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India

China In Table Form

India: 2500BC: City of Harappa in Indus River Valley 1500BC: Aryans invaded India 500BC - 800AD: Buddhism grows and declines 325: Alexander the Great invades India 320-500: Gupta dynasty 1498: Vasco da Gama of Portugal lands in Calicut 1526: Babar’s Muslim Mogul Empire, grandson Akbar religious tolerance 1757: British East India Company controls Bengal 1857-59: Sepoy rebellion crushed by British 1859: British government takes control away from East India Company 1878-81 British defeat Afghanistan to establish India’s NW border 1885: Indian National Congress formed (mainly Hindus) 1906: Muslim League formed 1919: Amritsar Massacre (400 Indians killed) 1920: Mohandas Gandhi leads nonviolent disobedience (assassinated 1948) 1939: British and India declare war on Germany 1940: Muslim League demands formation of Pakistan 1947: Independence of India, 12 million refugees flee NW borders 1947-49, 65 India and Pakistan fight over Kashmir 1966: Indira Gandhi (daughter of Nehru) elected Prime Minister 1971: East Pakistan becomes Bangladesh 1984: Indira assassinated. son Rajiv Gandhi becomes prime minister. Leaving the land of Shinar (Gen.11:2), upon which was later built Babylon (Dan.1:2), peoples migrated east and established a complex civilization in the fertile Indus River Valley. Constrained by the Hindu Kush and Himalaya mountains, contact with other peoples (Aryans) who had migrated northeast, was limited. In about 2500 B.C. Harappa, and Mohenjo-Daro, two well developed cities, were flourishing. By 1500 B.C. the Aryans, a nomadic herdsmen group, broke through Hindu Kush and conquered these cities thus changing the traditions and beliefs of the culture. The Aryans believed in many gods and the idea of reincarnation. These became the foundations of Hinduism. Eventually the social structure was altered and the caste system was formed. The four primary caste groups included the warriors, the priests, the landowner/merchants, and the peasants. Caste subdivision continued into the hundreds and influences India to the present day. Both Hinduism and Buddhism originated in India. In the Hindu religion, all gods are united in a supreme force called Brahma. The ultimate goal of the believers is to be free of the soul and become united to this universal soul. Since this is believed to be accomplished in more than one lifetime, reincarnation tends to support the caste system. If a person was concerned about his status in future lives, he was more apt to keep the rules of the caste system, keep himself under control, and not expect to advance in this current life. In 500 B.C. however, Siddhartha Gautama criticized the system and his reform became the basis of Buddhism. He believed salvation was in overcoming desire with Nirvana, a state of wanting nothing. Although Hinduism was influenced by Buddhism, persecution of Buddhism forced it to spread to China, South East Asia, and beyond. After Alexander The Great invaded the Indus valley with his Macedonian troops in 326 B.C., two significant Indian Empires followed. These were the Maurya Empire (321 B.C.-183 B.C.) ruling a large territory, and the Gupta Empire (320A.D.-467 A.D.). Asoka the Buddhist Maurya ruler promoted a non-violent government, while during the Gupta rule, a very strong caste system prevailed with many sub-castes emerging. This era is known for great artists and writers and for such important advancements as the decimal system and the number zero. These empires laid the foundation for the nation of India. Hinduism was well rooted in India by 500 A.D. due to successful social rather than political unification. In the 900s Islamic invaders ruled for 300 years with a strong Sultan government in Delhi the northwest capital. The Hindu polytheistic beliefs were hostile to the Allah of Muslim monotheism. Likewise, equality among Islamic men clashed with the Hindu caste system. Obedience to the Koran produced a non-tolerant view of other religions. Hinduism was suppressed under Sultan rule and Islam expanded. The Mogul reign began in India after invaders arrived in the 1500s bringing about a 500 year reign. Akbar, a Muslim ruler, was successful due to his uncharacteristic tolerance of other religions. His successors however, did not hold the same views and this threatened rebellion. (The grandson of Akbar built the Taj Mahal as a tomb for his own wife.) Following Vasco da Gama in 1498, the 1500s and 1600s brought the Portugese and then other Europeans to India. The Dutch, British and French established trading posts that took advantage of the silks, spices and wealth of the Mogul era. The "seven year war" resulted in the demise of the French and the superiority of the British East Asia Company. Company corruption led Parliament to pass the regulating act of 1773 and Hastings was set over India as its Governor-General (1773-85). The colonial peak of British government was under Lord Cornwallis (1786-93). During the colonial era, the British built