History .
Q1.What inference can you make from study the map about Mauryan dynasty?
-The people had the advancement in transport that allowed them to travel long distances across the plains.
-The towns and cities were located not very far apart from each other.
-The towns and cities were located near rivers.
Q2.What were the result of these interactions?
-It resulted in good relationship between the cities that allowed them to trade for raw materials more easily and also borrow ideas from one another to aid in each country's development and expansion in both economy and peace.

Qns: Discuss the impact that different religions had on SEAsia

Islams also known as MUSLIMS

The actual timing and introduction of Islamic religion and religious practice to Southeast Asia is somewhat of a debate. European historians have argued that it came through trading contacts with India, whereas some Southeast Asian Muslim scholars claim it was brought to the region directly from Arabia in the Middle East. Other scholars claim that Muslim Chinese who were engaged in trade introduced it.

Whatever the source, scholars acknowledge that Muslim influence in Southeast Asia is at least six centuries old, or was present by 1400 A.D. Some argue for origins to at least 1100 A.D. in the earliest areas of Islamic influence, such as in Aceh, northern Sumatra in Indonesia.

Whatever exact dates and sources one chooses to support, there is no doubt that Islamization of many peoples in present-day Malaysia, southern Thailand, Indonesia, Brunei, and the southern Philippines occurred within a few hundred years. The process of religious conversion absorbed many pre-existing Southeast Asian beliefs (often referred to as 'animism', or the belief in the power of invisible spirits of people's ancestors and the spirits of nature to influence the fortunes of humans on earth).

The scholar Anthony Reid, Professor of History at the University of California, Los Angeles, argues that this process of Islamization (and Christianization in the Philippines) occurred rapidly in Southeast Asia, especially during the period of 1550-1650.

For example, Islam became strong in eastern Indonesia, especially coastal kingdoms of Sulawesi, Lombok, Kalimantan, Sumbawa, Makassar, and in Sulu and Magindanao (Cotabato Province) in the southern Philippines from 1603-1612. This does not mean that rulers and their subjects in these areas were totally devoted to upholding all of the basic rules of Islam. It means that Islamic influence was present, as evidenced through ruling elites' obligation to renounce the consumption of pork and to pronounce the daily five prayers. Some also practiced circumcision during this period.

Hinduism

*The different religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam had a great impact on the way the people of ancient Southeast Asia lived . These religions guided many ancient Southeast Asian rulers in the ways they governed . For example, in mainland SEA, the Khmer kings became Hindu and had their people construct capital cities where their palaces represented the home of the gods . The rulers of island SEA had adopted Islam and called themselves sultans . In ancient China, the people of ancient SEA had combined their older beliefs with the teachings of their new religion . Till today, the religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam continue to shape the lives of people in Southeast Asia .

How Hinduism and Buddhism spread to SEAsia?
BUDDHISM

In the 2nd century BCE, Asoka's emissaries (perhaps including Asoka's son Mahinda) went to Sri Lanka, an island southeast of the Indian subcontinent. They were well-received by the local ruler, King Devanampiva Tissa, and Theravada Buddhism took hold there.

This is when the Mahavihara monastery, a center of Sinhalese orthodoxy, was built. It was at the Sri Lankan royal city of Anuradhapura, in about 90 BCE, that the Tripitaka was put in written form in the Pali language. Although there are other versions of the Tripitaka available, the Pali Canon is the earliest written version.

Sri Lankan Theravada Buddhism continued to flourish over the centuries, producing notable Buddhist commentators such as Buddhaghosa (4th–5th century). Although Mahayana Buddhism gained some influence at that time, Theravada ultimately prevailed, and Sri Lanka turned out to be the last stronghold of Theravada Buddhism, from where it would expand again to southeast Asia from the 11th century.

In the areas east of the Indian subcontinent (today's Burma), Indian culture strongly influenced the Mons. The Mons are said to have been converted to Buddhism around 200 BCE under the proselytizing of the Indian king Ashoka, before the scission between Mahayana and Hinayana Buddhism. Early Mon Buddhist temples, such as Peikthano in central Burma, have been dated between the 1st and the 5th century CE.

The Buddhist art of the Mons was especially influenced by the Indian art of the Gupta and post-Gupta periods, and their mannerist style spread widely in Southeast Asia following the expansion of the Mon kingdom between the 5th and 8th centuries. The Theravada faith expanded in the northern parts of Southeast Asia under Mon influence, until it was progressively displaced by Mahayana Buddhism from around the 6th century CE.

There is also a legend, not directly validated by the edicts, that Ashoka sent a missionary to the north, through the Himalayas, to Khotan in the Tarim Basin, then the land of an Indo-European people, the Tocharians.

