1. Ancient India Harrapans arose in the Indus River Valley
Subcontinent relatively isolated with a mixture of cultures
ARYANS moved south acrossHindu Kush mountains into India
Developed agriculture and use of Iron – introduces in ME by Hittites
Iron Plow, Irrigation, transformed region into rich agricultural region

2. India Map
What obstacles do you notice?

3. Aryan contributions Chieftan- raja lead community
Transformed into kings called maharaja *still required to follow dharma – laws and behavior standards
Outside influence by Alexander the Great (Greeks) who left behind administrators who influenced the area for generations. What happened to Alexander? Where?

4. Chandragupta Maurya 324-301BCE
Drove out Greeks and established empire
Caste system
Introduced by Aryans, social classification and determined occupation and status in society and hope for salvation (reincarnation)

5. Social Structure of Caste

6. Hinduism and Buddhism (and Jainism)
Reincarnation
Karma – rebirth determined by actions in this life
Brahman – highest in caste
Dharma- law
Jainism- extreme version of Buddhism- poverty, pain, self torture
Siddhartha Gautama
8 fold path
No caste system
Middle path- right know., purpose, speech, conduct, occupation, awareness, meditation, effort
Reincarnation
Nirvana
4 noble truths

7. Daily Life in Ancient India
Family- extended family with patriarch
Marriage- women subordinates to husbands, Sati-
women seen as an economic burden
Economy- farming, trade, manufacturing-spices, teak, perfumes, etc.

8. Ashoka 269-232BCE Began rule conquering and killing
Converted to Buddhism
Benevolent rule
(grandson of Chandragupta Maurya)
Spread Buddhism thruout India