railroads, hospitals, and schools which served to unify India and give rise to a new nationalism. WIth British permission, the Indian National Congress was formed in 1885, and in response, the Muslim League was formed. These activities increased the tension and increased the call for independence. During the first world war (1914-1918), India supported England with troops for the promise of national independence. Events such as the massacre at Amritsar, made the transition to Indian sovereignty challenging. However, Mahatma Gandhi led non-violent protests which eventually led to British withdrawal and partition of the country to compromise with Islamic majorities in Bangladesh and Pakistan. (Gandhi's successful passive resistance and civil disobedience techniques were copied by black Americans under the leadership of Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela in South Africa.). When Britain rejected the demands of the Indian National Congress to leave India, Indians refused to fight against Japanese aggression in 1942. Congress was disbanded by the British and many of its leaders were arrested. Shortly after the war's end (1947), India gained her independence. The nation of Pakistan was partitioned from India prompting millions of Muslims to flee NW and Hindus to flee to SE. Gandhi was assassinated five months later by a Hindu extremists for his tolerant views toward Muslims. Jawaharlal Nehru was the prime minister of India from 1947 until his death in 1964. Despite the Cold War between the USA and the USSR, his policies helped India remain nonaligned and self-sufficient. For most of the next two decades, India was ruled by Nehru's daughter, Indira Gandhi. In 1974 India became a nuclear power. The former Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979 which led the USA to support a resistance movement by way of Pakistan, India's arch rival. This caused so much tension between India and the USA that when Indira was assassinated in 1984, India's initial reaction to blame the CIA of the USA. However, It soon became apparent that she had been killed by her Sikh bodyguards in retaliation for the invasion of the Golden Temple at Amritsar four months earlier. Indira's son, Rajiv, became Prime Minister until suspected corruption forced his resignation. Two years later he was assassinated in 1991. The Punjab area between India and Pakistan continues to be volatile. Both nations engage in nuclear saber rattling from time to time. A resurgence of Nationalist Hinduism in opposition to Islam has also led to the persecution of Christians. However, the untouchable Dalat caste is largely disillusioned with Hinduism and has turned to Christianity in increasing numbers.

China: c. 500BC Confucius puts merchants as the least important members of society 202 BC - 220 AD Han dynasty expands peace and trade, silk road to Rome. 618 - Tang dynasty rules for nearly 300 years, Buddhism continues to spread. 960 -1279 Song dynasty, Confucianism is official state philosophy, civil service exams 1275 - 1292 Marco Polo in China during Mongul reign 1600: Roman Catholic missionaries increase 1842: British gain Hong Kong and 5 trading ports 1851- 64: Taiping Rebellion, Qing puts it down with foreign power 1899: US promotes “Open Door Policy” of equal trade rights 1900: Boxer Rebellion targets Westerners and Chinese Christians, 8 nations end it. 1911: :Republic of China 1949: Communists defeat Nationalists 1958: Mao Zedong’s “Great Leap Forward” sets China backwards. 1960: USSR ends support of China 1966 - 69: “Cultural Revolution” destroys Chinese culture, education and government 1979: China and US establish “normal” diplomatic relations 1989: pro-democracy demonstration at Tiananmen Square, students killed After the Tower of Babel, rapid migration across south central Asia brought civilization into the Indus River valley of India and the Yellow River valley of China. China's early civilization is only similar to India's in its geographical isolation. Surrounded by mountain ranges and the Pacific Ocean, its isolation contributed to the Chinese belief that China was the center of the universe. It forgot its true origins and accepted the creation myth of Pan Gu. The first civilization farmed in the rich soil called "loess" in the Yellow River Valley, often called "River of Sorrows" due to frequent flooding disasters. The Shang Dynasty was the first family group to rule. Under this leadership, strong beliefs were formed in which gods controlled the forces of nature. Ancestors were believed to have great influence and ceremonies were preformed to make petitions to them. Under the Shang Dynasty, pictograms and ideograms were the beginning of a complicated written language. Also, bronze art, silk weaving and an accurate calendar were important achievements during Shang rule. Claiming the "Mandate of Heaven", the Chou dynasty overthrew the Shang Dynasty. This "Mandate of Heaven" could be lost by a ruler if famine, floods or invasions took place in their land indicating heaven no longer