10/1/2014 Describe a legend/myth/fable that you have heard. How is it supposed to affect people?

Indo-Aryan Religion Early gods were drawn from nature ◦ Believed in one supreme god Ceremonies were performed outside with special altars where fires were lit ◦ Foods (meat, butter, milk) were offered as sacrifices As time passed, things got more complicated ◦ Brahmins (Priests): called to lead religious activities

Early Indo-Aryan Society Still herders, but started to farm too The settlements joined together into states or territories ◦ Each governed by a raja: chief ◦ Raja acted as the military leader, lawmaker, and judge

Social Orders Indo-Aryans were light skinned Original inhabitants of India were dark skinned Developed a complex Caste System: way to organize a society ◦ Warriors and Priests were at the top ◦ Merchants, traders ◦ Farmers ◦ Servants

Marriage Very important to salvation!! Strict rules governed/limited marriage among the social orders – couldn’t go between Parents usually arranged marriages ◦ You could also purchase your spouse ◦ Sometimes people even fell in love (gasp!)

Indo-Aryan Economy They grew wheat, barley, rice, sugarcane, leafy vegetables, gourds, peas, beans, and lentil Traders bartered until about 500 B.C. when coins were introduced Eventually what the Indo-Aryan Migrants brought with them, became a way of life over much of India

Southern India Vindhya Mtn Range: separates the southern region of the continent from the rest People of the south ◦ Able to hold onto their distinct way of life ◦ They lived as farmers and hunter-gatherers ◦ Traded some BUT usually stayed to themselves

Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires

Magadha Kingdom  Magadha rulers were first to try and unite India  In 320 B.C. - Chandragupta Maurya appeared  He was a young powerful adventurer  He established the Mauryan Empire

Mauryan Empire  Lasted 150 years  Chandragupta ruled for first 20 years  Built grand palaces and spinning/weaving factories  Raised an army of 600,000 soldiers, chariots, elephants  Standardized weights and measurements  Established standards for physicians  Made lots of enemies  Slept in a separate room each night for fear of his life  In 300 B.C. he gave his throne to his son

King Aśoka  270 B.C.-Chandragupta’s grandson entered power  Fought bloody battles to expand kingdom  Soon he had almost all of India  He became sickened at the blood he had spilt, ordered an end to the killing, and became a Buddhist  Then he worked hard to improve living conditions  He planted trees along roads for shade  Built rest houses, animal hospitals  Ordered tons of wells to be dug for people  232 B.C. – Died, empire was defeated in 184 B.C.

Gupta Rulers  A.D Chandra Gupta I  Expanded territory through conquest and marriage  Eventually controlled all of northern India  During Gupta rule, Buddhism faded and Hinduism took over and remains that way today  A.D. 400s - invaders from central Asia came  Gupta Rulers tried to fight back, but became broke  By A.D Gupta rule was over

Ancient Indian Life and Culture

Cultural Achievements  Panchantantra or “Five Books” - stories  Fables from Gupta period  = Stories with morals that taught traits such as adaptability, shrewdness, and determination  Panchatantra has been translated into more languages more than any other book  Except the Bible!

Economy  Most people barely got by  Lived off of the land  Rulers claimed ¼ of each harvest for taxes  Trading picked up and Indian goods were found in the Far East, Asia, Africa, and Europe

Society  200 B.C. and A.D Hindu Laws of Manu  Girls were required to obey their fathers  Women obeyed their husbands and then their sons  Women couldn’t own property or study any writing  Polygyny:  Men could have more than one wife – became widespread  Suttee:  Women committed suicide by throwing themselves on top of husband’s burning body at death  Sometimes required in upper castes

Art and Architecture  Only art to survive-mural paintings found in caves  They depict daily life and religious practices  Hindu temples - built with square walls that surrounded a statue of a god  Buddhist Stupas:  Dome-shaped shrines that contained artifacts or objects associated with Buddha inside

Education  Higher castes  Studied the Vedas, astronomy, mathematics, warfare, and government  Lower castes  Only studied crafts and trades (to be workers)  Nalanda – Buddhist University  Center of higher learning in India  Studied Vedas, Hindu philosophy, logic, grammar, and medicine  Thousands of students attended for free

Mathematics and Astronomy  Understood abstract and negative numbers  Gave way to algebra  The digits 1 through 9 were probably invented by Indian mathematicians  Understand concepts of zero and infinity  Understood the rotation of the earth  Accurately predicted eclipses of the sun and moon

Medicine  Understood importance of the spinal cord  Invented bone setting and plastic surgery  Major invention – Inoculation:  Practice of infecting a person with mild form of disease so they do not get sick with serious form  They were able to inoculate against smallpox which was brought to Europe until 1700s  A.D. 400s - Indian rulers built free hospitals  Practices cleanliness in surgery and disinfected wounds