Classical Civilization Se Asia & India Kingdoms of the Ganges

I. Foundations of Indian Civilization, 1500 B.C.E.-300 C.E. A. The Indian Subcontinent –India has three topographical zones: (1) the northern mountainous zone, (2) the Indus and Ganges Basins, and (3) the peninsula. –This geographical diversity has made it difficult for any political power to unify all of India for any great length of time

B. The Vedic Age –1. After the fall of the Indus Valley civ. Indo- European warriors, known as Aryans, migrated to India. –2. The oral tradition light skinned tribes tell of a struggle between themselves and the darker-skinned Dravidian. –3.Vedic religion emphasized the worship of male deities through sacrifice. –4. Belief in reincarnation that each individual’s atman will be reborn in another body after death. –5. Women could study lore and participate in rituals, they could own land, and they married in their middle or late teens.

Aryan Civilization Indo European people who migrated across Europe and Asia. No Archeological record of early Aryans. Priests called Vedas kept oral stories that were passed down for generations. The Vedas oral histories were written down around 1500 B.C.E

Aryan Society Aryans loved fighting, drinking, and playing dice. The struggle of classes led to the creation of the “varna” broken into four groups: –1.Brahmins or Priests. –2.Kshatriyas or Warriors. –3.Vaisyas or merchants, artists, farmers and herders. –4. Untouchables, or Sudras or natives –Later the four groups were divided by economic status. Slowly castes developed subdividing the people.

Aryan Religious Beliefs Aryans were polytheistic. Indra = God of War = Weapon Thunderbolt. Varuna = God of Order. Agni = God of Fire = Messenger. Brahman = God of all things. Mystics = People who seek spiritual things. Rajahs = Elected warrior leaders.

The Rise of Janism C. Challenges to the Old Order: Jainism and Buddhism 1. People who reacted against the rigid social hierarchy went to the forest to achieve moksha, or liberation fro the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. 2. Jainism was founded by Mahavira. 3. Jainism, founded by Mahavira ( B.C.E.) practiced non-violence and went to extremes not to kill any living thing, even living naked and starving themselves. Others devoted themselves to occupations which do not require one to kill 4.

Buddhism The early life of Siddhartha Gautama was spent in a palace surrounded by luxury. Prince Gautama married and had a son.

Gautama was riding one day and came across a dead man, a sick person, and an old man. He asked: “why is there so much suffering in life?” He sat under a tree for 48 days pondering the mystery of life. he answered the question, his name changed to Buddha. “the enlightened one.”

5. He concluded that to achieve nirvana-release from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth a person had to have moderate living, self- discipline, and rebirth. 6. After the death of Buddha his followers showed reverence for bodhisattvas and the religion broke into the Mahayana school of new beliefs, and the Theravada school of original teachings.

Four Noble Truths All life is filled with pain and suffering. The cause of suffering is the desire for things that are really illusions, such as riches, power, and long life. The cure for suffering is to overcome desire. Overcome desire by following the Eightfold Path.

The Rise of Hinduism Hinduism combined the old vedic religion, elements of Dravidian cultures such as personal religious devotion, fertility rituals, and symbolism along with elements of Buddhism. Hinduism has no founder but grew out of many cultures and people. Brahman is the one god but people worship him as thousands of different gods.

Two new major Gods emerge: Sacrifice became less important. Vishnu the preserver. Shiva the destroyer. –5. These gods and countless others were understood manifestations of a single divine source. –6. Worship centered on temples and included puja. –7

Hinduism –5. These gods and countless others were understood manifestations of a single divine source. –6. Worship centered on temples and included puja. Religious duties depended on gender, social status, and age. –8. Hinduism appealed to people’s need for a direct connection. Became more popular than Buddhism because of less constraints. Bhagavad-Gita – Hindu’s sacred text: Teaches duty over personal desires and ambitions.

Karma deals with actions in this life that affect his or her status in the next life. All existence is ranked. Humans are at the top then comes animals, plants, and rocks. Dharma is the duties that each class of people must accomplish to progress.

The Ganges – A sacred river to the Hindus

Buddhism and Hinduism Theravada: Followed the original teachings of Buddha Mahayana: Worship Buddha even though Buddha taught the people not to worship him. Theraveda Buddhism was too austere to have popular appeal, and Mahayana Buddhism was so close to Hinduism that its beliefs could easily be absorbed by the larger religion Buddhism moves out of India and further East thanks to trade

Buddhism and Hinduism Compared Both Buddhism and Hinduism believe in the cycle of rebirth. Buddhism grew out of Hinduism. Both stress non-violence.

Ramayana The hero Rama must rescue Sita his beautiful bride from the demon king Ravana. The monkey general Hanuman helps Rama rescue Sita. Rama = ideal king. Sita = ideal women.

Two Sects of Buddhism Theravada: Followed the original teachings of Buddha closely. Mahayana: Worship Buddha even though Buddha taught the people not to worship him. Afterlife with many heavens and hells.

Decline of Buddhism in India Hinduism eventually absorbed some Buddhist ideas. Hinduism added Buddha to their long list of Gods. Muslim armies destroyed the few remaining Buddhist centers of learning in the North.