Ancient IndiaTextbook pages 44-49,60-71,189-192.

Importance of Geography:--The first Indian Civilization developed in the Indus River Valley.--Mountains to the North of India provided protection from invaders. The most famous of these mountain ranges are the Himalayas.Rivers:

--The Ganges River flows Southeast into the Bay of Bengal--The Indus River flows Southwest into the Arabian Sea.

Climate:Monsoons winds that mark the seasons in India. The

warm southwest Monsoon brings warm moisture and rain up from the Indian Ocean. This rain is very important to the crops. Too much or too little rain can mean a bad/ruined crop.

Hot temperatures Along the coast there are milder temps. On the plains summer temperatures can reach 120 degrees F.

Harappan Civilization 2500-1500BC. Cities Harappa and Mohenjo DaroLarge and carefully planned out cities:--Wide streets crossed at right angles--Water system with public baths and brick sewers--Some homes had bathrooms and garbage chutes.--No temples or shrines. -- Seaports (export gold, copper, timber, ivory, cotton, turquoise)

Each city had a strong central fortress: Citadel--Store houses for grain. Enough to feed 35,000 people

Scared of invaders or ruined crops from monsoons

• Fertile Farmland• --Cotton, wheat, barley, and

rice.• --Raised cattle, sheep, pigs, and

goats.• --Canals and ditches to irrigate

their fields.• --Surplus crops for storage and

trade.• Language: Pictographs.

Scholars are unable to read them.

• Unknown reason for disappearing:

• Indus River changes course because of flood?Earthquake?

http://www.harappa.com/

Indo-Aryan Migrants1750BC tribes of Indo-European peoples cross the Hindu

Kush Mountains. Came from north of the Black and Caspian Seas = People

are Indo-AryansIndo-Aryans were skilled warriors (archers/charioteers)--nomadic sheep and cattle herders.Travel into the Indus River Valley seeking the rich

pasturelands. Strong warriors are able to conquer all of northern India.

1500BC – 1000BC Vedic AgeVedas – Indo-Aryans’ great work of religious literature. --memorized and told to the younger generations--developed writing and recorded the Vedas. Language

called Sanskrit.

Religion --gods of nature (earth, fire, light, rain, sky, sun, and

water)--Vedas also mention one supreme god--no temples, ceremonies held in open spaces--process of ceremonies very particular. Brahmins special priest who knew the proper forms and

rules.

Society--settle in villages, continue herding, start planting--Food (rice, sugarcane, leafy vegetables, gourds, peas,

beans, lentils)--settle in small independent territories--Trade/Bartering until about 500BC, since coins were not

widely used

--each territory ruled by a different Raja assisted by a royal councilRaja acted as military leader, lawmaker, and judge--sometimes territories would fight, most often remained at peace--the idea of sacrifice was strongly emphasized in society

--When Indo-Aryans came into the Indus River Valley the social classes became more rigid. Social orders or classes were created. Strict rules about marriage where observed.* Large Mountain Ranges in India separated different groups of people, making cultural diffusion slow and difficult

Harappan Society vs. Indo-Aryan Society

Dark skinned

Settled community

No information on religious beliefs

Pictographs

Light skinned

Nomadic/Migrants

Vedas-evidence of religious belief

Sanskrit

INDUS

RIVER

VALLEY

Religion in India pg. 60-65700BC Indian Religious thinkers begin questioning the

Brahmins.Thinkers travel around telling stories to help explain the

Vedas.Stories- tales of heroes and great events in history or

religion retold for generations. Epics stories put into long poems. The Upanishads are the Epics of the Vedas.

(1) Bhagavad Gita tells of great battle in N. India(2) Ramayana most famous in Hindu scriptures, tells

story of Rama and wife Sita (man/woman)

Caste System Broken down into 4 Varnas or social classes*Caste system is abolished today.BUT some places in India itis still strongly practiced.

Hinduism pg. 66-68--In everything there is a divine Essence called Brahman.

Individual Essence is called self or Atman. These essences are one and the same.

--Things in the universe are the same essence of God. Unity of God and creation = Monism

--Only can gain salvation if you reflect and recognize the illusion of the world =Maya

--This can take many lifetimes to achieve Nirvana when the souls unites with creation / perfect peace.

