Mediterranean Trading Kingdoms pg.73

After 1500 B.C., the Minoans and Phoenicians were among the most powerful empires.  They lived in southwest Asia and the Mediterranean region. Minoan culture lived on the coast of Lebanon. The Phoenicians made purple dye made of shellfish where Phoenicians got their name"Purple People".  These kingdoms got their wealth from trading on the river and had great influences on other people.  Phoenicians created alphabet that spread to Greece.

Hebrews pg. 77

Also known as ancient Israelites. Around 1800 B.C. they migrated to the Mediterranean shorts in Canaan.  Hebrews are thought to be the first monotheistic people (believing in one God).  Their religion was called Judaism and followers were called Jews. Their religious writings, like the Bible, are how we know so much about these people.

Ethical Monotheism pg. 82

This was practiced by the Jews.  There was one God and he was the one who laid down the rules for His followers.  Around 1200 B.C. and 100 B. C. the Bible was written.  This was very different than the other religions where they believed in many gods and cared about themselves.  Ethical Monotheism was a practice of how they worshiped God and treated each other.

Caste System pg. 85

Division of classes of people. Brahmans- Priests and educated people, then Kshatriyas-warriors,  Vaishyasthen- Merchants and farmers, Shudras- workers, Untouchables-Menial laborers.   They were usually a patriarchal society, men were in charge.

 Beliefs of Hynduism pg. 86

One of the oldest religions. One of the central beliefs was dharma  which meant that a person had a social and religious duty. They believed in Karma which meant that if a person did a good deed, then good comes to that person in return. They believed in more than one god. Three main gods was Vishnu preserved the world, Brahma created the world and Shiva god of creation and destruction.

The Spread of Buddhism pg. 93

Around 400 B.C. the Buddhist missionaries spread their religion to Sri Lanka, South India and souteast Asian countries.  Centuries later, new missionaries went easttook Buddhism to China, Korea, and Japan.  Later it went north and became the primary religion of Tibet.  As it spread it split into three different branches.  The religion died in India.

Mauryan Empire pg. 95

Named after Indian king's Chandragupta family, Maurya around 325 B.C. in the area of what is now Afghanistan.  The government was organized into departments.  HIs grandson Asoka became ruler and was kinder than his grandfather.  He cared about the people and promoted Buddhist faith.  The empire fell apart after Asoka's death in 232 B.C.

Gupta Empire pg. 96

Around 320 A.D. the Gupta Empire grew in northern India.  The founder was a king who named himself after Chandragupta, event though they were not related. The Greatest emperor was Chandragupta II.  During his reign, from 376 A.D. to 415 A.D. there was peace and riches. The emperors built Hindu temples. They invented the arabic number system, and created stories and great works of art and sculptures.

 Confucianism pg 100

Chaos and unrest in the later Zhou Dynasty led to this philosophy of ethics.  They believed in gods but were more concerned about how people acted to one another. Confucius lived from about 551 to 479 B.C.  He believed in the 'Five Relationships' (Parent and child, older and younger brothers, husband and wife, ruler and subject, and friends).  Under the Han Dynasty, confucianism became the official philosophy of the Chinese Government.

Daoism pg.102

Appeared later in the Zhou Dinasty. This philosophy is different than Confucius, because it is more concerned about living in harmony with everything.  They didn't care as much about where they ranked in society.  It had a large impact on Chinese Culture from paintings, and poems.  It helped give a balance to Confucian ideals.  Yin-Yang, symble of Daoism that shows balance.