supported them as rulers. Under the Chou Dynasty land was divided and ruled by nobles who thus owed their loyalty and tribute to the king. These appointed officials established states and, even before they invented paper, the Chinese were able to organize a bureaucratic government. Expanding their boarders, the nobles contributed to economic growth during the Chou Dynasty. The traditions in Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism developed in reaction to each other. Confucius, a philosopher in 551 B.C. placed a strong emphasis on a person's place in society along with his duties and responsibilities. Respecting elders, demonstrating loyalty, and working diligently were all strongly encouraged by this philosopher. The Taoists were concerned mainly with being in harmony with nature. Legalism sought after a stable society by heavy government control. These philosophies played a significant role in the shaping of Chinese thought. As China became unified, the legalists dominated government. In 221 B.C. Shih Huag Ti was key in this unification. Under the Ch'in Empire, his central government developed a transportation system to ensure his control. He is most known for the construction of the Great Wall which was erected for the protection from northern enemies. Tremendous accomplishments in Chinese history followed with the Han Empire (210 B.C.-220 A.D.). Under this organized and efficient government, men of talent greatly influenced the country in the arts, sciences and advanced learning. New ideas were prevalent including Buddhism which completed the unification of the country. In the middle Ages, the Chinese civilization experienced two periods of peace. These were the T'ang dynasty (618-917) and the Sung dynasty (960-1279). Korea, Japan and India were greatly influenced by the spread of these dynasties. China flourished, as remarkable art and new technology emerged. Inventions included paper, printing, gunpowder, a seismograph and the magnetic compass. A flourishing economy resulted from new ideas and products but even with new ideas the country firmly remained Confucius based, with a strong duty to ones place in society. By the 1200s emperor Kublai Khan came to power after the Mongols defeated the Sung dynasty. It was during his reign when the Italian traveler, Marco Polo, published a book on the great Chinese civilization which the Europeans seriously doubted. By the 1300s the Ming dynasty brought down the Mongols and until 1433 supported exploration with voyages to South East Asia, India, and Eastern Africa. By the late 1400s Chinese technology lost its preeminence as Europe led into the age of discovery and colonialism. Because China lagged behind the West in technology, it severely lost the Opium Wars to Britain in the 1800’s, and was forced to accept a humiliating peace treaty called the Treaty of Nanking. This treaty gave Britain numerous advantages in its trade relationship with China, and eventually brought about Western spheres of influence when other countries forced similar treaties on China. Although the doors to China were forced open by economic greed, there were Christian missionaries such as Hudson Taylor, Eric Liddell, Jonathan Goforth, and Lottie Moon that entered to bring true hope to the Chinese. Despite the efforts of sincere missionaries, however, a twisted version of Christianity ended up bringing about a horrific civil war because of a movement called the Taiping Rebellion. Initiated by Hung Hsiu-ch'üan, the Taiping Rebellion was a movement that claimed to be bringing the “Heavenly Kingdom.” And of course Hung Hsiu-ch'üan was supposedly the “Heavenly King.” After the Qing government suppressed the Taiping Rebellion with the help of foreign powers, it only 36 years passed before the Boxer Rebellion broke out. The Boxer Rebellion was directed against Westerners and Chinese Christians, whom the Boxers intended to drive from the country. This rebellion was swiftly put down by the Western powers, and China had to accept even more humiliating conditions under the Boxer Protocol. In 1911, the Qing dynasty collapsed, and China soon struggled under Nationalist and Communist forces which led to Mao Zedong's manipulation and near destruction of China. China was lost to Communism, but under Communist rule the country did begin to industrialize. Even the changing roles for Chinese women were made to benefit the industrialization of China rather than to strengthen the family. Among recent events in China, the Tiananmen Square massacre of pro-democracy protesters in 1989 stands out as an example of the suppression that continues in China to this day. However, China's recent attempts with limited capitalism have allowed a measure of municipal economic prosperity. Yet Western ideologies are still tightly controlled, and Christianity remains sanctioned by the state to such an extent that it can hardly be recognized as scriptural. But there is the growing underground house church movement!

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