*Also called Moksha in Hinduism.-- Reincarnation – souls will be reborn into a new being

(human/animal)--Dharma moral duty in life so soul can make it

to/advance in next lifetime--Karma good/bad force created by actions

Aspects of Creation Monism = creation + godBrahma creatorVishnu preserverSiva Destroyer

Religious PracticeCaste System was practicedYoga mental/physical. Bring body + mind

togetherFestival ceremonies, rituals, music, dance, food.

Help bring in the seasonsCows sacred animal. Pull plows, milk, butter.

Protected by law.

Buddhism pg. 68-71

-N.India 563BCE. Founder of Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama – spoiled, royal boy.

-At 29yr. Goes out into the world shocked to find disease, poverty, fear, and ordinary life

-Vows to discover the reason for human suffering.

-Great Renunciation leave everything behind in search of truth and meaning (tries yoga, meditation, fasting)-After 6yr. Of searching one day meditating under a tree he feels he has come to know the truth that forms the basis of life.-In that moment he became the

Buddha “The Enlightened One”

Beliefs

-Reincarnation yesActions good/bad rewarded/punished

-Denied importance to Caste System-Anyone (any caste) could reach Nirvana -Salvation know and follow the Four Noble Truths

1- All Human Life involves suffering and sorrow

2- Desire for a Life of pleasure and material gain causes suffering and sorrow

3- Renouncing desire, frees people from suffering and helps the soul reach Nirvana

4- Eight Fold Path leads to renunciation/denial of desire and attainment of Nirvana

Mahayan Buddhism Thoravada Buddhism

Buddha =

Savior = God

Buddha =

Teacher + Spiritual Leader

Buddha’s teachings

and beliefs

Eight Fold PathRight Views – seeing life as it really isRight Intentions – living a life of good will, striving

toward perfectionRight Speech – avoid lies and gossipRight Action – trying to be law abiding and honestRight Concentration – directing the mind in meditationRight Living – avoiding work that harms othersRight Effort – seeking to prevent evilRight Mindfulness – constant awareness of one’s self

Buddhism gains followers after Buddha’s death. Religion spreads.

Brahmins strongly opposed Buddhism

Buddha

Happy Buddha

Swallows pride, suffering, anger…

Buddhist Prayers at Monastery

Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empire pg. 189-1921 – Mauryan Empire – 150+years, `320BCE Chandragupta Maurya – powerful adventurer-built grand palace on Ganges River-Army of 600,000 soldiers (chariots and elephants)-conquered N.India up to Hindu Kush-Standardized weights and measures-Feared enemies slept in different rooms Asoka – Chandraqupta’s Grandson ~270BCE-Bloody wars to increase Empire’s size-conquers all India except S.tip of the subcontinent-Becomes Buddhist. Orders stop to killing-Sends missionaries to spread Buddhism-Gives religious freedom-Trade Routes rest houses, tree for shade-184 BCE – End of the Empire

2 – Gupta Empire – 300s CE/AD Gupta family gains powerChandra Gupta I – 320 CE

-Expands Empire (conquest and intermarriage)-400 CE Empire expands from Bay of Bengal to Arabian Sea-Favored Hinduism – supported Buddhism-Early Years + “Golden Age”-Indian civilization flourished-Society prospered, arts increased (drama)

Chandra Gupta II (374-415 CE)Skanda Gupta – Last Ruler, Empire Ends 550 CE/AD

Ancient Indian Life and Culture pg. 193-197Society- Raja-controlled land and collected taxes.Most people barely got by.-Women -obey males - cannot read the Vedas -Polygamy – men could have

more than 1 wife -Suttee – widows committed suicide by jumping/throwing themselves onto husbands funeral pyres.Education – Advanced in Ancient India.- higher castes received formal education

-Nalanda – Buddhist University-Students studied: Vedas, literature, math, science, astronomy, gov’t, warfare, logic, grammar, and medicine

Mathematics-understood abstract and negative #s, concept of zero + infinity = ALGEBRA-understood rotation of earth, sun/moon eclipses and 7 planetsMedicine – very advanced-understood importance of the spinal chord-surgery bone setting + plastic surgery

-Inoculation vaccination, giving a weakened disease to a person to build up anti-bodies for the disease. Disease prevention and control