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customs costumbres
Traditional practices and cultural habits of a people.
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Adapted from McGraw Hill World History Page 1 of 3
World History • Unit 1.2 LE1 Classical Civilizations
Adapted from McGraw Hill World History
After the decline of the Indus River Valley civilization, new groups such as the Aryans migrated to India. Their sacred writings, the Vedas, became the basis for Hinduism, the varna (caste) system, and later influenced Buddhism. India’s society was organized around family and social divisions. The caste system determined a person’s job, marriage options, and social interactions. At the lowest level were the Untouchables (dalit), who performed work considered impure.
Resumen en español: Los textos sagrados (Vedas) dieron origen al hinduismo y al rígido sistema de castas que determinaba el trabajo y posición social de cada persona.
From 1500–400 BC, India was divided into many small kingdoms. Unity came when the Maurya Empire formed. The Mauryan government was highly centralized, dividing the empire into provinces ruled by appointed governors. It used a large army, spies, and secret police to maintain order.
Centuries later, the Gupta Empire brought stability and prosperity. The Guptas traded with China, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean and controlled valuable resources like gold, silver, and farmland. They became wealthy from pilgrims visiting Hindu and Buddhist religious sites. This era saw the construction of many temples and shrines, making the Gupta period a golden age of culture in India.
Comparing India's Classical Empires
| Empire | Key Governance & Order | Achievements & Economy |
|---|---|---|
| Maurya Empire | Centralized into provinces; governors, spies & army | First unified empire uniting small kingdoms |
| Gupta Empire | Stability, regional governors, religious tolerance | Golden Age: trade, temples, wealth from pilgrims |
Resumen en español: El Imperio Maurya unificó a la India con un gobierno fuerte, mientras que el Imperio Gupta creó una era dorada de comercio, templos y prosperidad.
India
migrated migraron
Moved from one region to settle in another.
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caste casta
Fixed social class system based on birth and occupation.
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province provincia
An administrative district or territory of an empire.
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prosperity prosperidad
The state of being successful, wealthy, and thriving.
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pilgrim peregrino
A person who travels on a journey to a sacred holy place.
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Adapted from McGraw Hill World History Page 2 of 3
Assessment & Reflection World History • Unit 1.2 LE1
Name:
Date:
Instructions / Instrucciones: Answer each question in complete sentences using evidence from the reading passages and sentence frames. (Responde usando evidencia del texto).
1
¿Cómo influyeron las creencias religiosas de Persia e India en sus gobiernos y sociedades?
💡 Sentence Stem (Persia): In Persia, Zoroastrianism influenced society by promoting ... and respecting conquered peoples' ...
💡 Sentence Stem (India): In India, the sacred Vedas established Hinduism and the caste system, which determined ...
2
¿Cómo moldearon la geografía y las rutas comerciales el éxito de estos imperios?
💡 Sentence Stem (Persia): Persia built the Royal Road across Asia Minor, which allowed officials to ...
💡 Sentence Stem (Gupta): The Gupta Empire controlled valuable resources like gold and farmland, and grew prosperous by trading with ...
Monarchy (Monarquía): Rule by a King / Rey
Caste (Casta): Social division / Clases
Prosperity (Prosperidad): Wealth & success / Riqueza
Adapted from McGraw Hill World History Page 3 of 3
Resumen en español: Tras años de guerra civil, Qin Shi Huangdi venció a sus rivales y se convirtió en el primer emperador unificado de China.
Parte 1
dynasty dinastía
A line of hereditary rulers of a country from the same family.
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irrigation irrigación
Supplying dry land with water using canals or ditches.
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bureaucracy burocracia
A system of government officials carrying out rules.
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Mandate Mandato del Cielo
Belief that Chinese kings received authority to rule from Heaven.
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feudalism feudalismo
System where nobles hold land from the king in exchange for loyalty.
