Ancient Chinese Civilization Essay

The first ever civilization took place in Mesopotamia between the year 4000B.C.E. After this, river valley civilizations came the classical period (1000B.C.E- 450C.E) which was characterized by a set of great civilizations which constituted China, Persia, India, and Greeko-Roman (Mediterranean) civilizations. These 4 great civilizations did not function independently. They integrated and expanded their territories to cover up large portion of land. However, before we move into discussing this great civilization, and its inventions, it will be important for us to look at what civilization is all about and its origin as well as the first ever civilization that existed in the world. Thus, the next section of this work will go to analyze these above aspects.

A society is said to be civilized when it consists of a system of writings in which symbols are used, has an urban enhancement, and a social stratum laid by a supremacy over the natural environment and by a cultural elite. More often than not, civilized continents always have large and more sophisticated cultures, as opposed to uncivilized countries with lesser or primitive cultures. In the civilized world, Labor becomes specialized in attaining a particular outcome; the society progresses rapidly under farming and new ideas are being brought up on how to expand. Our next analysis will be on the origin of civilization.

It should be noted that humans existed before civilization came up. There were humans but not civilized ones. Thus, the lifestyle of the people who lived before the coming of the first ever civilization was that of hunter-gatherer (nomadic), this period is known as the Stone Age (10000 B.C.E) period where humans used stones as apparatus for farming and they acquired food from their animals through milking and also from wild plants in the forest. The people of this age lived a more egalitarian (classless) lifestyle in which everybody could do what they wanted to get just as much food to feed themselves and their families. As such, humans formed small groups and lived together with one another sharing labor, with the women gathering foodstuffs in the fields while the men hunted for animals. Stones were the principal tool used by these men in hunting for animals but they manufactured hand axes and spearheads from wood and bones in other to help them in hunting. These people were nomads as seen above, as such, they migrated from one place to another depending on the climatic situation. This is how humans spread from Africa to Eurasia, Southeast Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America.

Chinese civilization and its inventions

In Eurasia’s Eastern part, the Chinese people formed a wealthy and dynamic civilization. Under the leadership of the then emperor in 200 B.C Huang Di, the Chinese people created and invented all kinds of goods some of which include; Iron, Porcelain, and silk. They went as far as exporting these goods to other countries thus expanding their civilization.

Papermaking was one of the greatest inventions done by the Chinese during the time of their civilization precisely in the year 105 A.C. This had a great influence on history, as much was able to be written down for the next generation. Central Asia later copied this paper making and later on, the world did through the Silk Road.

Gunpowder was another great invention of the Chinese civilization exactly in the year 1000 A.D. It was manufactured by the Chinese Taoist alchemists by mixing sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter. This product later on spread to Europe during the time of the Mongol expansion.

The Chinese also invented the compass in the year 1100 A.D. an instrument that shows the direction of a place. This compass was mostly used by the Chinese shipyards to enable them to navigate through the sea.

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A mechanical clock was also a Chinese invention during the time of its civilization. Yi Xing a Buddhist monk was the brain behind this clock

Inspired by children using lotus leaves to cover themselves during rain, Lu Ban, created an umbrella using cloths to provide shelter during rainfall. This is a major invention for it is still used in our world today as a means of shelter during rains.

A seismograph also known as an earthquake dictator was another invention in China by Zhang Heng in 132 A.D. to determine the direction of an earthquake.

In addition to the above, we could also add a rocket, Bronze, Kite, Seed drill, Roe Crop Farming, toothbrush, paper money, movable type printing, Alchohol, and as well as Acupuncture, as some of the inventions brought up by the Chinese civilization.

Politically, Chinese rule during this period was an authoritarian one. Hierarchy was greatly respected and the emperor was recognized as the father of the community whose authority was given to him from heaven. The emperor was at the top of the community while the lords ruled the decentralized communities.

Indian civilization and its inventions

It is the oldest and made up of a rich history, and culture as well as very firm scientific and technological customs. Classical India made so many significant inventions some of which include;

The zero is a major contribution India made to the history of mathematics. Also, Ayurveda a traditional school medicine to help get good health without the use of prescribed drugs was another invention of India. In recent years, this system has gained popularity across the world and it's now used by many in several parts of the world. Also, the U.S.B a small device capable of storing large data and doing transfers was invented by Ajay V. Bhatt an Indian American. Board games such as chess, snakes, and ladder came from India. Yoga an exercise that uplifts the spirit and ensures healthy living also came from India. Shampoo used to massage the head was another India’s invention. A button made out of seashells and shaped in a geometric form with tiny holes was an Indian ideal. In addition to the above, wireless communication, the cure for leprosy and lithiasis, as well as natural fibers such as jute, Cotton, and wool were all conceived by India.

Comparison between Indian and Chinese civilizations

1. Beginning with the religious domain, India practiced Hinduism as its main religion with so many gods, while Confucianism and Daoism (the belief in the respect of one’s leaders) were what was practiced in China.
2. India employed a stricter system of social hierarchy called the Verna (the class system), where the upper-class group was allowed to marry and interact only with their class. Mingling with the lower class was forbidden. This was not so with the Chinese for they lived as equals under the emperor’s reign.
3. Indian civilization valued the mind over everything which is why you see yoga and the rest. Meanwhile, the Chinese think not showing an expression is being civilized. There is always this restrain in them. Thus civilizations had different things they valued.
4. Most of the Indians engaged in medicines and technology as such created more technological instruments such as the U.S.B and the medicine for leprosy. On the other hand, the Chinese were agriculturalist and most of their aim was to create items that could facilitate agriculture. That is why they created instruments such as seed drills, Row crop farming, and bronze.
5. Comparing them today, equality and freedom of speech do not or hardly exist in China, but on the other hand, India allows its media to freely criticize its government. Thus, there is freedom of speech.

Conclusion

To conclude, one can say there are not many differences between the 2 great civilizations reason being that these civilizations did not isolate themselves from each other but rather, they integrated and worked with each other to expand.

References

1. Peter N. Stearns, 2007, A Brief History of the World.
2. Fairbank and John, 1989, China: Tradition and Transformation, Harvard University Press.
3. R.P Palmer and Joel Colton, 1995, 8th edition, A History of Modern World, McGraw-Hill, Inc.
4. https://en.m.wikipedia.org.
5. https://Jics.tbcc.cc.or.us
6. https://www.jstor.org/stable/
7. www.teacheroz.com/per 1-2 Review.pdf.
8. https://china.usc.edu/sites/default/files/forums/chinese.
9. https://mphmtshistory.weebly.com.
10. https://the culturetrip.com