Indian Achievements The Big Idea The people of ancient India made great contributions to the arts and sciences. Main Ideas Indian artists created great works of religious art. Sanskrit literature flourished during the Gupta period. The Indians made scientific advances in metalworking, medicine, and other sciences.

Religious Art: Temples Both Hindu and Buddhist temples began flourishing under Gupta rule. Many of the finest works of art can be found in temples. Once simply constructed meeting places, Hindu temples became complex towers covered with intricate carvings. Buddhist temples were large and impressive, some carved out of mountainsides. Buddhist stupas were built to house sacred objects from the life of the Buddha. They were covered with detailed carvings.

Religious Art: Paintings and Sculpture Great artists were commissioned by rich and powerful members of society. Paintings offered a perspective on the daily life and religious belief of the ancient Indians; many of these paintings could be found on the walls of temples. Indian sculptors carved columns, statues, and entire temples in the likenesses of the Buddha and Hindu gods. Indian artist created great works of art, often of a religious nature.

Sanskrit Literature Mahabharata One of the world’s longest literary works The story of two Indian families struggling for control of a kingdom Many long passages of Hindu beliefs and practices One of the most famous passages the Bhagavad Gita comes from the Mahabharata. Ramayana The story of a god, Vishnu, who has taken human form Written long after the Mahabharata; contains models for the ideal ruler (Rama) and the ideal mate (Sita) Most of the literature created during the Maurya and Gupta periods was written in Sanskrit.

Indian Achievements Key Terms Metallurgy Alloys Hindu-Arabic numerals Inoculation Astronomy Questions to ponder… How do you think the following achievements effected life in ancient India? effect you today? 3. What would life be like without these scientific advancements?

How do you think alloys helped ancient Indians? Scientific Advances The ancient Indians were pioneers of metallurgy, the science of working with metals. Ancient Indians understood how to mix metals and create alloys. These alloys were often stronger and easier to work with. An alloy is a mixture of two or more metals. The pillar is very resistant to rust and is studied even today. Ancient Indians created the Iron Pillar near Delhi. How do you think alloys helped ancient Indians?

Ancient Indians are also believed to have had an important role in the creation of “0,” Mathematics Ancient Indians developed many elements of our modern math system. The very numbers we use today are called the Hindu-Arabic numerals They were created by Indian scholars and brought to Europe by the Arabs.

Indian doctors Fixed broken bones, Removed tonsils, And reattached Earlobes. Medicine As early as the AD 100s, doctors in India were making medicines from plants and minerals. Besides curing diseases, doctors were able to protect others from disease through inoculation. Indian doctors also performed surgeries. Inoculation is when a small dose of a virus is injected into a person to help him or her build up defense to the disease and protect itself.

Astronomy Ancient Indians were very interested in astronomy, the study of stars and planets. They were aware of seven of the eight planets. They knew the sun was a star. They could even predict eclipses of the sun and the moon.

Billboards Billboards are print advertisement on a grand scale. In 1835, a man named Jared Bell printed enormous posters—also called “bills”—to advertise a circus. He placed them outside, and introduced a new form of media! By 1867, advertisers leased space on the sides of buildings and on fences for their enormous ads. Now, you can see billboards every time you drive down a major street or highway. How many products do you see advertised in this roadside photo from 1905?

Some billboards do not advertise particular products Some billboards do not advertise particular products. Instead, they advertise actions or ideas. This billboard from Alabama celebrates those who live in the United States.

Early Billboards Some billboards are political. This billboard appeared in 1916, before all women in the United States had the right to vote. Directions: Study the billboard below. Then, answer the questions.

Group Activity Using your notes and textbook create a billboard to advertise the Indian achievements. Use pages 148-151 in your textbook. Religious Art Sanskrit Literature Scientific Advances

Billboard Guideline What is the obvious message you want the billboard to convey? Remember billboards should catch the eye of people driving by. Be creative! Be colorful Remember to check grammar and spelling.

Billboard Examples