1. Early India

2. A Look Ahead Unit covers two chapters and five sections:
Chapter 4, Sections 1-3 & Chapter 8, Sections 3-4
There WILL be a project with this unit:
Groups of four or individual
Groups must be approved
Trading cards

3. A Look at the Land
The Indus River Valley civilizations are located on the Indian Subcontinent
Mountains to the north
Plateau to the south
Northern Plains in the middle with three rivers:
Indus, Ganges, & Brahmaputra
Monsoons bring rain in the summer
How does this impact people?

4. Indus Valley Civilization
Began ≈ 2500 BCE
Two large cities were found:
Harappa and Mohenjo Daro
Hundreds of towns, villages, and cities have been discovered
The cities are well planned - suggests a central authority held power over the civilization
What about their economy?

5. Indus Valley Civilization
Economics
Likely based on agriculture and trade
Trade with who?
Society
We know little about the Indus society
Why is this?
Fell into decline and disappeared
No one is sure why

6. The Vedic Period New people came to power: Aryans
Where did they come from?
Most records of the period come from Vedas
What are Vedas?
People settled in villages rather than large cities
Groups were under the control of rajas
-regional leaders

7. The Vedic Period Society divided into four classes called varnas
“When they divided Purusha, how many portions did they make?...
The Brahmin was his mouth, of both his arms was the Kshatriya made.
His thighs became the Vaisya, from his feet the Sudra was produced.”
-The Rigveda,
Book 10, Hymn 90
Brahmins
Kshatriyas
Vaisyas
Sudras

8. Hinduism - Devas Brahman - eternal being; the universe itself
Cannot be understood by human minds
Brahma - the Creator; rarely worshipped because his work is done
Vishnu - the Preserver; comes to earth in a human form to battle evil
Siva - the Destroyer; destroys the world

9. Hinduism What is reincarnation?
Write a brief response, brainstorming what you know about reincarnation.

10. Hinduism
Reincarnation - the belief that the soul is reborn in a new body after death
A new life is shaped by karma - the total of his or her actions during life
Good actions result in a better rebirth
Moksha is the goal - to escape the cycle
How do you escape?

11. Hinduism Dharma is a set of duties Good and righteous conduct
Performing your role correctly

12. The Ramayana A great Indian epic Provides a model for dharma
Tells the story of Rama, a hero who lived his life by the rules of dharma

13. Jainism Around 500 BCE, a Hindu teacher founded Jainism
Jains though Hindus worried too much about rituals
Jains followed a system of nonviolence
Jains refuse to harm animals

14. Buddhism Another great religion from India
Unlike Hinduism, it has a single founder
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha
Most of what we know comes from various Buddhist books

15. Siddhartha Gautama Born 500s BCE as a prince
Sheltered as a child; kept in the palace
Finally allowed to leave and he sees suffering for the first time:
Old age
Sickness
Death
Also sees a monk
Desires to become a monk himself

16. Siddhartha Gautama Tried to live as a monk: fasting, etc.
Decided monks could not help him achieve enlightenment, went his own way
Sat under a tree to meditate
Achieved enlightenment, became the Buddha

18. Modern-day India

19. The Question
How did Buddhism spread and, ultimately, decline in India?
To answer this question, we have to look back to India near the birth of Buddhism.

20. India Alexander the Great of Macedonia
Large empire but stopped conquest after reaching India
Why?
What was the impact?

21. Chandragupta Inspired by Alexander the Great
Built an army of 600,000 soldiers
Began to conquer northern India
Defeated one of Alexander’s generals
Controlled as far as Afghanistan
Had an advisor named Kautilya
Divided empire into districts and used spies
Emperor owned all land and mines

22. Ashoka Grandson of Chandragupta One of India’s greatest rulers
Continued expanding the Mauryan Empire
Led a campaign against the region of Kalinga

23. Ashoka at the Battle of Kalinga

24. Ashoka Converted to Buddhism after the battle
Worked to spread Buddhism and better the lives of his people
Wrote a number of his views and actions on rocks and stone pillars
Edicts of Ashoka

25. Edicts of Ashoka
Buddhist Values: Edicts in this category are concerned with the Buddha's teachings about how to live a correct life.
General Welfare: Edicts in this category are concerned with making sure people have good health, shelter, clean water, and enough food.
Justice: Edicts in this category are concerned with fair laws and treatment in court and jail.
Security: Edicts in this category are concerned with the protection of people from foreign enemies.