Unit 2 Flashcards
Harappa and Mohenjo Daro
-Cities of the Indus River Valley Civilization
-2 major cities
-evidence of careful planning (houses organized in blocks and rows)
-Large scale infrastructure
-plumbing
-value of cleanliness
-evidence of a government
-no places of worship or places of government
-farming central to economy
-statues and images on clay seals evident of religious beliefs
Vedic Age
-merging of indo-aryans and dravidians
-formative period
Vedas
-4 oldest Hindu religious texts
-written in sanskrit
-tell about the religion and society of the Vedic age
The four varnas
-Social hierarchy of Hindu society
-Brahmins (priests)
-Kshatriyas (warriors and kings)
-Vaisyas (herders and farmers)
-Sudras (laborers and servants)
-rigid and complex caste system
-dependent on birth(Jati)
-determined marriage, jobs, and social life
-higher classes more pure
Dalits
-Lowest level of caste system
-Below and outside of varna system
Brahman
-Primary God
-moksha means union with him
Samsara
-reincarnation
-All existence is cyclical
-cycle of death and rebirth
Karma
-governs samsara
-satisfaction of dharma=good karma and higher varna
Dharma
-divine law
-pursuit of ones true calling
-different based on castes
-fulfillment is a moral and religious duty
Moksha
-obtainable by any class
-union with Brahman
-perfect fulfillment of dharna
-a drop in the ocean
-release from cycle of death and rebirth
Siddharta Gautama
-Hindu Prince
-gave up riches for spiritual enlightenment
-did not want to be worshipped as a god
-reached enlightenment and learned of the four noble truths
4 noble truths
-all life is suffering (dukkha)
-the cause is desire (Tanha) and ignorance (avidya)
-to end suffering end desire and ignorance
-to end desire and ignorance follow the eightfold path to learn imperneance (cantina) and non self (anatman)
Eightfold path
-attain wisdom, virtue, and meditate
-through right views, intention, speech,action,livelihood,mindfulness,effort,concentration
Nirvana
-ultimate goal
-emptying of self
-recognize the truths
Oracle bones
-used by the Shang dynasty
-oxen bones
-used in divination
Mandate of Heaven
-divine right to rule
-zhou dynasty
-can be won or lost
-explains rise and fall of dynasties
Warring states period
-intense warfare between Zhou and rivals
-need for new social and political ideas
-100 schools of thought
Confucianism
- ren which means people should behave in a loving, selfless, and moral way.
-Ren must be lived out in Five Relationships
-principle of filial piety, which means that children should respect their parents.
-Mastering ren requires self-discipline built through the practice of li, the ritual forms and rules of propriety through which one expresses respect for superiors and sincerely acknowledges one’s role in society
-A good ruler must possess de or virtue
-ruler must learn self-discipline
-lead by example
Daoism
-Laozi
-The main principle is the Dao which means “the Way” -The Dao is ineffable and limitless.
-The Dao is an absolute entity which is the source of the universe
-virtue is seen as returning to one’s nature
- living in harmony and letting things take their natural course
-nonaction
-avoidance of aggressive measures like wars, cruel punishments and heavy taxes
Qin shi huang
-first emperor
-qin dynasty
-means “the first Qin emperor”
-end of warring states period
Qin dynasty
-established a bureacracy
-built Great Wall of china
-roads and canals
-increase of trade
legalism
-fear-based ruling
-han fei
-strict adherence to laws
-harsh punishments
Terracotta army
-qin dynasty
-massive underground tomb and army to help him continue his rule in the afterlife
Han Dynasty
Maintained the same government structure but:
Simplified law codes
Reduced tax rates
Few public projects requiring forced labor
Few military campaigns requiring soldiers
Civil service exam
-Intended to draw talented people into the government regardless of social class (i.e. meritocracy)
-The exam covered a wide range of subjects, requiring essays on the Confucian classics, history, law, poetry, calligraphy and administrative procedures.
-Confucianism became the dominant philosophy
Han=golden age
Marked by peace, stability, and economic prosperity
Technological advances:
Papermaking
Magnetic compass
Improved metalwork
Silk manufacturing
Astheticism
self denial/starvation, buddhist practice that siddahrta Gautama did
Sacrifices to claim Mandate of Heaven
Feng and Shan
Atman
soul (budd. and hindu)
