Episode 1: An Encyclopedia of Civilizations

 Asia the largest continent accounts for 30% of the Earth’s land area as a home of 6/10
humans. It is a melting part of civilizations and ethnic traditions. They have made a unique
contribution to human progress.
 Civilization became possible once early as Asians had begun to plant seeds over 10,000 years
ago. From planting seeds, they knew cultivating wheat. After that, they creat items to
harvest. And then, breast pigs and sheep to survive. By securing a stable and reliable food
supply humankind demonstrated that that it could harness nature in this way it took the 1 st
step along the path of civilization.
 Babylonian clay tablet is they start to know how to record things and the knowledge
construction of system of canals. Venus of Willendorf is one of the earliest pieces of pottery
discovered, we may know this represents one of humankind’s 1 st attempts at creativity. They
knew the pottery can be storing and cooking food. One of the example is Jomon Pottery
fragments which are bearing traces of fish fat and ash. Babylonian glazed pottery is the 1 st to
use glaze to prevented leaking. They started to know the pottery is used to be fire to keep
them fixed. Also, Emperor Qinshihuang’s Mausoleum are evidences of a magnificent project
completed to perfection as the Chinese mastered the art of fire and clay at carefully
controlled temperatures.
 Cotton is being cultivated in India and they created the button. The high quality of cotton is
silk and is found the earlest in Qianshanyang site, China. The Gilt-copper silkworm is
represent the time of silkworm is precious in the world.
 Ancient city of Sigiriya, Sri Lanka is the highest expression of human civilization in Asia. Runis
of Ur, Iraq was a flourishing Sumerian urban center is the one of the worlds’s 1 st cities had a
population numbering over 30,000 and contained houses stores markets and temples.
 Archaelogist discoveries and inventions including the calendar.
 Mohenjo-Daro site, Pakistan had separated rooms and created a water outlet and other
facilities. It had a sophisticated sewage system and even the world’s earliest sitting toilet.
 Hanging Gardens of Babylon had required a highly advanced system of water supply.
 Great Wall of China, Borobodur Temple, Indonesia, Angkor Wat, Cambodia, Taj Mahal, India,
they are known as the four wonders of the ancient East.
 The Asia sound was being used in 1977 when the u.s. sent the two Voyager probes towards
the edge of the solar system each carried onboard a vinyl record titled the sounds of Earth.
That records include 5 Asian melodies. The orchestral piece kinds of flowers from Indonesia,
the shakuhachi tune depicting cranes in their nest from Japan, the folk song Mugen from
Azerbaijan, the Chinese Chin tuned flowing streams, the Indian song Jat Kahan Ho.
 Syria archaeologists have found a clay tablet inscribed with a musical score. Jiahu bone flute
discovered in China is the world’s oldest playable wind instrument, it’s seven holes are
evidence that ancient Asiand had mastered seven tone scales. The ancient music of Asia is
one of humankind’s great cultural treasures
 The wheels invention in Asia was as important to humankind as the discovery of fire. 6000
years ago, Sumerians found that using spinning disks made it easier to shape their pottery
clay. Sumerian carts are the oldest known depiction of a wheeled vehicle. Odometer drum
chariot is the Chinese developed a way of measuring distance by Counting the number of
revolutions completed by the wheels on a special chariot
 Numeral is being invest by Muhammad IBN musa al-khwarizmi which was mathematician.
The India contribution to mathematics is the zero. Gwalior Fort, Madhya Pradesh, India
contains the earliest use of the symbol for zero. Bakhshali Manuscript, Ancient India
 recording the number of ritual offerings refers to 2,7,0. the ground-floor of buildings is often
referred to as floor zero
 The rhythms and routines that we follow in our daily lives today are the creation of Asian
civilizations. In ancient Babylon an hour was defined as 60 minute, a minute as 60 seconds, 7
days as a week, twelve months as a year, a year was reckoned to be 365 days 6 hours 15
minutes and 41 seconds long. This deviates from the modern calculation by just 26 minutes
and 55 seconds. The ancient Chinese invented negative numbers and the ancient Indians
determined the circumference of the earth to within a hundred kilometers. Arabs invented
algerab and trigonometry, they were also the 1 st to calculate the length of the Prime
Meridian and the rason that the earth spins on its axis and orbits the Sun.
 Clay tablet with a love poem in Cuneiform script. Egyptian-Hittite Peace Treaty were
recorded in writing acquired musch greater authority. Code of Hammurabi, Babylon is the
one of the oldest and most comprehensive legal codes ever discovered, it gives physical
form to one of greatest achievement of Eastern civilization, The inscription records the legal
principles employed by King Hammurabi in governing his kingdom
 Tomb of the Marquis of Haihun, Jiangxi, China, have discovered 5200 mud covered bamboo
slips. Inside these slips is the Chi Analects which had been lost. As one of three ancient
versions of the Analects of Confucius. Confucius is considered one of the greatest scholars.
