Ancient Indian Civilizations 2500 B.C. – A.D. 550

Indus River Valley Civilization Objectives: Examine the role geography and climate played in the settlement of the Indian subcontinent. Investigate how people in the Indus River Valley civilization lived.

Geography Indian Subcontinent Extends southward from central Asia to Indian Ocean Himalayas Mountains Slowed entry to India Separates India from Asia Khyber Pass Permitted travel to India

Geography Indus & Ganges Rivers Drained into the Indo-Gangetic Plain Deccan Plateau with mild summer

Mount Everest "Head of the World" Peak at 29,029 ft above sea level International border between China and Nepal runs across the precise summit point

Climate Southwest Monsoon provides much of the rain fall in India Timing of Monsoon Late=crops fail Too Much rain=floods countryside Temperatures Along Coast and Deccan=mild summer Indo Gangetic Plain=up to 120°

Early Civilizations 2500 B.C – 1500 B.C. Ancient Cities of Harappa and Mahenjo Daro Large and well planned Water system with public bath and brick sewers Strong central fortress citadel, built on a brick platform Farming Grew cotton, wheat, barley, and rice Produced cotton cloth, pottery, bronze, gold and silver items

Harappans Religion Believed to Worshiped a mother goddess of fertility Used bulls, buffalo, and tigers in religious rituals Held ceremonies in home or around sacred trees What happen to the Harappans????? Several unburied skeletons found at Mahenjo Daro Violence? Earthquakes? Floods?

Indo-Aryan Migrates Objectives Explain how live in northern India changed with the coming of the Indo-Aryans Identify the major contributions of the Indo-Aryans to the ancient Indian society

Nomadic Indo-Aryans Came from North of the Black & Caspian Sea Sheep & cattle herders and Skilled Warriors Vedas- great works of religious literature Sanskrit- Indo-Aryan language Vedic Age B.C. to 1000 B.C

Indo- Aryan Religion Earliest Gods drawn from Nature Earth, Fire, light, Rain, Sky, Storms, Sun, and Water Sky became the Father Earth became the mother Vedic Gods Particular characteristics Example…”Varuna” was guardian of cosmic order Brahmins Special priest that knew the proper forms and rules for religious ceremonies

Indo Aryan Society Settlements joined to form small independent states Governed by Raja Raja acted as military leader, judge, and lawmaker Complex Social Orders Warriors and Priest were top of the social structure High value on marriage Rules limited marriage among social orders Arranged marriages Emphasized the value of sacrifices

Indo-Aryan Society Religious values changed as social classes became rigid and identified with ritual purity Migrates impacted Northern India the most Brought new social order and language (Sanskrit) Economy Raised wheat and barley on the plains of the Indus and Ganges Rivers Southern India Protected from invasion by mountains Terrain prevented unification

Hinduism and Buddhism Objectives: Describe the importance of religion in ancient Indian society Identify the principle elements of Hinduism Identify the basic beliefs of Buddhism

Upanishads and the Epics Upanishads are written explanations of the Vedic religion Epics- long poems based on historical or religious themes Mahabharata and the Ramayana Explained the idea of Vedanta

Changing Society Caste System- complex form of social organization Varnas – Indian society social classes 1 st - Rulers and Warriors 2 nd - Brahmins 3 rd - Merchants, traders, and farmers 4 th - Peasants who worked in fields 5 th - Pariahs or untouchables Pariahs,”untouchables”, were viewed as being outside of the Varnas Divided into 4 smaller groups called Jati

Hinduism Developed through priests explanations of Vedas Devine essence of Brahman fills everything in the world Monism is the belief that God and creation are the same Hinduism Beliefs Maya- world was an illusion If they accept maya, they cannot be saved Reincarnation- rebirth of the souls

Hinduism Beliefs Two Principles Dharma- do one’s moral duty where soul can advance to next life Karma- good or bad force created by actions Nirvana- perfect peace reincarnation is complete and the individual soul units with Brahman Hindu God Brahma is represented as a number of Gods

Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama Founder of Buddhism Known as Buddha or “The Enlightened One” Vowed to discover the reason for human suffering Became known as Buddha at the age of 35

Buddha’s Teachings Stressed the importance of selflessness Any person can reach nirvana All people practice honest conduct, non violence, and poverty Two Branches of Buddhism Theravada- believed Buddha was a great teacher and spiritual leader Mahayana- regarded Buddha as a god and savior

Buddha’s Teachings The Four Noble Truths All human life involves suffering and sorrow The desire for a life of pleasure and material gain causes suffering and sorrow Renouncing desire frees people from suffering and helps their souls attain nirvana The Eightfold Path leads to renunciation, or denial of desire and attainment of nirvana

Buddha’s Teachings The Eightfold Path Right Views- seeing life as it really is Right Intentions- living a life of good will Right Speech- avoid lies and gossip Right Action- trying to be law abiding and honest Right Living- avoid work that harms others Right Effort- Seeking to prevent evil Right Mindfulness- constant awareness of one’s self Right Concentration- Directing the mind in meditation

Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires Chandragupta Maurya Established the Mauryan Empire Established a rigid bureaucracy to carry out demands United Northern India from Ganges River to west of the Indus Standardized weights and measurements Established standards for physicians

Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires Asoka Enlarged the Mauryan Empire until it included all of India, expect the southern tip Became sick of the killings and became a Buddhist Many Indian people became Buddhist during this time Worked to improve the living conditions in India

Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires Gupta Rulers Empire reached from Bay of Bengal to Arabian Sea Hinduism was the dominant religion but also supported Buddhism Early years referred as “the golden years” Later years, empire weakened because of to much power to local leaders

Ancient Indian Life and Culture Objectives Describe how women's rights were limited in ancient Indian society Identify the most important achievements of the Gupta Period

Economy and Society Peasants gave portions of their crops for taxes Relied on international trade Hindu Laws of Manu Girls required to obey their Fathers or Husbands Prohibited from owning property and studying Vedas Men allowed to practice polygyny Women practiced Suttee Required in upper castes

Cultural Achievements Drama The Panchatantra – fables that taught adaptability, shrewdness, and determination Jataka Tales – Indian dramas during the Gupta Period Art and Architecture Cave Paintings, Sculpture, and temples Temples grew with Hinduism Stupa was a dome-shaped shrine Held artifacts associated with Buddha

Cultural Achievements Children of higher caste received formal education Lower caste learned crafts or trades Mathematics and Astronomy Understood concept of zero and infinity, abstract numbers, and negative numbers Arybhata- 1 st known to use algebra and solve quadratic formulas Identified 7 planets, rotation of earth, and predicted eclipse Medicine Procedures included bone setting, plastic surgery, and inoculation