Chinese Civilizations
Ancient Chinese civilization began between the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers and the first Chinese Dynasty was the Xia Dynasty all though very little is known about it. Chinese kings ruled through the Mandate of Heaven which meant that they had direct authority from heaven to rule the kingdom and keep order in the universe. The Zhou dynasty was the longest lasting dynasty in Chinese history. The Zhou dynasty brought about irrigation systems, iron tools, silk, pictographs and ideographs. During the Shang dynasty society was based on agriculture and it was ruled by wealthy upper class people that owned land (aristocrats). The Chinese used oracle bones to communicate with the gods. They would write questions on the bones and crack them. Then the pieces would be interpreted for good or bad news.
Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama was a young prince living in the lap of luxury, but to him something was missing. He left his beautiful wife and family and all of his possessions behind to meditate. Through meditation he achieved enlightenment and began preaching. He was called Buddha ( Enlightened one) and he taught people that by letting go of physical possessions wisdom and happiness can be gained. The ultimate goal of existence in Buddhism is to reach Nirvana ( not the band). Nirvana is freedom from the cycle of rebirth and suffering.
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Indian Civilizations
During the Mauryan Empire Asoka Maurya, generally considered to be the greatest ruler in the history of India, ruled using Buddisht ideals. Asoka set up hospitals for the welfare of both people and animals. He also ordered shelters and trees to be placed along roads which increased commerce in the empire. In the first century A.D nomadic warriors seized power bringing rise to the Kushan Empire. The Kushans grew rich from trade along the Silk Road which stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. In 320 A.D the Gupta Empire was formed by Chandragupta in the Ganges Valley. This Empire was so well put together that it actually created a new age of Indian civilization. The Empire actively engaged in trade with China and other states in the region which allowed cities along the trade routes to prosper. Pilgrims that came from all over India to visit the major religious centers also contributed to this empires wealth, but in the late 5th century A.D the Huns from the northwest attacked. Their attack only weakened the empire but in the middle of the 7th century it collapsed and north India would stay divided for many centuries after.
P.s: Indian mathematicians introduced the concept of 'zero' and used a symbol (0) for it. Aryabhata was a famous mathematician of the Gupta Empire who used algebra. Mathematical!:D HinduismHinduism originated in India and it is the belief in one universal spirit called Brahman.To become one with God Indians preform yoga. There are three physical forms of Hinduism: Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. Brahma is regarded as the father of Dharma (The Law of Being. Without Dharma things cannot exist). Vishnu is the preserver or sustain-er of life with his strong principles of order, righteousness, and truth. When these values come under attack, Vishnu emerges from transcendence to restore peace and order on earth. Shiva is the most powerful god of the trio and he is responsible for death and destruction. Shiva is the dissolving force in life, but he destroys to create. He is a very complicated god since the opposites of life and death and creation and destruction reside in his character.
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