Major Comparisons and Analyses: Foundation Period (8000BCE-600CE) 8000BCE: roughly period of Humans 600CE: Rise of Islam Compare major religious and philosophical systems including some underlying similarities in cementing a social hierarchy Confucianism Five key relationships: shows who you should respect Philosophy is an idea of how to live with no god or divine being Filial piety is the respect for parents and is similar to darma Hinduism Caste system: show who does what job, reinforces belief of reincarnation A religion is a belief in a god or gods that tell you how to live your life Believed in many gods and the gods governed different aspects of life, all of the gods were part of a single most important god, Brahman Karma is the good/evil acts that affect reincarnation Darma: sacred duty that promotes harmony Compare the role of women in different belief systems: Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, and Hinduism Role of Women in Buddhism Role of Women in Christianity Role of Women in Confucianism Role of Women in Hinduism had souls like men They served their husbands family and couldn’t remarry Buddhism attracted women because it decreased suffering Treated husbands like gods Equal rights Encouraged men and women to worship together Lower then men but it was suggested that they were treated with respect Join husbands family and become subordinate to his mother Sati- ritual of widows, commit suicide over their dead husband Men were dominant
Understand how and why the collapse of empire was more severe in western Europe than it was in the eastern Mediterranean or in China Collapse of Western Roman Empire Collapse of Byzantine Empire Collapse of Han Empire Slow fall (250 years) Population and decrease Constantine tried to save them The east got a complex political form quickly and was not an agricultural economy Was a commercial economy Entered the middle ages Led to becoming less advanced and “polished” Had black death Weak emperors Internal division Invasion from tribes from the north Next dynasty didn’t begin til 400 years later (state of chaos) Daoism and Confucianism still stayed Compare the caste system to other systems of social inequality devised by early and classical civilizations, including slavery Caste System in India Social classes/slavery in Valley Civilizations Social classes/ slavery in Greece and Rome Brahmins (priests) Kshatriya (warriors) Vaisays (merchants/commoners) All equal Sudras (majority of the population) Pariah/untouchables/ Outcastes There were no slaves King Nobles/priests Common people (men then women) Slaves Greece -Upper class -Lower class -Slaves (conquered people) Rome -Patricians (upper class) -Plebeians (lower class) -Slaves (conquered people)
Compare societies that include cities with pastoral and nomadic societies Mesopotamia Egypt China India City-Sumer River-Tigris City-States Achievements: Irrigation Cunieform Bronze Wheel Sail Plow Invaders:Assyrians City-Cairo River-Nile Kingdom Achievements: Hieroglyphics Pyramids Math-Geometry Medicine Invaders: Hittites Hyskos City- Anyang River-Huang He/ Yangtze Dynasties Achievements: Writing Silk Coined Cast Iron Invaders:Huns City-Mohenjo Daro River-Indus/ Ganges Centralized Government Achievements: Writing Precise Cities Grid pattern Plumbing and Sewage Invaders: Aryan Compare the development of traditions and institutions in major civilizations Indian Chinese Greek/Roman Caste Systems Family as basic unit in society Major religions: Hinduism & Buddhism Both had concept of reincarnation and karma Family basic unit in society Filial piety Yin and Yang Confucianism, Legalism, Daoism Confucianism used in Civil Service Exam Gods and Goddesses Gods/ Goddesses involved in many aspects of daily life Family important in both societies Christianity during Roman Empire Direct vs. Representative Democracy.
Egypt Kingdom with strong government organization Theocracy, with pharaohs ruling as gods Pharaohs built pyramids. Royal family highest level in society 2nd wealthy land owners, government officials, priests, and army commanders 3rd Merchants Last were peasant farmers Valley Strong centralized government Planned cities Social divisions not significant Shang Mandate of Heaven Dynastic Rule Community and family more important than individuals divisions between nobles and peasants. Mesoamerica Imperial and military organization Aztecs: subject people had to pay tribute, surrender lands, and do military service Aztec society became increasingly hierarchical Andean South America Lords were considered a Nobles helped lords run cities Priests powerful because maintain favor with gods Merchants traded salt, cotton, fish, and animal skins, Most nobles were born into their position Class of serf-like commoners above slaves Arranged marriages were common Human sacrifice to keep gods happy