He had influenced every aspect of Chinese spiritual activity social conduct and lifestyle.
Voltaire also translate the Confucius’s books.
 The ancient civilizations of Asia produces numerous illuminating ideologies and philosophies
that have furthered our understanding of the world around us. All religions values moralities
and philosophies converged and blended so they became the focus of exchange and
dialogue among Asian civilizations
Asia and the lights of Civilization: Inheritance and Innovation

 Where they reach the lowlands they have brought life to civilizations over the course of
thousand of years.
 In June2014 the city of Doha hosted a meeting of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee
China Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan successfully lobbied for a new addition to be made to the
World Heritage List the roots network of the chang an tian shan corridor. It connects 22
historic sites in China, 8 in Kazakhstan and 3 in Kyrgzystan. The corridors inclusion on the
world heritage list recognized the importance of the Silk Road which it was part of. It also
highlighted how historically civilizations have maintained channels of communication
 Kazakhstan- golden warrior statues are a feature of city squares. It is an important part of
country’s cultural heritage. It originally found in an ancient burial mound surrounded by four
thousand gold ornaments. The sophistication of the gold armor testifies to the splendor of
ancient Central Asian civilization
 Each of Asia’s World Heritage Sites has witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations with their
roots in the past and present and as witnesses to the communication among civilizations.
They continue to inspire us still today.
 Angkor Wat, Combodia- in the 12th century, it represents the golden age of the Khmer
Empire and serves as a symbol of modern Cambodia. The massive and intricate complex is
built of carved sandstone, no mortar or other adhesive. It created a lot of complex scenes
and vivid characters to make sense of depth and produce a masterpiece of world art. NOW-
damage caused by centuries of weathering, IN 1993, UNESCO added Angkor Wat to the list
of world heritage in danger the ensuing restoration project.
 In the mid 20th century, the aspara dance was created taking tis inspiration from traditional
Khmer dance and Angkor Wat itself. Many of its 4500 movements imitate the actions of the
carved figures at the temple. NOW- the smile of Anka uses elements from modern dance to
describe the history of Khmer civilization and tell classic tales from Hinduism in this way
c’mere culture is being passed on and spread.
 Patan durbar square contains classic noir ii temples and palaces dating the 16 th to the 19th
century. They include this nine story temple which is a world heritage list. April 25,2015, a
magnitude 8.1 eathquake caused the four upper storeys to collapse. After that, Chinese
history building preservation team traveled to Nepal. The restoration work required Chinese
and Nepanese experts to work closely together. Every piece of stone and wood found
among the debris was marked and catalogues historical records and local rules on the
construction of religious building were referenced to ensure that everything was put back in
the right place.
 We come nearest to the great when we are in great in humility. Let life be beautiful like
summer flowers and death like autumn leaves. These charming and philosophical word were
written by the Indian poet. Rabindranath Tagore has been called the conscience and soul of
India. Many of his works including Jeet and Jolly. He introducing the world to Asian literature
encouraging cultural exchange and praising Eastern civilization.
 In the summer of 1964 the Olympic torch arrived in Tokyo to mark the fact this was the 1 st
time the modern Olympics had been held on the continent. the torch was 1 st flown to West
Asia from where it travelled through central south southeast and East Asia visiting key cities
along the way. Hosting the Olympic Games brought Asian traditional culture into the global
spotlight. In 1988, Seoul, the theme song and in hand sampled the Korean folk melody
Arirang, the song an example of different cultures integrading was a worldwide hit. In 2008,
 China, Chinese cultures had their chance to shines. The shows were presented to hunders of
millions of viewers around the world.
 In the 20th century animated films video games and other technology-based cultural
products began developing rapidly in Japan became the world’s biggest producer and
exported of animated films around 6/10 of them seen globally originated in Japan. Hi-
Yamazaki is a legendary Japanese filmmaker who has been working since 1964. He created a
unique genre of films that combine advanced animation techniques and touching
heartwarming stories.
 1913, India first feature film was produced based on a local fairy tale. Raja Harishchandra
laid the foundation for the style content and storytelling techniques of Indian cinema and
heralded the birth of Bollywood. The city of Mumbai would develop into the world’s biggest
center of film production after Hollywood. NOW- 2018, the film markets of China, South
Korea, Japan dan India were worth a combined 15 billion US dollars considerably more than
that of North America. China has become the world’s second biggest film market. Built on
the solid foundation of ancient traditions the creativity and influence of Asian culture is
gaining in strength.
