River Civilizations and Other civilizations of Southwest Asia.
What Happened To The 4 River Civilizations
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Transcript of What Happened To The 4 River Civilizations
What happens to the 4 River Civilizations?
When civilizations meet.
Indo-Europeans Migrate• Groups of nomadic people from the
Caucus Mtn. steppes driven from Mesopotamia and Indus Valley.
• Settle in Eastern and Western Europe, India.
• Why? We don’t know.
Mesopotamia and Egypt• Hittites:
– 2000 BCE: Occupy Anatolia (Turkey).
– 1650 BCE: Hattusas.– Occupy Babylon,
struggle with the Egyptians.
– Culture:• Borrow.
– Technology:• Chariots – iron ore and
lumber
– 1190 BCE: Fall.
Mesopotamia• Minoans:
– 2000 -1400 BCE.– Lived on Crete, seafaring.– Facilitate trade (between Asia Minor
[Turkey], Europe, and the Middle East).– 1470 BCE: Earthquake
Mesopotamia• Phoenicians:
– 1100 BCE: Take over from the Minoans.– Superior traders, merchant vessels.– Connect Africa, Europe, and Asia.
Indus Valley• Aryans:
– 2000 BCE: Settle in the Northwest Indus Valley.
– Vedas – sacred literature.– Caste System:
• Brahmins, warriors, landowners, peasants or traders.
• Varna.
– 1000 BCE: Arrive in India; Magadha.– 2 BCE: Magadha is modern India.
China
• Nothing!• Why?
– Geography.– Stable
political, social, and economic landscape.
• Shang Zhou lasts until 256 BCE.
The Birth of World Religions
A metaphor for when civilizations meet.
Proof• Given:
– World religions resulted from more sophisticated civilization, trade, and intermingling of the 4 River Civilizations.
• If:– Religious beliefs are non-material culture.– Religious icons and edifices are material
culture.– Religious texts are primary sources.
• Then:– World religions can tell us the political,
economic, and cultural events, individuals, and ideas from their historical time period.
Hinduism• Date of Origin:1200 – 700 BCE.• Area of Origin: India/Aryan Invasion• Founders: Multiple founders.• Beliefs:
– Holy Book: Vedas, Puranas, among others.– Reincarnation.– Enlightenment is achieved if you are free from
earthly desires.– Freedom from earthly desires comes from a
lifetime of worship, knowledge, and virtuous acts.
Hinduism• 1600 – 1000 BCE:
Aryan invasions.• 1500 – 1000 BCE:
Vedic Age:– Political:
• Expand to the Ganges Valley.
– Cultural:• Sanskrit.• Vedas.
– 1028: Rig-Veda.
Hinduism• 1000 – 600 BCE: Epic
Age:– Poltical:
• Village organization: Chiefs patriarch children.
• Villages responsible for defense and regulation.Caste system?
– Cultural:• Mahabrata, Ramanya, and
the Upanishads.• Caste system (varnas):
Aryans vs. indigenous?
– Economic:• Caste system
Judaism
• Date of Origin: 1200 BCE.• Area of Origin: Mediterranean, Israel.• Founders: Abraham.• Beliefs:
– Holy Book: The Torah.– One god.– People are accountable for their sins.– People serve god by studying the Torah and
living by its teaching.
Judaism• 1200 BCE: The Jews
settle in Israel.• Lose and regain
independence several times:– Abraham – Canaan.– Egypt.– Moses and Exodus.
• 63 BCE: Romans seize the state outright.
Buddhism• Date of Origin: 500 BCE.• Area of Origin: India China, East Asia• Founder: Siddharatha Gautama, The Buddha• Beliefs:
– Holy Book: Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, among others.– People achieve nirvana (complete peace and happiness)
by eliminating their attachment to worldly things.– Nirvana is reached by following the eightfold path:
Right views.Right aspiration.
Right speech.Right conduct.
Right livelihood.Right endeavor.
Right mindfulnessRight meditation.
Buddhism• 563 BCE: Indian
prince named Siddartha Gautama born.
• Brahman opposition.• Hinduism adapts
with mysticism.• Spread to southeast
Asia, Sri Lanka.• Indian pockets.