1. India
Unit Four

2. Section One
Indian Cities

3. Agenda 4-1-15 Warm-up: Finish India Unit
Hinduism v. Buddhism venn diagram.
Finish Egypt Unit work, India Map, and India city drawing
Venn Diagram: Indian society v. our society
China Map

4. India’s First Civilization
Emerged in river valleys
B.C.
Two early cities were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
Historians call these regions the “Indus Valley”

5. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
Both had around 35-40,000 people
Both were carefully planned
Main streets ran north-south, side streets east-west
Buildings and homes were made from mud brick
Homes had a drainage system which flowed out of the homes, under the streets
Had a trash removal system which ran to the street as well.

6. Assignment
Draw a picture of an Ancient Indian city. Show at least 3 components of the city as stated in your notes.
Write a short paragraph of 4-6 sentences explaining what you have drawn.

7. Government and Society
Section Two
Government and Society

8. Rulers Believed in divine power Religion and politics were linked
Palace and temple were connected
Rulers often prayed for a big harvest as it was a farming society
Traded with Mesopotamia for textiles and food by sending them copper, lumber, stones, and cotton

9. Society
Early India was taken over by a group of people known as Aryans.
Ancient India developed a caste system which continues to this day.
At birth, position in society, social status, and economic potential were already decided.
Five castes or groups existed

10. Castes of India Priests: Known as Brahmans, ran religious ceremonies
Warriors: Protectors of society
Commoners: Merchants or farmers
Sudras: Non-Aryans , mostly peasant farmers
Untouchables: Worked on undesirable tasks such as collecting trash/dead bodies

11. Family
3 Generations often lived together (grandparents, parents, children
Male dominated authority (patriarchal)
Only men could inherit property, serve as priests, only men were educated
Upper class men were to get twelve years of education before marriage
Marriages were arranged
Female widows had to throw their bodies on the fire with the body of their deceased husbands

12. Assignment
Create a venn diagram which shows how Indian is similar to and different from our society

13. Section Three
Religion

14. Hinduism Came from the beliefs of the Aryans who conquered India
Evidence comes from the Vedas, collections of hymns passed down by word of mouth
Believed in a single force of the universe, called Brahman
The individual was to follow Hindu teachings in order to merge with Brahman after death

15. Hinduism Key concepts: karma and dharma
Karma: Action in current life determines what they will be in the next (reincarnation)
Karma is ruled by dharma or divine law.
Dharma requires people to do their duty in society, which was determined by position
Higher classes had higher expectations placed upon them.

16. Hinduism Yoga was taught as a way to achieve union with Brahman
Hundreds of gods, but, they mainly had three chief gods
Brahma-the Creator, Vishnu-the Preserver, Siva-the Destroyer
Today Hinduism remains the dominant religion of India

18. Buddhism Emerged in the 6th century B.C.
Founder was Siddhartha Gautama (“The Buddha”)
Gautama was the son of a ruler
Married a princess
Had a very good life, but was extremely bothered by the suffering of others
He gave up his life of luxury and set out to find the “true meaning” of life. At one point, he nearly starved to death

19. Buddhism
Buddhists try to reach “enlightenment” through mediation (whereby they believed they knew the meaning of life.)
Buddhism has four principles (Four Noble Truths)
One-Ordinary life is full of suffering
Two-Suffering is caused by a desire to please ourselves
Three-The way to end suffering is to end selfishness
Four- The way to end suffering is to follow the eight fold path

20. Middle Path (Eight Fold Path)
First-Right view-need to know the four noble truths
Second-Right intention-We need to decide what we really want
Third-Right Speech-Speak the truth, and speak well of others
Four-Right Action-Do not kill, steal, lie, or do drugs and alcohol
Five-Right livelihood-Do uplifting work
Six-Right effort-Constant effort until you complete a task
Seven- Right Mindfullness-Control mind, control senses
Eight-Right Concentration-Meditation

21. Buddhism Accepted reincarnation Rejected caste system
Goal was to reach nirvana, to reunite with the “Great World Soul”
Didn’t want to be seen as a god
Many thought of it as a philosophy because of this
Buddhism spread throughout Asia after his death

22. Cultural Achievements
Section Four
Cultural Achievements

23. India is important because:
Two religions (Hinduism and Buddhism) began there.
Created a trade route with China that became known as the silk road, allowing Indian ideas to spread throughout Asia.
Written language: Sanskrit was created to write down religious and other teachings.
Literature told stories of great warriors.

24. Architecture
Three main types of architecture were created: pillar, stupa, and rock chamber.
Pillars were often created on the sides of roads to mark events in the Buddha’s life.
Stupas (burial mound) housed relics of the Buddha, such as a lock of hair.
Rock chambers were a series of rocks constructed to house the monks who practiced Buddhism.

25. Science Recognized earth was a sphere and rotated on its axis.
Among the first to use algebra
Concept of zero