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Adapted from McGraw Hill World History Page 1 of 3
World History • Unit 1.2 Ancient China Part II
Adapted from McGraw Hill World History
He created a single monetary system and ordered the building of a system of roads throughout the entire empire. Surprisingly, the emperor left behind a remarkable artistic legacy too, another sign of a classical civilization. In 1974 farmers digging a well about 35 miles east of Xian discovered an underground pit near the burial mound of the First Qin Emperor. The pit contained a vast army made out of terra-cotta, or hardened clay. Chinese archaeologists believe that it was a re-creation of the imperial guard, meant to be with the emperor on his journey to the next world. To achieve individuality in the faces of the soldiers, 10 different head shapes were used, which were finished by hand.
Perhaps most notably, Qin’s foreign policy towards aggressive invaders from the north began China’s greatest project to date: The Great Wall of China. During the Qin dynasty, it was little more than rocks and sand piled into loose walls, but it laid the foundations for one of mankind’s greatest architectural achievements.
Resumen en español: Qin unificó la moneda y los caminos, construyó los Guerreros de Terracota y comenzó la Gran Muralla para defenderse de invasores.
The first Han emperor had expressed his desire to discard the harsh policies of the Qin dynasty. He did abandon the use of cruel and unusual punishments that had been part of the Legalistic approach to law enforcement.
During the Qin Dynasty, an ethical philosophy known as Confucianism began to gain popularity and followers. Although considered a religion, it is actually a philosophy. It is based upon the teachings of Confucius, which are grounded in ethical behavior and good government.
The teachings of Confucius focused on three areas: social philosophy, political philosophy, and education. Confucius taught that relationships are based on rank. Persons of higher rank are responsible for caring for those of lower rank. Those of lower rank should respect and obey those of higher rank.
These, rather than Legalism, soon became the basis for the creation of a new state philosophy. However, Han Gaozu and his successors found it convenient to keep some of the practices of the First Qin Emperor, including the division of the central government into three ministries—the military, civil service, and censorate. The Han rulers also kept the system of local government that divided the empire into provinces and counties.
Most importantly, when the Han rulers took over, they looked to Confucianism for guidance. The Han rulers continued the Qin system of choosing government officials on the basis of merit rather than birth. To create a regular system for new officials, the Han dynasty introduced the civil service examination and established a school to train these candidates. This system for officials developed in classical China influenced Chinese civilization for 2,000 years. Students were expected to learn the teachings of Confucius, as well as Chinese history and law. By creating a group of well-trained officials well versed in Confucian thought, the system ensured the influence of Confucianism on government for a long time.
Resumen en español: La dinastía Han reemplazó los castigos crueles por el confucianismo y creó exámenes de servicio civil basados en el mérito y el estudio.
Parte 2
terra-cotta terracota
Hardened brownish-red clay used for pottery and warrior statues.
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Legalism legalismo
Philosophy emphasizing strict laws and harsh punishments.
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Confucianism confucianismo
Moral philosophy based on respect, family, duty, and ethics.
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examination examen / mérito
Test to choose government workers based on ability and knowledge.
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ministries ministerios
Government branches: military, civil service, and censorate.
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Adapted from McGraw Hill World History Page 2 of 3
Assessment & Reflection World History • Unit 1.2
Name:
Date:
Instructions / Instrucciones: Answer each question in complete sentences using evidence from the text and the provided sentence frames. (Responde usando evidencia del texto).
1
¿Qué contribuyó al éxito de los Zhou?
💡 Sentence Starter: The Zhou dynasty ruled for almost 800 years because they claimed the Mandate of Heaven, created a large bureaucracy, and used feudalism to ...
2
¿Por qué necesitaba protección en el más allá?
💡 Sentence Starter: Qin Shi Huangdi might have created the Terra-Cotta Army for protection in the afterlife because he had defeated many rivals and ruled with harsh ...
3
¿Qué tiene en común con las religiones?
💡 Sentence Starter: Although Confucianism is an ethical philosophy rather than a religion, it is similar to religions because it teaches ... and moral duties between people.
4
¿Cómo refinó la dinastía Han las estructuras políticas?
💡 Sentence Starter: The Han dynasty refined Qin government by keeping the three ministries and provinces, but replacing harsh Legalism with Confucianism and choosing officials through ...
Adapted from McGraw Hill World History Page 3 of 3
