I. General Information  India is bordered to the North by the Himalayan and Hindu Kush Mts.  Passes allowed with contact with other people groups  Indian agriculture revolves around the summer monsoon season  Main civilization is centered between the Indus River and the Ganges River  Has a diverse culture and a strict caste system

I. General Information  Main invading influences consisted of the Aryans and Alexander the Great ( )  Early period is divided into the Vedic Age ( BC) and the Epic Age ( BC)  Main language is Sanskrit

II. Vedic Age and Epic Age  Main time of Aryan migration  Hunters and herders  Created social classes (Varnas)  Brought polytheistic religions (Hinduism)  History was passed down through epics (Vedas)  Mahabharata  Ramayana  Upanishads

II. Vedic Age and Epic Age Brahmins Priest Kshatriyas- Warriors Vaisyas- Traders/ Farmers Sudras- Common Laborers Untouchables

III. Mauryan Dynasty  Chandragupta Mauryan ( BC)  One of the first rulers to unite most of India  Influenced in part by Alexander  Had large armies  Very paranoid  Had only women close to him  Constantly switched rooms  Became an ascetic after putting his son, Bindusara

III. Mauryan Dynasty  Ashoka ( BC)  Grandson of Chandragupta Maurya  Expanded the empire to include all but the southern tip of India  Very aggressive militarily  Converted to Buddhism and sent out missionaries  Built roads and rest areas  His death led to the empires eventual collapse and regional rule  The Kushans later took over.

IV. Gupta Empire  The Kushans fell out of power in 220 AD  The Guptas took over in 320 AD  Had a much smaller territory but was much more stable  Allowed autonomy for regional governments  Chose to intermarry with local ruling families to help keep peace  Believed they were appointed by the gods

V. Religion  Hinduism  Originated with the Aryans  No central founding figure  Reacts to other religions  Approaches  Ritualistic ceremonies performed by Brahmans  Mysticism- unite humans w/ divine essence  Allows for many paths of enlightenment  Bhagavad Gita- hymn- emphasis on duty

V. Religion

 Bhuddhism  Siddhartha Gautama- 563 BC  Buddha- the enlightened one  Searched for enlightenment  Agrees with Hinduism except caste system and worldy desires  Denied rituals  Can reach nirvana by self denial/ destruction  Spread by monks

V. Religion

VI. Contributions  Supported Universities  Astronomy- length of solar year  Medical  Bone setting, plastic surgery and sterilization  Mathematics  Concept of zero, negative numbers, square roots, “Arabic” numbers and π