1. Ancient Civilizations: India

2. Geography & Environment

3. The Geography On which continent is India located?
Asia; India is a subcontinent of Asia

4. The Geography
Indian subcontinent: landmass that includes India, Pakistan, & Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, & Bhutan

5. The Geography
World’s tallest mountain ranges separate it from the rest of Asia
Mountains to the north & desert to the east help protect Indus Valley from invasion

6. The Geography On which river(s) did the ancient Indians settle?
The Indus & Ganges Rivers which form flat, fertile plains

7. The Indus Valley Civilization

8. Earliest Arrivals
About 7000 BC, evidence of agriculture & domesticated animals; by 3200 BC, people farming in villages along Indus River

9. Planned Cities
By 2500 BC, people build cities of brick laid out on a grid system
Indus valley called Harappan civilization after Harappa, a city
Mohenjo-Daro is another city on Indus

10. Planned Cities Engineers create plumbing & sewage systems
Lanes separate rows of houses - which featured bathrooms!

11. Thinking Question…
What does the city planning and attention to plumbing and sewer systems tell us about this ancient culture?

12. Harappan Culture Language:
Had writing system of 400 symbols, BUT scientists can’t decipher it

13. Harappan Culture Role of religion: priests closely linked to rulers
some religious artifacts reveal links to modern Hindu culture
Trade:
had thriving trade with other peoples, including Mesopotamia

14. Harappan Decline Signs of decline begin around 1750 BC
Earthquakes, floods, soil depletion may have caused decline
Around 1500 BC, Aryans enter area & become dominant…

15. Clash of Cultures

16. The Clashing of Cultures
About 1500BC, Indo-European people called the Aryans migrated into the Indus Valley region

17. The Clashing of Cultures
The Aryans:
Were male dominated nomadic tribes
Herded animals (cattle)
Were warriors
Had no written language

18. The Clashing of Cultures:
From the clash of these two cultures came:
Religious Writings
Distinct Social Structure; the CASTE system
Hinduism

19. Religious Writings The VEDAS: “Books of Knowledge”
Songs & prayers of the Aryans – passed down through oral tradition

20. The Caste System

21. The Caste System
Aryans were physically distinct from people of India (lighter skin, taller)
4 castes, or groups based on occupation, develop to separate Aryans & non-Aryans

22. Caste System Untouchables: Outcasts = outside caste system
Brahmins: Priests
Kshatriyas: Rulers & Warriors
Vaishyas: Traders & Landowners, Merchants
Sudras: Laborers & Servants
Caste System
Untouchables: Outcasts = outside caste system

23. Thinking Question:
What do these body parts indicate about each of the 4 major castes?
According to Indian tradition, the 4 major castes emerged from Purusha, the first human being who is identified with the creator god, Brahma

24. The Caste System
People are born into their caste for life; hundreds of subgroups arise later
Members of higher castes were considered more pure
One was aware of his or her caste from childhood
It was the FAMILY’S responsibility to teach children about caste, as well as their expected duties/behaviors
Different castes were viewed as being different species
Castes were separated from each other (location, housing, clothing, occupation, etc.)

25. The Caste System People outside the caste system: the Untouchables!
Considered spiritually polluted; ignored by members of other castes

26. Thinking Question…
Even though castes were separated in society, different castes lived together in the SAME village – Why?

27. The Caste System
If you were obedient to the restrictions of your caste, you would be reincarnated into a higher caste

28. Hinduism
The Beginnings…

29. The Beginnings
Hinduism: a collection of religious beliefs that developed slowly over time
No one founder

30. The Beginnings
BC Hindu teachers tried to interpret and explain meanings of Vedic hymns
Create Upanishads - texts of religious teachings

31. Hindu Gods

32. Hindu Gods
Brahman:
Supreme god and universal world soul

33. Hindu Gods
Hindus believed that Brahman was too complex a concept for humans to understand
Worshipped gods & goddesses who served as links to Brahman

34. Gods - Many manifestations of Brahman
One Divine Essence
Unity
Gods - Many manifestations of Brahman
Brahma
The Creator
Vishnu
The Preserver
Shiva
The Destroyer
Hindu Gods
+ millions of other gods

35. Hindu Beliefs

36. Major Hindu Beliefs Each person has atman – individual soul
Goal in life is to unite atman (individual soul) with Brahman (world soul)
How?...

37. Major Hindu Beliefs Reincarnation:
The cycle of rebirth; people born to new lives
Karma:
Every action is punished or rewarded which determines course of new life

39. Major Hindu Beliefs Dharma:
One’s moral duty in life; varies according to caste, gender, etc.
How might this reinforce the caste system??

40. Major Hindu Beliefs Moksha:
State of perfect understanding = freedom from rebirth
Union with Brahman achieved
Hindus choose own path to moksha

41. Impact of Hinduism Hinduism spread throughout Indian subcontinent
Jainism – New religion 500s BC; will not harm any creature; practice religious tolerance

42. Early Indian Empires

43. The Mauryan Empire

44. Mauryan Empire
Established in 322 BC by the great Indian military leader, Chandragupta Maurya

45. Mauryan Empire Politically unites North India for the first time ever
Taxation supports huge army and creates highly effective gov’t

47. Asoka’s Reign
In 269 BC Asoka, Chandragupta’s grandson, becomes emperor

48. Asoka’s Reign
After many years of violent conquest, Asoka feels remorseful

49. Asoka’s Reign
Converts to Buddhism & rules by Buddha’s teaching of “peace to all beings”
Spreads Buddhism throughout India & other parts of Asia via missionaries; but tolerant of other religions

50. Asoka’s Reign
Asoka’s Rock Edicts: Laws carved on rock pillars are placed throughout the empire
Stress concern for other human beings

51. Asoka’s Reign Builds extensive road system with wells and shelters
Makes travel and communication easier
Asoka dies in 232BC; Kingdoms soon break away

52. The Gupta Empire

53. Gupta Empire
After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, India experiences 500 years of chaos
Finally in AD 320 a strong leader known as Chandra Gupta (not related to 1st emperor!) starts Gupta Empire

54. Gupta Empire
During India’s 2nd empire, there is a flowering of civilization, & rebirth of Hindu culture
Chandra Gupta’s son expands empire with years of conquests

55. Gupta Empire Daily Life in the Gupta Empire:
Majority of Indians are farmers; family raises crops together
Farmers have to contribute work to gov’t and pay heavy taxes
Families are patriarchal – headed by the eldest males

56. Gupta’s Golden Age 320 AD to 535 AD:
India’s “Golden Age,” or the flourishing of arts & sciences

57. Gupta’s Golden Age Achievements in Science: Earth is round
Identify 7 planets
Invent medical instruments, perform operations, set bones, write medical guides

58. Gupta’s Golden Age Achievements in Mathematics: Principles of algebra
Infinity & Zero
Value of Pi
Arabic numerals  1, 2, 3…

59. Indian Trade
India has spices, diamonds, precious stones & good quality timber
Trade routes called the silk roads connect Asia & Europe; Indians build trading posts in middle

60. Indian Trade
Increased trade spreads Indian culture/religion to other places (cultural diffusion)

61. Yes! My silk is here!
Yes! My money is here!