Lecture outline

Theme 4. Ancient civilizations of Southern and Eastern Asia

(600 BCE – 1000 CE)

 

China

1.      Ancient China: the earliest farming societies – 8000 to 6000 BCE; the dynasty of Xia (2000–1600 BCE); the dynasty of Shang (1600–1045 BCE): chariots, pictographs; the dynasty of Zhou (Chou) (1045–220 BCE): fragmentation (480–221 BCE), iron, celestial bureaucracy, the Mandate of Heavens.      

The 3rd century BCE - Qin Shih Huang Ti (Ying Zheng) – the Emperor of the Qin dynasty: legalism, repressions, iron, great wall, canals, language codification.

The 3rd BC – 3rd CE – the Han dynasty. Revolt of the Seven Kingdoms (154 BCE) à Wu’s reforms: system of state examinations for officials. Teaching of  Confucius (the 6th – 5th BCE) – hierarchy-is-good ideology. The 3rd BCE – the popular spread of Confucianism across China à the increase of state centralization.    

Teaching of Laozi (7th – 6th BCE) – teaching about self-enlightenment and searching own way (Dao). The 5th – 3rd centuries BCE – spread of Daoism à decentralization tendencies à challenges for the government.

India

The 4th – 2nd BCE – the Empire of Maurya in Hindustan (capital Pataliputra). Chandragupta Maurya – the first ruler – last days, follower of Jainism (Jains) religion. Ashoka Maurya (the 3rd BCE) – the emperor promoter of Buddhism in India, Burma and Ceylon.

Siddhartha Gautama (the 6th – 5th BCE) taught the salvation of Nirvana (avoidance of the chain of reincarnations) through minimization of wishes and sufferings. Buddha is just teacher and an example.

The 8th – 4th BCE – formation of Hinduism – many gods religion (Vishnu, Krishna, Agni, Devi, Shiva, Sati, ect. – 330 000 000 gods and goddesses) + castes hierarchical system of society = the better practices during life the higher caste position in the next life.

The 4th – 6th CE – the Empire of Gupta. The domination of Hinduism. Chandra Gupta – the first king.

Pakistan

The 1st – 3rd CE – the Kushan Empire in the territory of what is now Pakistan. The creation of Buddhism Mahayana (Buddha is god and bodhisattva – the Saviour - a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so in order to help people) Kanishka I (the 2nd CE) - the greatest king of the Kushans. The large-scale missionary activity of the Kushans à Buddhism in China and Japan.

 America

The 2 BCE - 8 CE - Teotihuacan, big city in Mesoameriaca, 200 000 of population, human sacrifices, Temples ans pyramids for Sun and Moon, the serpent god Quetzalcoatl ; floating islands chinapas with corn growing. Decline because of class strugle or invasion of northern tribes.

The 3 - 10 CE - the Maya in Mesoamerica (modern Guatemala and Mexico). nearly independent 40 city-states. 40 000 of population in the bigest city. Total population is 3 000 000 in spite of tropics hard life. No plough, oxen, weels, carts. Corn, beens, cacao. Pyramids for god-jaguar and god-serpent Quetzalcoatl, Kings were priests. Hieroglyphs as a writing everywhere (temples, piramyds, tombs etc). Calendar. Dated monument every 20 years, the last one is with 928. The end because of probably volcanic erruptions, wars with Toltecs (who knew copper), deceases, environmental degradation.

The 3 - 7 CE - Culture Moche in the Andes. Quipu - knotted strings. Clans. Common owing of land. Chieftains are priests and warriors. Mita - collective working duties. Lamas and alpacas, agriculture in mountains (terrace). Quinoa, corn and potato. Causes of decline: Moche river changed its course because of earthquake, wars with other tribes.


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