India and China

Like the river civilizations of Egypt and the Fertile Crescent, the eastern worlds of India and China were products of the geography that cradled them. Less is known about these cultures, in part because of their isolation, but also because of the nature of their cultural beliefs. Along the Indus River, life was governed not by flooding rivers but by seasonal monsoons that enriched the land and allowed life to continue. Thriving cities, like Harappa and Mohenja-Daro, were centrally planned, indicating a certain level of commercial success. Along the Yellow River, early Chinese civilizations developed a strong sense of unity as the mountains and deserts that formed their natural border kept them isolated.

	The cities along the Indus were the first centrally-planned cities; that is, they were built upon a grid-like plan. At left, the Great Baths at Mohenja-Daro. Stones made the baths structurally sound, while heated resin from trees filled the cracks. When the resin cooled, the bath was nearly water-tight. The cities of Harappa and Mohenja-Daro also featured streets with drains, a necessity during monsoon season.
The Indus Valley was a thriving commercial area. The seal at right indicates a certain product was made in Harappa, a city that was known to use the bull as their seal. The symbol was found in areas of Mesopotamia, indicating trade took place between the two regions.
	Like the Egyptians, the early Chinese may have also associated the powers of their leaders and deities with the stars. The Dynastic Cycle is believed by some to have begun around 1950 BC when the 5 planets visible to the naked eye - Saturn, Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter - were visible simultaneously, a sign of agreement among the 5 advisors of an early Chinese deity
China was deeply dependent upon nature to guide her. The tortoise shell oracle bone at right was inscribed upon with questions, then heated. As the shell got hot, it cracked. The cracks were interpreted to mean certain actions should be undertaken or avoided.