Unit 3a: Ancient India

Essential Question: What were the important characteristics

of the civilizations in the Indus River Valley?

Warm-Up Question: Name 2 similarities between Egypt &

Mesopotamian civilizations Name 2 differences

The Indus River Valley (India)

Class Activity:Take a diamond shaped schematic

map and use the ancient India map in the blue World History textbook pg. 53 to help you fill out the schematic map

Do-Now

What can you learn about a civilization by looking at its cities?

Provide at least 3 examples.

India began along the Indus River,

which flooded & left behind fertile soil

Seasonal monsoons caused summer rains & floods

The people were well protected on the Indian

subcontinent by the oceans, mountains, &

deserts that surrounded the Indus River Valley

9H - Do-Now:

When you think of an advanced civilization/society, what images or ideas come to mind? Make a list of 5-10 elements of an advanced civilization.

Lasting Contributions

Advanced cities: Indus cities were laid out in a grid system with high walls & citadel of major buildings

Two of its most famous cities were

Harappa and Mohenjo-

Daro

Well-Planned Cities Reveal Organized Government

Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were possible twin capitals of the civilization.

Baked clay bricks were common building materials

Had a complex plumbing system – sewers, drains, baths, etc.

Merchants had a uniform system of weights and measures.

Well organized government Urban Planning

Lasting Contributions

Technology: Advanced plumbing; Most houses had toilets & private bathrooms connected to underground sewer systems

Standard, oven-baked bricks

Farming & Trading in the Indus River Valley

Making a Living by Farming and Trading Most were farmers Variety of crops: wheat, barley, melons, and

dates. Others were merchants and traders Ships carried the following: cotton cloth,

grain, copper, pearls, and ivory Reached the city-states of Sumer Indus valley developed their own writing

system (not yet deciphered) and religious beliefs.

Religion of the Ancient Indus Valley

Polytheistic Mother goddess, a source of

creation, was widely honored – there was also a male god

Viewed certain animals sacred: buffalo, bull, and cattle

Veneration – special regard for cattle

Indus River Civilization Declines

1900 BC Indus Valley declines Crude pottery, use of writing

declined, cities abandoned, populations decreased.

Scholars do not know what happened, however there are various possibilities: invaders, damage to local environment, major flooding, and/or an earthquake.

Aryan Civilization Develops During the Vedic Age

Nomads migrated to Central Asia Traveled through mountain passes in

Northwest India Aryans Emerge in India Nomads intermarried with local peoples to

form a group called Aryans Acculturation – blending of two or more

cultures Combined the cultural traditions of the

nomads with those of earlier Indian peoples. Left behind very little archaeological evidence

Aryan Civilization

Vedas – collection of hymns, chants, ritual instructions, and other religious teachings.

Measured wealth in cows and bulls From Nomadic Life to Farming Settled into villages to cultivate crops and

breed cattle Learned how to make tools out of iron Rajahs – Aryan tribes were led by chiefs;

skilled war leader, elected to his position by an assembly of warriors.

Aryans Structure Society

Divided society into ranks based on occupation: Early Caste system

Highest group was Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaisyas (herders, farmers, artisans, and merchants).

Sudras were those who were not of Aryan heritage. This also includes: farm workers, servants, and other laborers.

Lasting Contributions

Specialized Workers: Indian society was divided by the “caste system” which divided people based on their purity in Hinduism

Lasting Contributions

Government:Little is known about Indus government other than they were ruled by kings

Lasting Contributions

Writing: Indus writing has not been fully translated so much of Indus life is still a mystery

Writing contained about 400 symbols that were both pictograms & phonetic characters

Aryan Religious Beliefs Develop Polytheistic Worshipped gods and goddesses who embodied

natural forces like the: sky, sun, storm, and fire. Indra – the god of war Varuna – god of order and creation Agni – god of fire and the messenger who

communicated wishes to the gods Brahmins offered sacrifices of food and drink to the

gods. Brahman – a single spiritual power that existed

beyond the many gods and resided in all things Mystics – people who seek direct communion with

divine forces.

Aryan Writings

Epic Literature Tells About Aryan Life Sanskrit – priests used this written language to

write sacred texts. Maintained a strong oral tradition – memorize

and recite ancient hymns Mahabharata Tells of Warfare and Religion

India’s greatest epic Bhagavad-Gita – reflects important Indian religious

beliefs about the immortality of the soul and the value of performing one’s duty.

Ramayana Teaches Values of Behavior Priest-poets added new morals to the tales to

teach different lessons.

Lasting Contributions

Religion:Believed in a polytheistic religion called Hinduism

Hindus believe that one’s soul is reborn until moksha is achieved (reincarnation)

Moksha (enlightenment or nirvana) is the spiritual release from human form

A soul’s karma (good or bad deeds) effect reincarnation

Hinduism

Hinduism does not have one founder and no single sacred text.

