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Indian Subcontinent
• This area of Asia is separated from the rest of the continent by the highest mountains in the world
• Mountains to north and desert to the east protect from invasion
• Indus and Ganges Rivers provide fertile land
Environmental Challenges
• Yearly floods unpredictable
• Rivers could change course
• Monsoon winds were unpredictable, causing rains to be unpredictable
Harrapan Civilization
• Indus Valley civilization called this due to findings at city of Harrapa
• Cities used a grid like system of roads
• Homes made of standard size bricks
• Early plumbing and drainage system
Indus Valley Culture
• Had language, but isn’t understood today
• Little division of social classes
• Not much knowledge of religion
• Great at trade• Peaceful people who
did not worry about war
Ancient China
• Two major rivers, Huang He, or Yellow River, and the Chang Jiang, or Yangtze River
• Isolated to rest of world by Yellow Sea, East China Sea, Pacific Ocean, and large mountains and deserts to the west
Environmental Challenges
• Huang He floods could destroy entire cities
• Isolated and had to rely on own resources
• Natural barriers did not completely protect from invaders
• Only 10% of China’s land is good for farming
Ancient Chinese Dynasties
• First dynasty was the Xia Dynasty around 2000 B.C.
• Led by Yu, a mathematician and engineer, who helped control the flooding with irrigation system
• Shang Dynasty was first Chinese rulers to leave written records
Ancient Chinese Dynasties
• Shang Dynasty were constantly waging war
• Zhou Dynasty did not change culture of Shang
• Believed in Mandate of Heaven which meant ruler had divine approval, but if he was evil or foolish, he would lose the right to rule
Feudalism
• Dynasty gave power to family and noble to govern different regions
• Would grant use of land in return for protection of king and people
• Regions became more powerful and began fighting, leading to end of Zhou Dynasty