Located in the Indian National Museum, this hand cart is believed to have
been used in the Indus River Valley
between 3000 and 1500 B.C. (B.C.E.)
The Persian Empire first emerged near modern-day Iran around 550 B.C. (B.C.E.). As a result of conquering neighboring kingdoms, the Persian Empire grew to become the largest and most diverse empire of its time. Persian leaders successfully unified their varied empires, due in part to a policy of tolerance toward the people they conquered.
Separated from the Persian Empire by the Hindu-Kush Mountains, the ancient river valley civilization of India arose. India's unique physical geography has provided protection from outside invaders for thousands of years. Its physical geography also served to protect and preserve India's unique culture. In addition to making great contributions in the fields of math and science, classical India witnessed the rise of two major religions: Buddhism and Hinduism.
North of India, beyond the Himalaya Mountains, the Chinese civilization expanded and developed a system of government that lasted for centuries. A variety of thinkers came up with approaches to life that emphasized social order, harmony, and respect for authority. Additionally, the classical Chinese made improvements in education and technology.
In this module, you will explore the people, places, and achievements that made the Persian Empire, classical India, and classical China important benchmarks in human history. Furthermore, you will learn about the birth and spread of two major world religions, Buddhism and Hinduism.
As you will learn in this module, both Buddhism and Hinduism began on the subcontinent of India. Take a moment to examine the images above, which depict the Hindu god Shiva and the Buddha. What do you think you can learn about each religion based on these sculptures?
To view the definitions for these key vocabulary terms, visit the