Social Studies

ANCIENT INDIA AND CHINA

Indicator 2 Fourth Term, 2016
Seventh grade
Boston International School

Objective:Learn the characteristics of the first

civilizations of ancient Egypt, India and China
to compare them with the people of todays
world.
Learning Objective: Identify the
characteristics of Ancient India and China such
as culture, people, religion, and the meaning
of a man of peace for the Chinese
civilization.

Biblical Principle
The kingdom of God remains forever
Matthew 24:35
35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but
My words will never pass away.

ANCIENT INDIA

A LOST CITY
In the 1920s, archaeologists made an
important discovery in the Indus River
Valley. They found cups and vases, coins and
jewelry buried in the soil. Beneath hills of
earth, they found streets and houses, and the
skeletons of people. The archaeologists
realized they had found what was left of a
ruined city. They named it Mohenjo Daro,
meaning the city of the dead.

NEW PEOPLE

Over 3000 years ago a new group of people arrived

in the Indus River valley. They were a warlike
people called the Aryans.
The culture of the Aryans changed life in India
forever.
The Aryans brought with them a language called
Sanskrit.
They also invented the caste system. The caste
system divided people into groups. People who did
the same type of work all belonged to the same
caste or group. People could not change the caste
into which they were born.

The outcastes had to do the job that no

one else wanted to do.

The Aryans also brought with them their

beliefs about gods and goddesses. These
beliefs became a religion called Hinduism.
One important belief of Hinduism is that
people are born again in different bodies
after the die. People who lead a good life
are rewarded in the next life. Hinduism is
still followed by many people in India today.

CHINESE CIVILIZATION
It began in the Huang He Valley. The first
Chinese were farmer, and they learned to
work together. About 4000 years ago, they
began to live in villages in cities. A powerful
family named Shang united all the villages in
the Huang He Valley. This ruling family
became known as a Dynasty.
In a dynasty, when a king dies, his oldest son
becomes the new king. The Chinese were
ruled by one dynasty after another until the
early 1900s.

A MAN OF PEACE
Confucius became one of Chinas great
teacher. His ideas influenced Chinese
government and society for 2000 years. He
taught a way of life that helped bring about
peace and a fair government.
Confucius felt that there could be no peace
until people learned to live good and kind
lives. The family was very important in
Chinese culture. Confucius believed that
peace and justice began in the family.

Confucius believed there were 5 virtues, or

qualities, that people must have:
They must want to do good to one another
They must act kindly toward one another
They must honor and respect one another
They must try to get learning and knowledge
They must be sincere.
Confucius used these ideas when talked to
Chinas rulers. He taught that rulers should be
wise and kind. In return people should obey the
rules.

CLASS ACTIVITY
1. Where did the civilizations begin?
Egypt:
India:
China:
2. Where is Egypt located? Which are its borders?
3. Define:
Mummification
Tomb
Papyrus
Dynasty
Caste system
4. Compare the characteristics of the Hinduism
and Christianity make a Venn diagram.
5. Write a paragraph expressing your opinion
about Confucius ideas.