All Hindus share certain basic beliefs One Force Underlies Everything Major Gods include:

Brahma – the creator Vishnu – the preserver Shiva – the destroyer

Major Tenets of Hinduism

Sacred Texts Reveal Hindu Beliefs Hindu teachings were recorded in the sacred texts of Vedas Upanishads are a section of Vedas that address mystical

questions related to Hinduism

Achieving Moksha Is the Goal of Life (State of perfect understanding) Atman – individual soul of a living being Brahman – the world soul that contains and unites all atmans. Moksha – union with brahman; must separate themselves from

selfish desires Reincarnation – rebirth of the soul in another bodily form Karma – all actions of a person’s life that affect his or her fate

in the next life. Dharma – religious and moral duties of an individual Ahimsa – nonviolence

Jainism Grows Out of Hinduism

A religion that grew out of Hindu traditions

Emphasizes meditation, self-denial, and an extreme form of ahimsa

The Caste System & Hinduism Shape India

Aryans divided society into four groups Castes – social groups into which people are born

and rarely change.

Complex Rules Uphold the Caste System Closely linked to Hindu beliefs Rules governed every aspect of life Untouchables

Caste Affects the Social Order Could achieve a higher state in life by faithfully

fulfilling their duties of their present caste Limit social and economic progress

Buddhism Grows Out of Hinduism

Siddhartha Gautama – a reformer; his teachings spread across Asia to become core beliefs of Buddhism

From Boy to Buddha Early life known from various religious writings and

literature Born a prince Buddha – the enlightened one

Following the Four Noble Truths Four Noble Truths – heart of Buddhism Eightfold Path – the “right” way of living Nirvana – union with the universe and release from the

cycle of rebirth

What is the fundamental cause of all suffering?

What is the fundamental cause of all suffering?

Desire!Desire! Therefore, get rid of selfish

desires, don’t obsess about oneself.

Four Noble Truths

Eight Fold Path

Middle Way between desires and self-denial.

By following the Eightfold Path, anyone could reach nirvana, the Buddha’s word for release from selfishness and pain.

Eightfold Path

1. Know the truth 2. Resist evil 3. Say nothing to hurt others 4. Respect life 5. Work for the good of others 6. Free your mind of evil 7. Control your thoughts 8. Practice meditation

Eightfold PathEightfold Path

NirvanaNirvanaThe ultimate goal of any BuddhistEscape from the cycle of rebirth.Buddhists also believe in reincarnation and that it takes many lifetimes to reach nirvana.

Comparing Hinduism and Buddhism

Both religions stress nonviolence and believed in karma, dharma, and a cycle of rebirth.

Buddha urged each person to seek enlightenment through meditation

Buddhists rejected the caste system

Buddhism Spreads Beyond India Monasteries grew into centers of learning

Collecting the Buddha’s Teachings throughout Asia

Tripitaka – three baskets of wisdom Buddhism Spreads and Divides Missionaries and traders spread Buddhism Sects – subgroups

Theravada Buddhism closely follows Buddha’s original teachings

Mahayana made Buddhism easier for ordinary people to follow

Empires of Ancient India

The Mauryan Empire

Founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 324 BC Gained power in the Ganges Valley;

conquered northern India. He controlled a well-organized bureaucracy

Divided empire into 4 provinces Each province had its own royal prince

(governor) Terrified of being assassinated!!!

Had food tasters and never slept two nights in a row in the same bed!!!!

Asoka

Chandragupta’s grandson Ruled the empire at its height Converted to Buddhism, rejected violence,

preached tolerance and resolved to rule by moral example.

Stone pillars set up across India, offering moral advice.

Built hospitals Expanded trade which led to prosperity After his death the empire started to decline 183 BC the empire falls Division and Disunity Set In

Gupta Empire“Golden Age of India”

320 AD Chandra Gupta founded this new empire

335AD Samudra Gupta assumes the throne Expanded the empire with war and conquest

375AD Chandra Gupta II becomes king. Defeats Shakas to the west and negotiates peace

Golden Age: time of peace and prosperity and many achievements in math and science

Declined around 5th century AD with the invasion of the Huns

Family and Village Life Shape Indian Society

Everyday life revolved around the rules and duties.

Joint Family Structure Joint family – parents, children, and their

offspring share a common dwelling. Families were patriarchal in Northern India, the

father or oldest male in the family headed the household.

Families were matriarchal in Southern India, mother or oldest female headed the household.

Property belonged to whole family.

Family and Village Life Shape Indian Society

The Family Performs Certain Duties Dowry – payment to the bridegroom; financed the weddings

Role of Women Changes Over Time Shakti – a creative energy that men lacked

Typical Village Structure Ran its affairs based on caste rules and traditions Village headman and council made decisions Women were once allowed to be a part of council, but as time

progressed, they were restricted from doing so. Organized villagers to cooperate on vital local projects

Agriculture and Trade Shape Life Farming depended on the rains brought by the summer monsoons Communication with other villages allowed the sharing of

common ideas across the subcontinent.

Indian Achievements

Literature Vedas, Mahabharata,

Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita

Architecture Stone pillars: marked

events Buddha’s life Stupa: house relics of

Buddha Rock chamber: house

monks, place have religious ceremonies

Indian Achievements

Science and Mathematics Studied astronomy: knew earth was a

sphere, rotated around the sun Calendar based on the cycles of the sun,

7-day week, and division of days into hours.

Used algebra Invented the decimal system, concept of

zero and symbol (0) for it