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Indus River Valley Civilizations
Geography• Surrounded by Ocean on three sides
• The Himalayan Mountains provide protection from the north
• Indus and Ganges Rivers lie south of the northern mountains
• The Deccan Plateau makes up most of the country
• Early inhabitants were sea traders
Indus River Valley Civilizations
Climate– Monsoons & high temperatures– Monsoons are winds that signal a change in
seasons• November – March = little rain
• Mid June – October = wet season
Indus River Valley Civilizations
Early Civilizations– 1st great civ. was from 2500 BC – 1500 BC– Two main cities were Mohenjo Daro &
Harappa– Large– Water system– Public Bath– Sewer– Strong central fortress – Citadel– Store houses for grain
– Farmlands surrounded the cities• Also raised cattle
– City dwellers were involved making or trading goods
– Believed in a great god, symbolized through animals and nature
– Disappeared due to a natural disaster• Great flood or earthquake
Indus River Valley Civilizations
Indo – Aryan Migrants
Nomadic Indo – Aryans • Sheep and cattle herders
• Skilled warriors
• Most of what we know came from the Vedas– Vedas are ancient religious records and stories
– Told from generation to generation
– Written in Sanskrit by scholars
Indo – Aryan Migrants
Indo – Aryan Religion– Early gods were based on elements of nature,
such as:• Earth
• Fire
• Water
Shiva – the destroyer
Indo – Aryan Migrants
– Brahmans were the ancient priests– As time went on ceremonies became more
complicated
Indo – Aryan Migrants
Early Indo-Aryan Society– Built civilizations at the end of the Neolithic
Age– Governed by a raja– These people had lighter skin– Developed a social structure with priests and
warriors at the top– Arranged marriages were common
Indo – Aryan Migrants
Indo – Aryan Economy– Grew
• Wheat
• Barley
• Rice
• Sugar cane
• Vegetables
– Language was an early form of Sanskrit
Indo – Aryan Migrants
Southern India– Protected from invasions by mountains– Some hunted, gathered, fished, or farmed– Some traded, which made them wealthy and
led to cultural diffusion
Hinduism and Buddhism
Upanishads and the Epics– Some began to question the authority of the
Brahmans• Collection of writings was called the Upanishads• Eventually combined into two epics (poems)
– Mahabharata and Ramayana
Hinduism and BuddhismCaste System Developed
• Complex form of social hierarchy• Five varnas (classes)
Hinduism and Buddhism
Hinduism– Believed in Monism- the unity of God and Creation– Hindu Beliefs
• The world we see is an illusion or maya• It can take many lifetimes to reject maya• Believe in reincarnation• Dharma is the duty of people to be good• Karma is the force created by good and bad actions• Nirvana is when the soul reaches peace and connects with
Brahma• Polytheistic
Hinduism and Buddhism
Buddhism– Founded by Siddhartha Gautama
• Wealthy Hindu prince who sought the meaning of life• Became known as Buddha – Enlightened One
Buddha’s Teachings– Accepted some Hindu ideas– Taught Four Noble truths and the eight-fold path– Denied the importance of the Hindu caste system
• Very appealing to the poor and untouchables
Hinduism and Buddhism
The Four Noble Truths– 1. Life means suffering.– 2. The origin of suffering
is attachment.– 3. It is possible to end su
ffering.– 4. The Eightfold Path lea
ds to the end of suffering.
Padma - Symbol of Purity. Can be of any color except blue.
Hinduism and Buddhism
8 Fold Path– Right Views
– Right Intentions
– Right Speech
– Right Action
– Right Living
– Right Effort
– Right Mindfulness
– Right Concentration
The wheel of the law. The eight spokes represent the eightfold path.
Hinduism and Buddhism
Spread of Buddhism– Buddha himself only
had a few followers
– Split into two sects• Theravada (Southeast
Asia) – Buddha was great
teacher and leader
• Mahayana (East Asia) – Buddha was God
and Savior
Ancient Indian Dynasties and EmpiresMauryan Dynasty
– King Bimbisara of Magadha began to unify India• Helped to fight off invaders from Persia
– Chandragupta Maurya• Started Mauryan Dynasty• Controlled most of India• Developed mining and weaving towns• Standardized weights throughout kingdom• Established physician qualifications• He slept in a different room each night, fearful of
assassination attempts
Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires
Mauryan Dynasty– Asoka
• Grandson of Chandragupta Maurya
• Extended control of empire to all of India except southern tip
• Spread Buddhism with missionaries
• Revised laws
• Advanced India culturally and politically
• After his death the empire would slowly decline
Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires
The Gupta Rulers– New dynasty lead to rise of Hinduism and
decline of Buddhism– Gupta family came to power– Expanded territory
• Conquest• Intermarriage
– Society prospered under their rule– Gave more power to local leaders
Ancient Indian Life and Culture
Economy and Society– Most economy came through trade– Sold:
• Wool, Cotton, Spices, Silk, Precious gems, Ivory
– Women did not have the same rights as men• Obey fathers• Obey husbands• If husband died, obey sons
– Sometimes they would throw themselves on the burning funeral pyre of their husbands
• Called Suttee
– Polygamy was practiced
Ancient Indian Life and Culture
Cultural Achievements– Art and Architecture
• Early Buddhist art show Greek and Roman influence
• Growth of Hinduism brought about growth of temples
– Education• Very advanced
• University of Nalanda – center of higher learning during Gupta era
• First people to use algebra and solve quadratic equations
• Also came up with concept of innoculation– Infecting a person with disease to build up immune system