1. Title Layout
Ancient India
Subtitle

2. Standard 6-1: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the development of the cradles of civilization as people moved from a nomadic existence to a settled life.
Indicator 6-1.3: Compare the river valley civilizations of the Tigris and Euphrates (Mesopotamia), the Nile (Egypt), the Indus (India), and the Huang He (China), including the evolution of written language, government, trade systems, architecture, and forms of social order.
Indicator 6-1.4: Explain the origins, fundamental beliefs, and spread of Eastern religions, including Hinduism (India), Judaism (Mesopotamia), Buddhism (India), and Confucianism and Taoism (China).

3. If You Were There…. Why is it important to pass on these words?
Your people are nomadic herders in southern Asia about BC. You live in a river valley with plenty of water and grass for your cattle. Besides looking over cattle, you spend time learning songs and myths from the village elders. They say these words hold your people’s history. One day, it will be your duty to teach them to your own children.
Why is it important to pass on these words?

4. Geography and Early India
India is HUGE – many call it a subcontinent
Mountains separate Inia from the rest of Asia
Northern India: Himalayas – highest mountains in the world
West of India: Hindu Kush mountains
West of Himalayas – desert
Rest of India is covered by fertile plains and rugged plateaus.

5. Geography and Early India
Many rivers flow out of the Himalayas – Indus
Indus floods from snow melting in Himalayas – layer of fertile silt

6. Geography and Early India
Climate
Hot and Humid Climate
Heavily influenced by monsoons
In the summer, winds blow from the Indian Ocean – heavy rains and floods
In the winter, winds blow down from the mountains – warm, dry winters

7. Harappan Civilization Guided Notes

8. Harappan Civilizaton Guided Notes
The Civilization that grew up in the Indus River Valley
2300 BC to 1700 BC
along both sides of the Sarasvati River
grew as irrigation and agriculture improved
2 cities
1. Harappa
2. Mohenjo Daro

9. Harappan Civilizaton Guided Notes
Cities
Each stood near a towering fortress – defenders could look down on the cities’ brick streets
Streets crossed at right angles
Lined with storehouses, workshops, market stalls, and houses
Many public wells

10. Harappan Civilizaton Guided Notes
Achievements
Houses had bathrooms with indoor plumbing
Artisans made excellent pottery, jewelry, ivory objects, and cotton clothing
Developed a system of weights and measures

11. Harappan Civilizaton Guided Notes
Achievements
Traders bought and sold goods from as far away as Egypt and Mesopotamia
Developed India’s first writing system
Kings and strong central governments – may have worshipped king as a god

12. Ended by early 1700s, but no one is sure why!?!

13. The Aryans
Originally from the area around the Caspian Sea in Central Asia
c. 2000s BC
Government/Political System:
 lived in small communities, based mostly on family ties
 No single ruling authority existed – each group had its own leader, often a skilled warrior
 villages were ruled by rajas – a leader who ruled a village and the land around it: sometimes rajas joined forces. Other times, they fought each other

14. The Aryans Language: At first, Aryans did not read or write Sanskrit:
At first, it was only a spoken language

15. Farmers, craftspeople, and traders
India’s Social Order
Varnas
(social division)
Description 1
Brahmins
Priests - highest ranking because they performed rituals for the gods 2
 Kshatriyas
Rulers and Warriors 3
Vaisyas
Farmers, craftspeople, and traders 4
Sudras
Laborers/Workers/servants 5
Non-Aryans

16. The Caste System
Rules became stricter and four varnas (social divisions) were further divided into many castes, or groups (determined a person’s place in society)
The caste system divided Indian society into groups based on a person’s birth, wealth, and occupation.
Both men and women belonged to castes
Untouchables: a part of Indian society that did not belong to any caste – they could only hold certain, often unpleasant, jobs

17. The Caste System Sutras, or guides – rules for the caste system
 People were not allowed to marry anyone from a different class
 Forbidden for people from one class to eat with people from another
People who broke the caste rules could be banned from their homes and their castes, which would make them untouchables
Because of these rules, people spent almost all of their time with others in their same class 

18. Religion in India: Brahmanism Hinduism Buddhism

19. Brahmanism
Religion had always been an important part of Aryan Life. Because Aryan priests were called Brahmins, their religion is often called Brahmanism.

20. Brahmanism Aryan religion based on the Vedas (texts)
4 Vedas, each containing sacred hymns and poems

21. Brahmanism 1st Veda and Oldest: the Rigveda Written before 1000 BC
Includes hymns of praise to many gods
“The one who is first and possessed of wisdom when born; the god who strove to protect the gods with strength; the one before whose force the two worlds were afraid because of the greatness of his virility (power): he, O people, is Indra.”

22. Brahmanism Other Vedic Texts
Aryan Brahmins wrote down their thoughts about the Vedas – these were then compiled into collections called Vedic Texts
One Collection – describes Aryan religious rituals
Second Collection – describes secret rituals that only certain people could perform
Third Collection – the Upanishads: reflections on the Vedas by religious students and teachers

23. Hinduism and Buddhism Group Projects

24. Key Points To Make Sure You Have:
What is karma?
What does Hinduism teach about accepting the caste system?
Which castes believed in Hinduism?
What did Hindus believe happened to evil people?
What was the goal of the Hindus?
Who is the founder of Buddhism?

25. Key Points To Make Sure You Have:
What is nirvana?
In Buddhism, how can people overcome desire and ignorance?
In Buddhism, why were people unhappy?
Buddhism challenged the authority of the Brahmins and opposed the caste system.
Which Indian king is known for expanding Buddhism?