 In Vietnam, scores of schoolgirls wearing white is the national dress are living example of
how the country protects and passes on its culture. The silk dress has over the centuries
absorbed elements from many other cultures yet. It remains a unique Vietnamese form of
dress. It has its roots in the traditional local culture but is also adapting to the times. NOW-
designers are exploring ways of bringing new life to this traditional garment. Indonesia have
evolved of batik the country’s traditional fabric. Batik is an important symbol of Indonesian
culture although there are those who say it originated in Sri Lanka, but most locals agree
that it’s uniquely Indonesian. The authorities have even made every Friday batik day when
all government officials and employees of major companies must wear petite clothes to
work. Batik used exclusively for clothing, now being adapted for bags and accessories even
high-heeled shoes as well as other products.
 Rugs is a key element of ancient Persian civilization are produced using immensely complex
skills. The rugs are works of art designated for the floor capable of brightening up any house.
The civilizations of Asia are advancing powered by innovation at the same time more and
more ancient traditions are being preserved.
 South Asia has a unique climate and geography in Sri Lanka-Elephant. It is a symbol of good
fortune and great strength.
 Candy and Dance which has its roots in early Sinhalese culture is a major feature of the
festival. It combines elements from different ethnic groups- the subtle movements of Tamil
dance, the powerful rhythms of candy and dance, the vigour of various other local dances.
It’s an example of how this country’s various civilizations have coexisted and interacted
throughout the past 2,000 years.
 Tropical scenery and clear waters have made the islands a popular tourist destination
attracting 1.5 million visitors every year. In August 2000, the China Maldives friendship
bridge the country’s 1st inter-island bridge was opened to traffic. The history of the Maldives
is imbued with humankind’s maritime tradition. Yellowfin tuna which is a vital source of
income for the local fishermen. They never use bait in catching the fish because the younger
tuna aren’t attracted by hooks without bait stocks are preserved and the fishermen can earn
a living without causing too much harm to the local ecosystem. The tradition of respect and
gratitude to the ocean has been passed down throughout the generations strict measures
designed to protect the environment have been in effect here for over a decade which
benefits both the fragile ecosystem and the tourism industry.
 Dubai, United Arab Emirates- In West Asia, buildings defying the imagination continue to
built and example of humankind reaching for the sky. 828 meters tall the Burj Khalifa is the
tallest building on earth. It’s a powerful symbol of human civilizations desire to innovate
entertain new heights. The civilizations of Asia exits in harmony despite their diversity, each
carries on the spirit and bloodline of a nation civilizations while they need to protect
themselves in the course of being passed down through the generations also need to
innovate in advance with the times.
Asia and the Lights of Civilization: A history of exchanges

 Dunhuang an oasis among the mountains and desert of western china. Its position as a
major hub on the Silk Road gave rise to a unique local culture bred from interaction among
the cultures of China, India and Central and West Asia.
 The knowledge, technologies, medicine, religions and philosophies entered China from West
Central and South Asia. The Chinese used to sitting on the ground adopted chairs, they also
got a taste for naan bread, the nang popular in northwest china today has maintained the
name and the appearance of the persian orginal while in China’s interior, it evolved into a
smaller vesion the shaobing.
 For 2000 years the ancient Silk Road by land and by sea linked the civilizations of Egypt
Babylon, India and China. It connected Buddhists, Christians and Muslims. A Chinese saying
goes: “stones from other Hills may serve to polish Jade”
 Sugar cane was 1st refined in ancient India where the skill was mastered as early as 2500
years ago. In English, German, French, Russian and many other languages, the word for
sugar has its origin in Sanskrit. The Local Hindi word for sugar is Cheaney meaning China.
Behind this linguistic peculiarity is one of mutual learning between civilizations.
 When Tong Dynasty China learner that India was refining sugarcane they sent an envoy
across the Himalayas to obtain the new technology. The tae-jong Emperor ordered that
sugarcane be fetched from yong-jo and using the newly acquired knowledge refined sugar
was produced in China. At that time, sugar was called Chaga Ling which came from Sanskrit.
And the creative technology was adopted and brought back to India and named it for its new
place of origin.
 Chinese silk and Persian craftsmanship came together to make beautiful silk rugs. A Cclassic
Pottery style was used a Persian blue pigment and Chinese clay. The Chinese ceramics found
in an ancient shipwreck reflect classic Western and Central Asian influences in their style.
Chilean was despictions of the mythical beast which would resemble a giraffe.
 Samarkand, Uzbekistan- the skill of making paper from mulberry bark has survived since the
8th century, the techniques closely resemble those used in ancient China’s Han Empire.
