Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...
Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...
Higher education in Asian countries and the role of international ...
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<strong>the</strong>se old human settlements had some traits <strong>in</strong> common: availability sufficient water throughout<br />
<strong>the</strong> year, fertile l<strong>and</strong>s <strong>and</strong> natural protection from <strong>in</strong>vaders. At that time man was liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> small<br />
tribes <strong>and</strong> concept <strong>of</strong> state had no existence. Accord<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> available archaeological evidences<br />
first proto type state <strong>in</strong> Asia was established <strong>in</strong> 6000 BP along <strong>the</strong> Indus Valley 3 (now Pakistan)<br />
as this region provided <strong>the</strong> most basic <strong>in</strong>gredients for <strong>the</strong> establishment <strong>of</strong> a state: population,<br />
peace <strong>and</strong> prosperity. And by 2000- 3000 BP <strong>in</strong> all o<strong>the</strong>r major regions <strong>of</strong> Asia small <strong>and</strong> large<br />
states appeared 4 afterward <strong>the</strong>se states became vast empires by annex<strong>in</strong>g geographical vic<strong>in</strong>ities<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>se empires were <strong>the</strong> home <strong>of</strong> great civilizations.<br />
4.2.2 Major <strong>Asian</strong> civilizations<br />
Western Asia is called <strong>the</strong> cradle <strong>of</strong> civilization because Homo sapiens, who had come from<br />
Africa70,000 years ago, first settled <strong>in</strong> this part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Asia. Here <strong>the</strong>y developed <strong>and</strong> grew<br />
<strong>in</strong>tellectually socially, politically <strong>and</strong> economically <strong>and</strong> gave birth to Mesopotamian<br />
civilizations. This area rema<strong>in</strong>ed home <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> great empires; Sumerian, Babylon,<br />
Akkadian, Assyrian, Mittannian empires <strong>and</strong> Islamic caliphate flourished <strong>in</strong> Mesopotamia. On<br />
<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r h<strong>and</strong> Elam, Gutian, Persian <strong>and</strong> Islamic empire flourished <strong>in</strong> Persia. People <strong>of</strong> this area<br />
were expert <strong>in</strong> construction <strong>and</strong> agriculture. They are <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>ventors <strong>of</strong> many th<strong>in</strong>gs like l<strong>and</strong><br />
cultivation, writ<strong>in</strong>g system, wheel transport, potter‟s wheel <strong>and</strong> mill<strong>in</strong>g wheel etc. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore<br />
central government system, law code, social classes system <strong>and</strong> warfare also emerged from this<br />
area (Maisels, 1993).<br />
In South Asia, Homo sapiens arrived around 50,000 years ago. Availability <strong>of</strong> fertile l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
sufficient water helped <strong>the</strong>m to flourish <strong>and</strong> progress very rapidly. Consequently many<br />
civilizations took birth <strong>in</strong> this region; Mehrghar civilization, Indus valley civilization (at<br />
Gh<strong>and</strong>ara, Harrapa, Moenjodaro <strong>and</strong> Lothal), Maha-janapadas k<strong>in</strong>gdoms <strong>and</strong> Gupta empire,<br />
Rajput <strong>and</strong> chola k<strong>in</strong>gdom. Later on dur<strong>in</strong>g Islamic period Khilji, Tughlaq, Lodhi <strong>and</strong> Mughal<br />
dynasties ruled major part <strong>of</strong> south Asia 5 . The Indus valley was an advanced <strong>and</strong> rich urban<br />
society as archeological evidences show. They <strong>in</strong>troduced sophisticated <strong>and</strong> efficient dra<strong>in</strong>age<br />
system, uniform weights <strong>and</strong> measures. Even <strong>in</strong> 7500-9000 BP <strong>the</strong> people <strong>of</strong> Mehrgarh, an Indus<br />
vally civilization, had <strong>the</strong> knowledge <strong>of</strong> proto-dentistry, which shows <strong>the</strong>ir mastery over science.<br />
3 The Indus civilization: http://www.harappa.com/har/har0.html Retrieved on 6th February 2010<br />
4 Transition to Civilization: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homo_sapiens#cite_ref-3 Retrieved on 6th February 2010<br />
5 http://www.hyperhistory.com/onl<strong>in</strong>e_n2/civil_n2/hist_6.html Retrieved on 8th February 2010