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* About the same time as the ancient Egyptian civilization flourished, a great civilization grew around the rich farmland near the Indus River in India.

A. Around 2500 B.C. a brilliant civilization developed in the Indus River Valley. B. This culture flourished because of the rich farmland that was fed by the waters of the Indus River. C. Hundreds of towns sprung up along this river, along with 2 major cities

* A. A group of people called the Aryans migrated to India around 1700 B.C. * B. The Aryans brought new technology, animals and crops to the Indus River Valley. * C. The Aryans discovered iron ore and began creating iron plows for crop cultivation, newer and sturdier weapons. * D. The iron plow allowed for better cultivation of crops. More food meant that people could begin to live in cities due to a surplus in food.

* A. Priests would chant hymns, these were written down in Vedas, which translates to books of knowledge. * B. The vedas contain writings on prayers, hymns, religious rituals and philosophy. * C. Hinduism is the 3 rd largest religion after Islam and Christianity. * D. Karma is the idea that a person’s actions determine what will happen after his or her death. * E. Hindus believe in reincarnation, or the idea that once a person dies, depending on their karma, their soul will be reborn into a different body.

Brahma

* F. Hindus believe that a person’s status in life is determined by their behavior in previous lives. If they were virtuous and kind their soul could be reborn in a wealthy or wise person. If they were wicked or immoral, their soul could be reborn in a poor or sick person or as an animal. * G. Here in the West we would think of that rebirth as a positive thing but the Hindus do not. The goal of a Hindu’s life is to achieve moksha or nirvana. To achieve this means that a person’s soul is free from rebirth and has achieved the ultimate goal, freedom.

* A. Like Mesopotamia, ancient India had a class system that is known as a caste system. * B. In a caste system, people are born into a social class. There is no upward or downward mobility in this caste system. * C. A person’s caste determines a person’s job, marriage partner and friends. * D. The caste system is heavily influenced by the Aryan idea that people are not equal.

* E. The Indian caste system has 4 different groupings: i. Priests ii. Warriors and Princes iii. Merchants and Farmers iv. Laborers * F. There is one more group called the untouchables and this group has always been considered inferior to the four major castes. * G. The untouchables did the work that no one else wanted to do and were typically shunned by society.

* H. The Caste system still survives today but the government of India is doing what they can to limit the influence of the caste system on Indian society. * Food for thought (no do not write this) Would you like to live in a society where your status was predetermined? You have no control, where you are born in society is where you will die in society. Is this fair? The Aryans feel that people are not created equal, do you agree or disagree and why do you feel that way?

* Dynasty- a succession of people from the same family, who play a prominent role in business, politics or another field. * A. India experienced two dynasties: The Maurya Dynasty lasted from BC. The Gupta Dynasty lasted from AD. * B. The Gupta Dynasty gave to the world the concept of zero and the numerals that we use today. * C. At Ajanta, 30 Buddhist temples are carved into the side of a mountain.