A7.+Describe+the+political+structures+of+the+major+early+civilizations,+Shang,+Qin,+Zhou,+India+(Indus+Valley+Civ.),+Egypt


 * India Political Structure

Harappan Society (3000-1900 BCE): the Dravidians**
 * Surplus of the food cultivated led to the establishment of 2 major cities: Mohenjo-daro and Harappa
 * Had large city-walls, exemplifying their political authority
 * Included many temples, markets, public buildings, and streets
 * ** Archaeologists haven't uncovered any evidence of a political system **
 * Believed that these two cities were similar to the independent city-states of Mesopotamia
 * No evidence of imperial rule/authority


 * Aryan Society: The Vedic Age (1500-500 BCE)**
 * When first migrating to India, they had many chiefdom organizations with no official government
 * //Rajas// (leaders of the tribe) governed these tribes with a council of village elders
 * Regional kingdoms began to develop as agricultural systems developed
 * //Varna// were established as a means of separating the classes
 * 1) Priests (//brahmins//)
 * 2) Warriors/aristocrats (//**kshatriyas**//) ([] ) [[image:webkit-fake-url://3F006AB3-7324-45A0-947D-80D74FE7B3B1/19131.jpg width="210" height="306" caption="19131.jpg"]]
 * 3) Artisans/merchants (//vaishyas//)
 * 4) Peasants (//shudras//)
 * You were required to marry into your caste/subcaste
 * Those at the top of the caste wielded the most political power in society
 * Males held larger privileges in society (inheriting property, family rituals, priests/warriors/chiefs)
 * Very patriarchal society in which men dominated
 * Women's most important duties were to bear children and maintain a stable home

​ __Early Political Structure of Egypt__


 * Based around the **Nile River [[image:webkit-fake-url://D2684A79-C5E7-40A1-9799-28B0A75800E6/nile-river.jpg width="210" height="203" caption="nile-river.jpg"]] ([] ) **
 * Created states (small kingdoms) and recognized official authorities
 * 3100 BCE- unified rule of Egypt under ruler named Menes
 * ruler from Upper Egypt, gained and extended power to Lower Egypt
 * City of Memphis- made capital and early political center
 * Centralized state ruled by Pharaoh (Egyptian King)
 * Pharaoh's claimed to be living gods, continues trend of early civilizations of Divine Rulers
 * Power of pharaohs was greatest during Archaic Period (3100-2660 BCE) and Old Kingdom (2660-2160 BCE)


 * Shang Political Structure (1766-1122 BCE)**


 * Relied on a large group of political allies (centralized rule by king over the regional rulers)
 * large network of towns whose local rulers recognized the Shang kings
 * Ao- early Shang capital
 * huge city wall demonstrates tight centralized rule- took about 10,000 laborers almost 20 years
 * Yin - later Shang capital
 * extravagant tombs demonstrate respect of subjects toward rulers
 * Capital moved 6 times throughout the dynasty
 * was always the social, economic and cultural center
 * site of administration and military command- but most of all, always had large amounts of bronze foundries
 * Bronze was key to the Shang's political power, had monopoly on the production and since it was only metal, meant everyone was reliant on them for getting any metal tools


 * Zhou Political Structure**


 * Mandate of Heaven (idea implemented throughout the 20th century in China)
 * belief that the Zhou emperors would be granted power by the heavens as long as they ruled wisely and justly
 * emperors served as the link between the earth and the heavens
 * emperors took title " son of heaven" ( son of heaven rather than child of heaven demonstrates patriarchal nature)
 * Decentralized administration- too big to rule when centralized.
 * entrusted power and authority in subordinates who owed allegiance tribute and military support
 * Zhou rulers often related to subordinate rulers- if not, then marriages were arranged
 * subordinates demonstrated loyalty to Zhou dynasty by delivering taxes/tribute and military forces to royal court
 * Hao - capital where Zhou rulers ruled from.


 * Qin Political Structure (221-209 BCE)**

([] ) >> >> >> Created By: Eitan, Kaitlyn, Lauren Evaluated By: Joe Kusters: grammar errors and edited word flow Loie Warren: changed some grammar seemed good though Lauren Bower: changed some capitalization and some grammar Katie Centeno: everything seemed good, changed some wording Thomas Luppi: Looks fine, couldn't find any issues
 * Came to power after Period of Warring States (PWS)
 * chaotic period for Chinese civil war for power
 * Unified China- ruled by a single emperor
 * **Qin** **Shihuangdi** - the first Qin emperor ruled with legalism
 * ** Legalism
 * Daoism and Confucianism- schools of thought that were turned to, but failed to end PWS
 * Legalism proved to work
 * ruthless leadership and scare tactics
 * harsh, strict laws
 * ruled from Xianyang - capital
 * divided China into administrative provinces and districts
 * entrusted officers of the central government to implement policies
 * __standardized laws, currencies, weights and measures__
 * Along with roads and bridges, encouraged communication across state boundaries