Ancient History Vol. 2: An Enthralling Guide to the Indus Valley Civilization, China, and Japan (Exploring the Past)

Three manuscripts in one book:

• Indus Valley Civilization: An Enthralling Overview of the Harappan Civilization, Starting from the Early Harappan through Mohenjo-daro to the Aryan Invasion and Achaemenid Conquest
• Ancient China: An Enthralling Overview of Chinese History, Starting from the Settlement at the Yellow River through the Xia, Shang, Zhou, and Qin Dynasties to the Han Dynasty
• Ancient Japan: An Enthralling Overview of Ancient Japanese History, Starting from the Jomon Period to the Heian Period

The Indus Valley civilization was founded at least over five thousand years ago in the area that is now modern-day Pakistan and northern India. The Harappan people lived there in peace by focusing on agriculture, crafting, and trading. This book will discuss how the Harappan built their cities, lived their daily lives, what they believed happened after they died, and so much more!

In the first part of this book, you will discover the following:

• The intricate city plans of Mohenjo-daro and other large cities
• Ritual bathing at the Great Bath
• Where the Harappans came from and where they went
• Trade relationships with Mesopotamia, India, and China
• Expert bronze statues and artwork
• Bead factories and jewelry-making
• The mysterious Indus Valley script
• Debunking the Aryan invasion theory
• Links to modern-day Hinduism
• Boats big enough to carry elephants

Not everything in China’s history is tied to growth, improvement, and development. There were many periods riddled with internal strife, which plagued China and its numerous dynasties. However, the Chinese empires were somewhat shielded from external dangers, partially thanks to the ingeniousness of the Chinese and the famous Great Wall of China and partially thanks to the country’s geographic position.

In the second part of this book, you will:

• The mythical Xia dynasty and its fantastic Yu the Great, credited with taming the Yellow River;
• The birth of China’s fascinating writing system during the Shang dynasty;
• The rise of the Zhou, who finally overthrew the Shang, thanks to their military prowess and ability to keep numerous Chinese states tied in a loose feudal system;
• Confucius, the Chinese Socrates, who promoted peace, harmony, and wisdom;
• The absolute dissolution of the Zhou state during the Warring States Period;
• The formation of a ruthless yet efficient Qin Empire under the watchful eye of Qin Shi Huangdi;
• The rebellion against the Qin and the final victory of Liu Bang and the Han dynasty;

The history of ancient Japan is filled with interesting events that involved many influential and legendary figures. However, some of the accounts were also infused with Japanese myths, which might make it difficult for curious readers to distinguish between facts and legends.

In the third part of this book, you will:

• How the Jomon period earned its name and the impressive designs of early Japanese pottery.
• How rice cultivation first arrived in Japan and the transition into a more civilized society.
• The legendary kingdom of Yamatai and how it rose to power.
• The unique-looking kofun tombs and legends behind the persons interred within them.
• Vicious wars and assassinations of powerful figures in the imperial court.
• Interesting myths and the origins of Shinto, an indigenous Japanese religion.
• The flourishing culture and architecture of ancient Japan and the arrival of Buddhism.
• The bloody conflicts between the two earliest samurai clans.
• And much, much more!

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