1. ANCIENT INDIA

2. GEOGRAPHY
Great size and diverse landscapes = cultural diversity and hard to unite
Indian subcontinent = a large landmass that is part of a continent
Monsoons = seasonal winds in India that bring rain in the summer

3. .

4. The Aryans and the Vedic Period
Between BC a group of nomadic Indo-European people formed a new civilization along the Ganges river
A warlike people who went from being nomads to farmers
Developed Sanskrit, their writing system around 1000 BC
Sacred writings called the Vedas – a collection of hymns, prayers, and other religious teachings

5. The social structure was based on the caste system
People settled in smaller villages, which banded together under regional leaders called rajas
The social structure was based on the caste system
Caste system = a set rigid categories in ancient India that determined a person’s occupation and position in society
Caste = social class

6. Society was divided into four social classes called varnas
Brahmans = priestly class in charge of religious ceremonies, is the highest ranking
Kshatriyas = warriors and rulers
Vaisyas = commoners, mostly farmers and merchants
Sudras = people who were not Aryans, mostly peasants with limited rights in society, servants
The four varnas are also subdivided into hundreds of smaller castes
Untouchables = people who are not part of the caste system, lowest part of society
Are given menial, degrading tasks that other Indians would not accept (trash collecting, handling dead bodies)

8. Valued Cattle – Cows were sacred
Women had less rights and were not equal
Job was to have children and obey and respect their husbands at all times
Sati
Virtuous woman who joined her husband on his funeral pyre
In ancient India the dead were burned in a funeral pyre
Suttee required a wife to throw herself on her dead husband’s flaming body to join him in death
Women who refused were considered disrespectful

9. The Aryans were polytheistic
The Aryans practiced the religion of Hinduism

10. Hinduism One of the world’s oldest religions
Practiced in ancient India by the Aryans
Religious beliefs of the Hindus are found in the Vedas, a collection of hymns and religious ceremonies
Beliefs
Polytheistic, belief in the caste system
Brahman – single force, external being that created and preserves the world, a form of ultimate reality

11. Every person has an atman, or soul, that is an aspect of Brahman
A person’s atman shapes their personality and cannot be destroyed by death
The duty of the atman is to seek to know this ultimate reality called Brahman
Devas = various manifestations of Brahman, are active in the world

12. Continual pattern of birth, death, and rebirth
At death the atman is released from the body and later reborn in another
Called reincarnation = belief that the individual soul is reborn into a new form after death
The nature of the person’s new life will be shaped by their karma
Karma = force generated by a person’s actions that determines how the person will be reborn in the next life
good karma = reborn into a higher caste
bad karma = reborn into a lower caste
Gave religious basis for the rigid caste system and hope to the lower castes

13. The ultimate goal of human existence is achieve moksha, or union with Brahman
Moksha = escape or release from the cycle of rebirth
Atman leaves the world and reunites with Brahman – Hindus work toward achieving this
The way to achieve moksha is to fulfill one’s dharma
Dharma = (divine law) a person’s spiritual duties and obligations which they must follow to achieve liberation
Various depending on status and caste
Fulfilling dharma allows a person to create good karma

14. Make a pilgrimage to a holy location
Pilgrimage = religious journey
For Hindus one of the most holy places they want to visit in their lifetime is the Ganges river, believe that the water is holy
Believe that bathing in the Ganges will purify and remove some bad karma

15. Buddhism Founded in the 6th century BC by Siddartha Gautama
Later took the name of Buddha, which means “Enlightened One”
His goal was to seek the cure for human suffering
Resolved to find a way to overcome age and sickness to keep people from having to suffer

16. Decided one must deny the reality of the material world
Pain, poverty, and sorrow are caused by attachments to things of this world
Once you let go of worldly cares, pain and sorrow can be forgotten and wisdom can be achieved (bodhi)
Achieving wisdom is a key step to achieving nirvana
Nirvana = end of self and reunion with the Great World Soul
A state of perfect peace in which the soul will be free from suffering
Four Noble Truths
Ordinary life is full of suffering
This suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy ourselves with pleasure and material goods

17. Eightfold Path = a series of steps that leads to Enlightenment
Overcoming these desires during life eventually brings suffering to an end
The way to end desire is to follow the Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path = a series of steps that leads to Enlightenment
Can also be expressed as the Middle Way, which advises people to live in moderation in the search for nirvana
Right view Right livelihood
Right attitude Right effort
Right speech Right mindfulness
Right action Right concentration

18. Other beliefs Spread of Buddhism Believe in reincarnation
Do not believe in the caste system
Do not worship any gods, Buddha forbade followers to worship his image
Spread of Buddhism
Starts out in India, but loses popularity to Islam
Spreads to Southeast Asia

19. Main Religious Teachings
HINDUISM
BUDDHISM
Founded By
Major Goal
Main Religious Teachings
Polytheistic or Monotheistic
Belief in Reincarnation?
Belief in Caste System?
Started Where