Sources

1. John Bowker, ed., The Cambridge Illustrated History of Religions (Cambridge UP, 2002), p. 80.
2. "Buddhism." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Premium Service, 2004. <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9105944>
3. "History of Buddhism." Wikipedia, 2005. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Buddhism>

HINDUISM

Hinduism and Buddhism exerted an enormous influence on the civilizations of Southeast Asia and contributed greatly to the development of a written tradition in that area. About the beginning of the Common Era, Indian merchants in comparatively large numbers settled there, bringing Brahmans and Buddhist monks with them. These religious men were patronized by local chiefs, who converted to Hinduism or Buddhism. The earliest material evidence of Hinduism in Southeast Asia comes from Borneo, where late 4th-century Sanskrit inscriptions testify to the performance of Vedic sacrifices by Brahmans at the behest of local chiefs. Chinese chronicles attest an Indianized kingdom in Vietnam two centuries earlier. The dominant form of Hinduism exported to Southeast Asia was Shaivism, though some Vaishnavism was also known there. Later, from the 9th century onward, Tantrism, both Hindu and Buddhist, spread throughout the region.

The civilizations of Southeast Asia developed forms of Hinduism and Buddhism that incorporated distinctive local features and in other respects reflected local cultures, but the framework of their religious life was essentially Indian. Stories from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata became widely known in Southeast Asia and are still popular there in local versions. The people of Bali (in Indonesia) still follow a form of Hinduism adapted to their own genius. Versions of the Manu-smriti were taken to Southeast Asia and were translated and adapted to indigenous cultures until they lost most of their original content.

Claims of early Hindu contacts farther east are more doubtful. There is little evidence of the influence of Hinduism on China and Japan, which were primarily affected by Buddhism.

Sources

1. http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/266312/Hinduism/8988/The-spread-of-Hinduism-in-Southeast-Asia-and-the-Pacific

R E L I G I O N

From the images given, such as the ritual vessles and the inscibed oxscapula we know that there is an existant of priests. Conduct a research to learn more about the religion that the people of the Shang Civilisation practices. Blog your answers supported by pictorial or written sources as your evidence.

The Shang worshipped the "Shang Ti."It is also known as "Lord Of High" , emperor. This god ruled as a supreme god over lesser gods, the sun, the moon, the wind, the rain, and other natural forces and places.Shang-Ti also regulated human affairs as well as ruling over the material universe. Highly ritualized, ancestor worship became a part of the Shang religion. Sacrifice to the gods and the ancestors was also a major part of the Shang religion. When a king died, hundreds of slaves and prisoners were often sacrificed and buried with him. People were also sacrificed in lower numbers when important events, such as the founding of a palace or temple, occurred.

The Shang king had considerable power over his subjects. Public works were built that required many people. The capital at Zhengzhou, for example, had a wall of stamped earth around it that was four miles long and up to 27 feet high in areas. Stamped earth walls were made by pounding thin layers of earth within a movable wooden frame. The earth then becomes as hard as cement. But, lesser were sacrificed when found in temple or in the palace.

COPYRIGHT: http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/ancient_china/shang.html

What Happened C.1150 BCE?

Discuss and write down why, how and what happened to have caused an end to the SHANG DYNASTY. Present your findings on your blog. Support your conclusion with evidence (primary or secondary source).

The last Shang king was killed c. 1150 BCE. The dynasty that ruled next was the next Western Zhou dynasty( 1027-771BCE). The Zhou kings had a similar culture to the Shang kings. Thus, the change in dynasty did not result in the end of Shang Civilisation. Around 771 BCE, a group of people killed the Zhou king and his son had to move his capital eastward. His dynasty was known as the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. (771-221 BCE)
However, fighthing between peoople continued and the last 232 years of the Easther Zhou dynasty was known as the Period of the Warring States. During this period, the northern part of China was broken up into several competing kingdoms. FInally, in 221 BVE, a prince managed to unite these kingdomsto form the first Chinese empire under the Qin dynasty( 221-206) BCE.

COPYRIGHT: Textbook, history.

You are the gather at least 3 more images taken by historians/ archaelogists of buildings/structures/artifacts found in the Indus Valley Civillisation. Name them and explain its' possible usage by the people in that civilisation. Present your findings in your powerpoint slides.


For bathing.












Drinking water. Source of drinking water.










Farms, for growing their crops. A big space for growing crops

All Sources came from :

www.google.com
http://www.indianetzone.com/1/indus_valley_civilization.htm
http://www.harappa.com/har/har0.html
History Textbook.

What Happened in the c.1500 BCE?

With your group members, discuss and write down why, how and what had happebed to have casued a rapud end to the Indus valley Civilisation. Present your findings on the power point slides. Support your conclusion with evidence, be it Primary or/and Secondary sources.

Decline of Indus Valley Civilization
By about 1700 BC, the Harappan culture was on the verge of decline. The causes of its decline are not certain. The physical existence of the civilization ended due to various factors.

Ecological changes led to the decline of land and agriculture, thereby enforcing the need to evacuate to other area might have been the reason for the disintegration of the Indus valley. Shifts in the monsoon pattern and changes in temperature led to the area more arid. Increase in population, excessive deforestation, decline in agriculture etc. might have created economic problems leading to the gradual decay of the culture. The marked decline in the quality of building and town planning indicates that the authorities were losing control. The changes in the river flow patterns and correspondent widespread flooding would have disrupted the agricultural base. The invasion of the Aryans is the other view that is said to be another reason which might have also led to the decline of the Indus valley.