In India, Ashoka the Great commissions the oldest written evidence of Buddhism. In China, the Qin dynasty begins to piece together the Great Wall. In Rome, the Republic is rising to power. And in Carthage, a famous general sets out plans to sneak attack Rome from the north.

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Note: The links below are not our official sources. These pictures, maps, encyclopedia entries, etc are to peruse for more depth. Visit our site for official sources.

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Mauryan Dynasty in India

• Ashoka the Great.
• Mauryan Empire.
• Chandragupta Maurya.
• Capital city at Pataliputra.
• The Edicts of Ashoka. Example, example, example.
• Great explanation of Prakrit— the language of the edicts.
• Spread of Buddhism throughout the world today.
• India is less than one percent Buddhist today.
• You can flip through this paper to read examples of violent Assyrian inscriptions. For example, “I cut their throats like lambs. I cut off their precious lives (as one cuts) a string. Like the many waters of a storm, I made (the contents of) their gullets and entrails run down upon the wide earth.”

Qin Dynasty

• Warring States Period.
• Contention of the Hundred Schools of Thought.
• Qin Shi Huang name.
• Unification of China.
• Standardized round coins with a square in the center were made using a mold.
• Summary of the standardization of Chinese writing.
• The Qin Great Wall is the unification of many older shorter walls. The oldest wall (probably) is the Qi Wall.
• Forced labor along the Wall.
• Great interview with William Lindesay and runner, historian and author who is known for his work on the conservation of the Great Wall.
• There are many variations on the story of Lady Meng Jiang example, example, example, example.
• Summary of Legalism.
• Brief history of burning books.
• The mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
• Terracotta Warriors.
• Each terracotta warrior has a unique face. Example, example, example, example.

Rome

• Story of Romulus and Remus.
• Romulus and Remus in art, example, example, example.
• Rome also developed an origin story connecting them to Greece as the descendants of Aeneas.
• The Battle of Veii.
• City walls.
• Slavery in ancient Rome.
• The Roman government was run by two consuls.
• In a time of crisis a temporary dictator could be appointed.
• Patricians and plebeians.
• Roman citizenship.
• Explanation of the Roman Grain Dole.

Carthage - Hannibal

• Geography of Tunisia and Sicily or the Straight of Sicily.
• It was the Phoenicians who first settled Carthage.
• Remnants of the city walls.
• Artist rendition of the harbor at Carthage. Another example here.
• You can see remnants of it in this picture from 1958.
• Description of “booms” or chains strung across waterways as a defense strategy.
• New study looking at the genetics of the Carthaginians.
• Government structure of Carthage.
• Carthaginians were known for their ability to sail. They likely sailed to the Niger River Delta and possibly all the way around Africa.
• Carthaginian war ship.
• Summary of Punic Wars.
• Where was Hannibal’s route across the Alps?
• A great set of blog posts all about war elephants.
• Battle of Cannae.
• Illustration of Hannibal’s route in the Second Punic War.
• Summary of the Fall of Carthage.
• Quote from Hector’s wife in the Iliad. (Book 4,164–5).