Indus River Valley

Classical Indian Civilization Began in the Indus River Valley Spread into the Ganges River Valley Then spread through the Indian subcontinent

Geography The Indian civilization was protected from invaders by the physical barriers of the Hindu Kush and Himalayan Mountains and by the Indian Ocean

Harappan Civilization Arose around 2500 BC and lasted until 1700 BC Major cities were Harappa and Mohenjo Daro built around a citadel

Sites of Harappan Civilization

Indo-Aryan People Invaded the area around 1750 BC Came from north of the Black and Caspian Seas

Caste System A form of social organization introduced by the Indo-Aryans Based on occupations

Four levels of the caste system At the top – rulers and warriors Next, Brahmins – the priests and scholars Then – the merchants, traders, and farmers Last – the peasants who worked the fields owned by others

There was a 5 th group – Pariahs, or “untouchables”

Writing Style - Sanskrit

Characteristics of Indo-Aryan Society:

Government Tribes forms small city-states Each state ruled by raja and his council

Social Life Complex system of social orders Elaborate rules governed marriage among the difference orders Parent-arranged marriage favored Marriage by purchase, by capture, and by mutual consent recognized

Economy Mostly farmers Wheat and barley major crops Poor transportation and trading methods sometimes limited trade System of barter for goods

Mauryan and Gupta Empires

Mauryan Empire – Asoka Continued political unification of much of India Contributions: Spread of Buddhism, free hospitals, veterinary clinics, good roads

Gupta Empire Golden Age of classical Indian culture Contributions: Mathematics (concept of zero), medical advances (setting bones), astronomy (concept of a round earth), new textiles, literature

Hinduism

Developed by the Indo-Aryans The Vedas are the sacred Hindu texts Became India’s major religion Belief in many forms of one major deity Reincarnation: cycles of rebirths

Dharma – means doing one’s moral duty in this life so that the soul can advance in the next Karma: the good or bad force created by a person’s actions. Future reincarnation based on present behavior Nirvana: a perfect peace; the goal of all Hindus – unite with Brahman Vedas and Upanishads – sacred writings

A way of life rather than strictly defined rules Everyone has to find his or her own way to god When a person dies, the soul does not die, but reborn in another form – not necessarily human

How one behaves in one life affects the next life Belief in a caste system in which a person is born into a set position and cannot change in present life Belief in religious tolerance