China
Who founded Legalism and why?
Emperor Shi Huangdi founded it as China was in the midst of great fighting and division. The emperor believed selfishness was the root cause of the fighting and division
What is the Caste System? What religion rejects it?
Caste System- system of social classes in Hinduism that are determined by one’s actions in their previous life that one can only move out of through the process of reincarnation.
Buddhism rejects it.
Why was the Gupta considered the Golden Age of India? Explain using three or more specific pieces of evidence.
Rule spanned from 375 to 415 C.E., creation of art and gold, trade along the Silk Road, provided for a circle of scholars, advanced mathematics, Gupta Cave Shrines.
What were the key ideas of Legalism?
To eliminate selfishness and promote Social Harmony so the people could work peacefully and productively with one another. To do this, strict rules and severe consequences were enacted.
What was the Classical Era? What civilizations were around during this time period?
Period of time in which complex civilizations expanded to establish large land empires and were more interconnected through trade than earlier civilizations. These civilizations made great contributions to our collective learning as a result of golden ages marked by prosperity. Most of the major belief systems that still impact our world were established during this time.
Gupta, Maurya, Han, Qin.
Who founded Confucianism and why?
Confucius, he believed that Chinese society was declining and needed to go back to their old ways through respect of elders and solid relationships throughout society.
What is the birthplace of Hinduism? What is Reincarnation?
India.
Reincarnation- the idea that the individual soul (atman) is reborn in a different form after death and is reborn until the soul achieves “union with Brahman.”
Why was the Han Dynasty considered a Golden Age? Explain using two or more specific reasons.
Creation of the Civil Service exam, extensive trade network known as the Silk Roads, paper and paper making, the Junk, the compass.
Name and explain two major ideas/beliefs of Confucianism.
1. Filial Piety-Respect for elders.
2. 5 relationships-Created structure, roles, duties, and mutual respect.
How did the classical civilizations connect? Give three specific examples that existed during this time period.
Trade, Travel, Expansion, Cultural Diffusion.
Ex: Silk Roads, waterways, expansion under the Golden Ages and the Mauryan Empire, acceptance/promotion/spreading of ideas by people in empires and around the world during this time.
What was the Silk Road? How did the Silk Road change China and other areas of the world?
The Silk Road was an extensive and very popular trade route/network during this time. It allowed for efficient trade and transportation of goods between many civilizations, allowing ideas and products to be exchanged which creates new opportunities, lifestyles, and wealth.
Why did many civilizations begin in India? Explain in detail.
Proximity to water and fertile soil- allows them to grow important plants and goods.
How did Ashoka gain, consolidate, and maintain power during the the Maurya Empire?
Gained through violence and conquest, Consolidated through his principles of equality and fair treatment, maintained through this as well.
What is Karma and Dharma?
Dharma- one’s duty according to their caste. Each caste has jobs they are supposed to perform and rules they are supposed to follow. One is not supposed to do the duty of another’s caste.
Karma is the sum of one’s good and bad actions during life. If one follows their dharma (duty), then they will have good karma. If one does not follow their dharma, they will have bad karma.
What does it mean to gain, consolidate, and maintain power?
Gain-Getting power and expanding it.
Consolidate-Taking control from either people who have power.
Maintain-Keeping your power.
Where is China located? What country did we learn about that is located to the south of it? What landform separates the two nations? What impact does this landform have on its development?
China is located in east Asia, India is to the south of it, the Himalayas separate the two, and these mountains serve as a natural barrier that can both protect and isolate.
Where is India located? What is it often referred to and why? What landmass is it located on?
India is located in the southern part of the Asian continent, is called a subcontinent because of its very large size, and is located on a peninsula.
Did Shi Huangdi improve China during the Qin Dynasty? Defend your claim with at least two pieces of evidence!
Improved the protection and culture of China with the Great Wall, Terracotta Army, Legalism.
Where is the birthplace of Buddhism?Name and explain three key ideas/beliefs of this religion.
India.
The Eightfold Path describes how one should act to eliminate desire and thus suffering and is the moral code of conduct for Buddhists, similar to the Ten Commandments in Judaism and Christianity.
4 Noble Truths- Truth of Suffering: Life is suffering, Truth of the Cause of Suffering: Suffering is caused by For Buddhists, the goal of spiritual life is to reach “nirvana” after death. This can be accomplished by eliminating desire, Truth of the Stopping of Suffering: To end suffering, one must end desire,Truth of the Path: To end suffering, follow the Eightfold Path.
For Buddhists, the goal of spiritual life is to reach “nirvana” after death. This can be accomplished by reaching a state of enlightenment like the Buddha did through intense meditation.
Middle Path- The Middle Way, path to Enlightenment.
How does geography impact the development of a civilization? Cite specific examples that we learned about during this unit.
Access to water: Fertile soil and allows for trade and transportation(India).
Deserts: Trade routes that allowed for the sale, exchange, and transportation of goods for cultural and economic enrichment. Could also stiflr expansion if the weather and land is either extreme or tough to travel(China).
Mountains: Allows for protection and creates isolation, (China and India).
Name three geographic features of China and explain how they each impacted China's development.
Taklamakan Desert-Trade routes, connecting civilizations.
Himalayas- physical and natural barrier that protected and isolated China.
Gobi Desert- Stifled China's ability to expand north to Mongolia.
Yellow River- birth of Chinese civilizations, also created death and destruction.
Yangtze River- Irrigation for agriculture and transportation.
Name three geographic features in India and explain how they impacted the country's development.
Himalayas- Natural and physical barrier that led to isolation and protection.
Indo-Gangetic Plain is home to India’s most important rivers. It is a vast area of fertile soil where many of India’s civilizations began.
Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal- Two bodies of water, trade and transportation.
Compare and contrast two of the empires we learned about in class using three specific pieces of evidence.
The Han and Gupta were similar as they were both Golden Ages(refer to question 100 and 200), but some of their reforms were a bit different.
Ashoka and Emperor Shi Huangdi were similar in the fact that they used influence, persuasion, and intelligence to gain, consolidate, and maintain power. Shi Huangdi was more militaristic and security oriented, Ashoka was like this but then changed his ways when he converted to Buddhism.
Compare and contrast 2 religions. Give 2 similarities and 2 differences.
Buddhism and Confucianism both focus on harmony, tolerance, and dignity but Confucianism has different levels of relationships in society.
Buddhism and Hinduism believe in Reincarnation and paths to salvation but Buddhism rejects the Caste System.
Legalism and Buddhism both seek to eliminate desire and selfishness, promoting harmony. Legalism is more harsh in enforcing its ideas.
What are the six aspects of a Golden Age? Explain 3.
Period- span of time.
Wealth-a great deal of $.
Prosperity-Sustained Success.
Stability- Consistency and Order.
Culture-language, ideas, inventions, art.
Scientific Achievement-Advancement, Inventions, Innovation.