Classic Period: Mesoamerica, China and India

 

 I

Unit: Classic Period Elsewhere

Theme: Mesoamerica, India & China

 

Introduction

Often classical antiquity refers to a historical period spanning from the output of ancient Greek author Homer in the 8th century bce to the decline of the Roman Empire in the 5th century ce. Seldomly, do we refer to the classical period that took place in other parts of the world. Today's class focuses on the classical periods in Mesoamerica, India and China. 

 

II

Learning Objectives

 

  • Understand the importance of the classical period in other parts of the world
  • Explain the meaning of the term "classical" and why it can be applied to the cultures of Mesoamerica, India and China
  • Gain an awareness of the differences between these three classical cultures
  • Realize the impact of the classical periods in these three areas of the world on their present cultures 
  • Experience the main steps of the dances representative of these three cultures and their classical periods

 

 

III

Main Lesson

 

 

1

 

 A. Classical Mesoamerica

In Mesoamerica, the classical period took place from 200 BCE - 1000 CE (Common Era) with the emergence of cities, social stratification, and the flowering of material culture. From 300-900 CE the Maya in Mesoamerica developed astrology, calendrics, math and writing.


3 Historic Periods of Indigenous Mesoamerica 

 

 

 Video



B. Video


(min 28:00)



 C. Text

 The Mesoamerican Ballgame

 https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Mesoamerican_Ballgame/KI5oWAQlKdoC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=classic%20dance

 

Search for classic dance 


D. Text

 

To Be Like Gods 

Link: https://www.google.com/books/edition/To_Be_Like_Gods/krOuYDvCYc8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Elements+of+Dance&printsec=frontcover

 

Question 1

Explain the main aspects of the ancient Mesoamerican culture that makes it classical? 


 ===========================

 

2 

 

A. Classical India

Classical India, Empire, History and Religion 

 


B. Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam is an Indian classical dance form that originated in Tamil Nadu. It is one of eight Indian classical dance forms recognized by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly of Shaivism and in general of Hinduism.

 

 

Sharada Kouthuvam by Sanjena Ramesh - Sridevi Nrithyalaya - Bharathanatyam Dance

 

She is Sharadha, the consort of Lord Brahma and the giver of wisdom. Her luminous form radiates like the full moon and she endlessly bestows boons like the Kalpaka Tree. Holding the Veena in her hands, she abates the sorrow of those who surrender. 

A verse from Shyamala Dandakham followed by Sharada Kauthvam... This Kouthuvam has been composed by Sri G Srikanth adapting the lyrics from the Marati bhajan on Goddess Saraswathi. This is set in Valachi ragam & Misra chapu talam. 

Choreography - Smt.Sheela Unnikrishnan 

Vocal - Sri G Srikanth 

Composer & Mridangam - Sri Guru Bharadwaaj 

Violin - Sri Embar Kannan 

Flute - Sri Muthukumar Veena - Tvm Sri Sounderrajan

 

C. Text

Dancing Bodies of Devotion 

Page 7 - 9 / Multiple Identities of Bharathanatyam

 

 Question 2

How is the classical aspect of the ancient Indian culture manifested in its dance?

 =========================

 

3

 

A. Classical China


The dynasty that ruled over a unified China for about 400 years, beginning in 202 B.C. through A.D. 220. Key developments during the reign of this dynasty include the development of civil service exams, the invention of paper, and the establishment of the Silk Road.

Ancient Chinese Philosophy 

 

B.  Video

Historical Dance Drama Du Fu 

https://www.bilibili.com/video/av8442984/?p=1

This is a Tang Dynasty Dance named “丽人行,” which depicts Yang Yuhuan, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. She was the beloved consort of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang during his later years. Emperor Xuanzong was a wise and competent emperor and created the most affluent, powerful, and prosperous period of Tang Dynastic. But he started to slack off on his work after he fell in love with Yang Yuhuan, and was blamed for over-trusting Yang’s relatives during his late reign and ending Tang’s golden age in the Anshi Rebellion. 

When the emperor fled for the Rebellion, his guards demanded the death of Yang Yuhuan as they blame her and her family for the Rebellion. The emperor eventually reluctantly ordered the death of his lover Yang Yuhuan… 

This dance is inspired by a poem by the same name, 丽人行, by a great poet Dufu, the “Poet-Sage” and “Poet-Historian” in Chinese literary culture, whose greatest ambition was to serve the country as a successful civil servant but whose life, like the whole country, was devastated by the Anshi Rebellion. 

 The dance principal is Hao Ruoqi. This piece is the most successful of Li Ren Xing dance versions.

 

C. Text

 

 A History of Ancient Chinese Music and Dance

 https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_HISTORY_OF_ANCIENT_CHINESE_MUSIC_AND_D/-le9DwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Classic+Ancient+China+dance&printsec=frontcover

Pages 12 - 14 

 

Question 3

In which way is ancient Chinese philosophy present in its classical music, dance and drama?

 

 --------------------------------

IV

A Note to Remember 

The Eurasian empires of the classical era are those of Persia, Greece under Alexander the Great, Rome, China during the Qin and Han dynasties, India during the Mauryan and Gupta dynasties.

Ways of the World 

(Read the last page of the chapter)  Reflections: Classical
Empires and the Twentieth Century

 

---------------------------

V

Case Study

 


 (43:45 - 1:10:00 ) Vedic Civilization

(1:11:00) Ancient China / Shang, Zhou, Qin, Han Dynasties


Question 4

Why is the Vedic Civilization considered classical?

Question 5

Which one of the Ancient Chinese dynasties is the most classic?

 


-------------------

VI

Journaling

 

VII

Glossary

 

VIII

Sources

Strayer, Robert W. The Classical Era in World History: The Big Picture 500 B.C.E. – 500 C.
Robert W. Strayerhttps://www.houstonisd.org/cms/lib2/TX01001591/Centricity/Domai/20273/Chapter%204%20-%20Ways%20of%20the%20World.pdf

Classical India, Empire, History and Religion. https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-classical-age-of-india.html

Pentreath,  Rosie (2022).Why do we call classical music ‘classical music’?

https://www.classicfm.com/discover-music/music-theory/why-do-we-call-it-classical-music/

 

IX

Students' Work

 

 1

Tang Dynasty

 

 2


Classic Indian
 

3

Classic Mayan

 

Make Up Work


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