Arabic records that among some captured Tong dynasty soldiers were a number of Chinese
paper makers. Papermaking spread from Samarkand to Baghdad, Damascus and North Africa
where this new, light, cheap and readily mass-produced writing materials quickly gained
popularity. Through continuous exchanges papermaking, the compass gunpowder printing
and silkworm breeding from China changed the world.
 The Chinese Imperial examination system was adopted by several East Asian countries and
even influenced countries as far away as England and France. Chinese and Japanese
historians have produced numerous descriptions of Cheung Anne’s West market. Changmin
is remembered today as a powerful symbol of cultural exchange at its height in the Tang
Dynasty. Today, the city is called Shian, Japanese tourists flocked to a monument
commemorating a Tong era scholar a Bet known akamaru. Originally from Japan, he passed
a Imperial examination and took up a position as a tongue government official, he counted
among his acquaintances the famous Chinese Poets LIBAI and WANG WEI. Kyoto cities in
their layout mimicked Changan and both would go on to become major centers of Japanese
culture.
 Monk (Xuan zang) in Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi’an- installed treasures he had collected
during 17years spent traveling and studying Buddhism in India. He devoted the final two
decades of his life to translating Indian, Buddhist texts into Chinese. The great tongue
records on the western regions a contemporary account of xuan zang’s travels is an
 important historical reference on a number of countries including India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.
He has become a symbol of cultural exchange between China and India and regarded as a
trailblazer for those Chinese who wish to study other cultures.
 A bright blue gemstone called Lapis Lazuli became popular across Mesopotamia that it was
more highly prized than gold. Lapis-Lazuli were not mined in the Iraq, mostly originated in
the Cocteau River Valley in Afghanistan. 5000years ago, an overland trade route was moving
them across Asia. Transporting the stones from central Asia brought several major
civilizations closer together. The inner coffin and gold mask found in the tomb of
Tutankhamun feature Lapis-Lazuli sets in pure gold. These represents the transporting rich
resources and highly developed trade encouraged cultures to learn from and tolerate one
another
 Communication among cultures was also encouraged by the spread of religion. Through the
competition for souls and moral ascendancy they left their mark on different civilizations.
Buddhism having originated in India. Borobodur Temple is the biggest Buddhist temple. The
temple shows that Buddhism wasn’t simply transplanted into the region. It was integrated
into the local culture. As for the name, one explanation is Boro is comes from a Sanskrit
word meaning temple, while bodur is derived from a Javanese word for mountain,
suggesting that two different cultures came together to create this East Asian wonder. The
earliest statues of the Buddha are associated with the conquests of Alexander the Great. The
Gandhara Buddha sculpture were based on the image of Apollo, the Greek god of the Sun
but Gandhara art also incorporated persian and Indian elements. This unique combination
became one of the classic forms of Buddhist art. Human culture is diverse mutual learning
allows art to transcend time.
 Sari- one of the world’s oldest forms of dress. It mentioned the ancient Indian epic
Mahabharata tells us that it’s been in existence for several millennia.
 April every year, countries across Asia celebrate water sprinkling festival. The festival has
different traditions associated with it depending on if it’s being celebrated in Thailand, Laos,
Myanmar, Cambodia and elsewhere. Water is a blessing and means of wishing for food
fortune. In 5th century Persia where water was sprayed as a form of blessing during winter.
Later, the festival spread to India where it became known as song track before being
adopted in Myanmar, Thailand and China where it is still celebrated today.
 The Egyptian hieroglyphs and Sumerian cuneiform script to create a simplified writing
system consisting of 22 letters. This was a historic development, the script would become
the source of nearly all the world’s alphabets. English become the ligua France of the
modern world can trace its 26 letter alphabet back to the ancient Phoenicians of Asia.
Through exchange and mutual learning among civilization, the original 22 letter alphabet
evolved branched out and flourished. It became the foundation of writing across the world.
 Ancient Egypt were 1st used spices widely, one they reached the Arabian Peninsula, spices
quickly became an essential element of the local culture. The Greek historian Herodotus
wrote the whole of Arabia exhales the most delicious fragrance. These have influence on
progress and development in the ancient world.
 Tales such as Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves have become part of global popular culture, in
the 8th /9th centuries, folk stories were compiled into the classic 1,001 nights or The Arabian
Nights. It contains folktales from Persia India and the Abbasid Caliphate as well as Greece
Rome China and elsewhere. It was translated into French by Antoine Galland In the early 18 th
century. 1,001 nights gave rise to a fascination for the Orient that swept Europe. The work is
a fruit of the coming together of people from different regions and cultures.
 Arab scholars had in the course of two centuries translated the literature of Greece, Rome,
Persia, India and other civilizations into Arabic, was the desire to gather knowledge from
other parts of Asia and Europe that enormous resources were devoted to these projects.