1. Ancient India

2. Geography
Subcontinent – a large land mass that is smaller than a continent and is separated by physical features from a continent.
Himalayas –Mountain range in North of India that separate it from the rest of Asia.
Early civilization developed along the Indus River.

3. Climate
Hot and Humid
Monsoons – heavy seasonal rains that occur in India.

4. Ganges
Indus river
Bay of Bengal
Sri Lanka
Arabian Sea

5. Harappan Civilization
Harrapan civilization – the civilization that grew along the Indus river.
Grew as irrigation and agriculture improved.
Harappa – main city
Mohejo- Daro – other main city
Well planned

6. Harappan Achievements
Indoor plumbing
Excellent pottery
Cotton clothing
Jewelry

8. Aryan Civilization Invaded from central Asia
Took control of the entire Indus river valley.
Vedas- collection of poems hymns and myths written by Aryan Priest.
Nomads – traveled
Lived in small communities.
Each community had its own leader

9. Raja- leader of small communities in Aryan Society.
Villagers worked for Raja.
Aryan language - Sanskrit

10. Section 2 Aryan Society became divided into groups. Four main groups:
Brahmins- Priest
Kshatriyas – rulers and warriors
Vaisyas – Farmers, craftspeople, and Traders
Sudras –labors and non - Aryans

11. The Caste System
Divided Indian Society based on a persons wealth, birth or occupation.
The four main groups were divided into thousands of subgroups.
Their was no movement from group to group but the status of a group could change.

12. Caste rules People could not marry outside of their caste
Couldn’t eat with a person from another caste.
If you broke the rules you became an untouchable

13. Untouchables Not members of any group Seen as unclean and outcast
Non untouchables were forbidden contact with them.

14. Brahminism Aryan Religion was called Brahminism Based on the Vedas
Vedas – contain sacred Hymns and Poems

15. Vedas Rig Veda – the oldest Hymns and praise to the Gods
Vedic Text –religious rituals
Vedic text – contains secret rituals that only certain people could perform
Upanishads- Reflections on the Vedas by students and teachers.

16. Hinduism
The Ideas of Brahmanism and the Vedas blended with the ideas of other cultures and became Hinduism.

17. Hindu Beliefs Polytheistic Three Major Gods: Brahma – the creator
Vishnu the preserver
Siva the destroyer
Brahman- the supreme universal spirit that flows through all things.

18. Brahma

19. Siva
Vishnu

20. Life and rebirth
Karma – the effects a good or bad actions have on your soul.
Atman – soul
Based on how well a person follows Caste rules they are born up or down the Caste rank.
How you are born is based on your Karma.
The ultimate goal is to have no further rebirths and to have your atman become one with Brahman.
This world is an illusion.

21. Hinduism You must accept your place in the world without complaint.
Women are inferior to men

22. Jainism Based on the Teachings of Mahavira Beliefs Injure no life
Tell the truth
Do not steal
Own no property
Ahimsa – practice non violence

23. Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama – 505 B.C. – Prince who founded Buddhism
Buddha – means Enlightened one
Buddhism – religion based on the teachings of Buddha
Was a prince
Sought the answer to the question ; Why is there so much pain and suffering in the world?

24. Legend has that he meditated for 40 day and fasted on a single grain of rice.
The Answer : Because of Selfish Desires
Wanting what we like but do not have
Wanting to keep what we like and already have
Not wanting what we dislike but have

25. 4 truths 1. Suffering are part of life
2. Suffering comes from our desires for pleasure and material goods.
3. People can overcome desire and reach Nirvana ( a state of Spiritual peace)
4. Follow an 8 fold path

26. 8 fold path Think right Right intent Right speed Right Action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration

27. Mauryan Empire Mauryan empire – founded by Chandragupta Mayura.
Lasted 150 years
Added central India
Asoka- added most of India- became Buddhist monk and rejected war

28. Gupta Empire United northern and central India
Hindu becomes India’s Religion also supported Buddhism and Janism.
Chandra Gupta II – Ruled during India’s highest point. Supported the Caste System.

29. India’s Achievements Built great Temples
Stupas – domed roofs meant to house sacred items.
Writing
Kalidasa – Playwrite
Ponchatantra- book of stories with moral lessons

30. Science – Metallurgy – work with metals
Alloys – mixed two or more metals
Math
Hindu Arabic – numbers we use today
Idea of Zero

31. Medicine
Inoculation – give you small doses of virus to build up your immunity
Astronomy
Study of plants and stars
Knew the sun was a star and planets evolved around it.
Predicted eclipses of moon and sun.