Caste System The caste system (outlined in the Vedas) divided Indian society into groups or social classes based on birth, wealth, or occupation. Strict rules – For example, couldn’t marry or even eat with someone from a different social class. If broke rules, you could be banned from your home and caste and became an outcast. Seldom could change castes. Four main groups, though at one time, 3,000 separate castes existed. Provided social stability and strength.

Siddhartha Gautama Indian prince, lived in luxury, married with kids, left home at age 30 to answer questions about human suffering and the meaning of human life. Spent 6 years wandering India. Wanted to free mind from daily concerns through fasting (going without food) and meditation (focusing of the mind on spiritual ideas). The Buddha, or “Enlightened One” – found enlightenment while meditating under a tree for 7 weeks. Spent rest of life traveling and teaching what he had learned. Siddhartha Gautama https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9AoZj_FPzU

Buddhism 4 Noble Truths Sorrow part of life and can’t be escaped. Suffering comes from our desire for pleasure and material goods. Nirvana – overcome desires and reach state of perfect peace. Following Eightfold Path helps overcome desires and leads to wisdom, enlightenment, and salvation.

Buddhism The Eightfold Path Right Thought Right Intent Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood Right Effort Right Mindfulness Right Concentration

Spread of Buddhism After the Buddha’s death, his followers continued to spread his teachings, and within 200 years, Buddhism had spread through most of India. King Asoka became Buddhist and built temples, schools, and sent missionaries (people who work to spread their religious beliefs) throughout Asia). 360 million Buddhists today (one million in America). 4th largest religion in the world Buddhism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lxq-RiLb-6M

Mauryan Empire Candragupta Maurya – military leader. In 320s BC used an army of mercenaries, or hired soldiers, to seize all of northern India. Had war elephants. He decided to become a Jainist monk, so gave up his throne to his son. Monks – Community of religious men. Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Live in a monastery. Monks Left – Jainist Middle – Buddhist Right - Christian

Asoka (Ashoka) Grandson of Candragupta Maurya Came to power around 270 BC Considered to be the greatest of all Indian Emperors. Conquered rest of India then decided to convert to Buddhism, so no more wars of conquest. Improved lives of his people by digging wells, building roads, temples, schools, rest houses, hospitals, and planting shade trees. Strong ruler, but kindness was considered to be legendary. Raised large stone pillars carved with Buddhist edicts, or laws.

Gupta Empire After Asoka died, his sons fought for power, invaders came, the empire collapsed and split up for 500 years. Around 320 AD, the Gupta Empire reunited parts of India. Leaders were Hindu, but supported Buddhism and Jainism. Empire became wealthy, people prospered, created a university. Golden Age of India Caste system flourished, women had arranged marriages and few rights as their role was to marry, have children, and serve husbands. Eventually the Huns invaded and broke the empire up again.

Indian Art Temples Detailed carving; many carved entire temples out of mountainsides. Cave temples contained beautiful paintings and sculptures. Ajanta cave temple (bottom left). Pictures to the right show paintings and carvings inside.

Indian Achievements Metalwork Mathematics Medicine Pioneers of metallurgy, the science of working with metals. Created alloys, mixtures of 2 or more metals. Mathematics Invented Hindu-Arabic numerals, the numbers we use today. Created the zero. Medicine Made medicines from plants and animals. Inoculation – injecting a person with a small dose of a virus to help build a defense to a disease. Surgery – repair broken bones, remove tonsils, reattach torn earlobes, treat wounds. Astronomy - study of stars and planets Knew of 7 of the planets. Knew earth was a sphere and spun on its axis Knew sun was a star and planets revolved around it. Could predict eclipses of the sun and moon.