that

Buddha was a God Others believed that

many people could become Buddhas

Changed Buddhism to a mass religion that offered salvation to all

Several different sects emerged

New trends inspired Indian art

Hindu Rebirth

Developed into a complex set of sacrifices that could be performed only by the priests

Evolved into a more personal religion

Achievements in

Indian Culture Rich literary tradition Writing academies

began Drama was popular Expansion of trade

spurred advance of science

Began using calendars to keep time

Knowledge of astronomy increased

Silk Roads

Roads throughout Central AsiaUsed to bring silk from China, to western Asia and then to

Rome

Hans Restore Chinese

Unity 202 BC Liu Bang declared

himself the first emperor of the Han Dynasty after winning the civil war

This dynasty ruled for more than 400 years

Established a central government, lowered taxes and softened harsh punishments

Highly structured Emperor King & Governor State Officials & Scholars Peasants Artisans & Merchants Soldiers Slaves

Society’s Structure

Unification of Chinese Culture

Encouraged assimilationSent Chinese farmers to settle conquered areas

Encouraged intermarriage

The Fall of the Han

Gap between rich and poor increased

Political instability grew Flood left thousands dead

and millions homeless Not enough food to feed

people & peasants revolted

Hans off the throne for two years, but a period of second Han rule soon began

Deserts

Largest are Sahara and Kalahari Rain Forests Savannas

Grassy plains Mountains are also in this area Dry and rainy seasons alternate Very thin top soil, so minerals are

stripped away

African Geography

Earliest Africans were hunter-gatherers Eventually learned to domesticate and raise a

variety of animals for food Agriculture began by 6000BC

Allowed Africans to live in one location Build permanent shelters

As settlements grew more complex, more organization was needed

Early Africans & The Environment

Early African Society

Organized into family groups

Nearly all local religious involved belief in one creator

Also included elements of animism, a religion in which spirits play an important role

Storytellers, or griots kept history alive

Traced back to King Solomon and lasted until

the last ruler died in 1975 Aksum’s location made it a hub of

international trade Reached its height between AD 325 and 360 Traditionally believed in one God, called

Mahrem Official religion was later changed to

Christianity

The Kingdom of Aksum