Section 1: Indus Valley Civilization Picture depicting what a city in the Indus Valley may have looked like. Image taken from: crystalinks.com

FACTS ABOUT INDIA  The highest mountain in India is Kanchenjunga, standing at 28,209 ft  Many different languages are spoken in India. The main ones are Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, and Urdu.  The capital city is New Delhi, while the most populated city is Mumbai

FACTS ABOUT INDIA  India has the second largest population in the world, with over 1.2 billion people  India is the seventh largest country by total area.  India belongs to the continent of Asia

FACTS ABOUT INDIA  The Taj Mahal a famous mausoleum and popular tourist attractionTaj Mahal  India became an independent nation in 1947 after ending British rule that began in  Mahatma Gandhi is famous for the important part he played in gaining India's independence.

FACTS ABOUT INDIA  Once British rule was over, India was split into the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.  The national symbol is the Bengal Tiger.  The most popular sport in India is cricket

Indian Subcontinent  India is called a subcontinent large landmass that separates itself from the rest of the continent.  The climate is a very important factor in the Hindu people’s lives Monsoons: ○ the people may burn from the heat and in the winter they might freeze. ○ they generally bring rain, which translates to water for crops. ○ Leave behind very rich soil

Advances  The Indus Valley cities thick walls sewer systems streets arranged in a grid pattern.  They had an agricultural economy. Farmers grew wheat, barley, and cotton and raised sheep, cattle, chickens, and goats.  They also domesticated animals for transportation.  The economy was also based on trade.

Government and Religion of Indus Valley  No evidence that Indus valley people had a king or queen.  They were a very well organized group of people. This assumption was made based on the level of planning in making their city.  Historians believe they practiced some form of Hinduism Hindu-like statues were found.

Citadel and Disappearance  The purpose of the citadel a fortified area of protection from floods or attackers. It had a wall around it. the center of the government.  the disappearance of the Indus Valley civilization No one knows for certain Some explanations: disease, floods, climate change, drought, and foreign invasion.

Section 2: India’s Vedic Age Picture depicting the wealth of the Vedic Age. Image taken from: media.radiosai.org

The Origins of the Indo-Aryans  There are three theories as to where the Aryans came from: 1. the Aryans defeated the local Indians, then they settled into the Indus Valley. 2. the Aryans were the original inhabitants of the Indus Valley 3. the Aryans migrated to the Indus Valley

Aryan Life  The Aryans were initially nomadic, but they changed their lifestyle.  the Aryans were judged by how much cattle they had.  To entertain themselves, they danced, played music, had chariot races, and gambled.

Vedas  the Veda was to put religious and society’s ideas into song or hymns. Each Veda consisted of hundreds of hymns.  The Vedas called upon people to make offering to their Gods.  The Vedas were written down in a language called Sanskrit.

Growth of Vedic Civilization  Growth came very quickly for the Vedic civilization  they eventually created clans and tribes.  they were joined together to form republics, although they were not democratic in nature.  Finally, they were able to form kingdoms

The Caste System  The purpose of the Caste System is to separate India’s society in social classes.  In India’s Caste System people are born into a caste and stay there for the rest of their lives.  They do not marry or socialize outside their caste system.  The Indians were grouped by occupation and religious status.

Caste System  The Caste System had five varnas or categories: The Brahmins were the priests of the country. The Kshatriyas were the rulers and warriors. The Vaishyas were landowners, bankers, and merchants. The Sudras were the farmers, laborers, and servants. Finally, the Dalits were people who performed dirty jobs, such as butchering and preparing the dead for burial.  Times have changed, but Indian culture is still ingrained in its society.

Hinduism Symbol of the Hindu religion. Image taken from: sacred-texts.com

Roots of Hinduism  Hinduism originated from Brahmanism.  people started asking questions, such as: Why are we born? How should we live?  These questions led to the change of the people’s religious thoughts and the start of Hinduism.  The teachers are gurus

Beliefs about God  There are two main aspects of the Hindu religion. there is one supreme spiritual force, or God known as Brahman. every person is born with a soul.  Brahman is viewed as a source of all things all of the Hindu Gods are forms of Brahman.

Beliefs about Life  Hindus believe that if one lives a good life (good karma) they will be reborn into a higher varna or social class.  If they live a bad life (bad karma) then they will be reborn into a lower varna or social class.  Every year millions of Hindus go the Ganges River to get spiritually cleansed

Beliefs about Life  The four goals of Hinduism as 1. doing what is right, meaning following your caste rules without complain. 2. Striving for well being, or earning a livelihood with dignity. 3. Attaining pleasure, such as eating good food or taking a bath. 4. Finally, attaining moksha, or liberation from reincarnation.

Hinduism’s Impact  Hinduism spread because people did not have to worship a single God Hinduism does not call for people to attend regular religious services. ○ In fact they can pray or make offerings in their own home.

Section 4: Buddhism Picture of the Buddha. Image taken from: globalone.tv

The Buddha’s Life  Siddhartha’s mom had a dream that her son would grow to become a holy man.  Siddhartha’s father wanted him to become a ruler. To ensure that he would become a ruler, Siddhartha’s father shielded him from the ill of the world.

Search for Enlightenment  Siddhartha reached enlightenment when he meditated under a fig tree for 49 days.  he reached a place where he thought he found the perfect state of wisdom.

After Enlightenment  Buddha means ‘the enlightened one’  He chose to go back into the world and teach others what he had learned.  He traveled across India for the next 45 years, preaching a message of truth and hope.  The Middle Way is a life of neither total luxury nor poverty, but the path between the two extremes.

Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path of Buddhism  The Four Noble Truths: 1. All life involves suffering. 2. Selfish desires cause suffering. 3. Giving up selfish desires ends suffering. 4. People overcome selfish desires by following the Eightfold Path.  The Eightfold Path leads to wisdom, morality, or right action, and meditation.

Two Schools of Thoughts  The two schools of Buddhism: 1. Theravada Buddhism 2. Mahayana Buddhism.  Theravada Buddhist: Buddha’s greatest achievement was enlightenment and entry into nirvana.  Mahayana Buddhist: Buddha’s greatest achievement was his compassion.