1. Geography Subcontinent – on Asia
Peninsula – surrounded on 3 sides by seas (like a big arrowhead)
Himalayan Mountains borders north – tallest mountains in world
Hindu Kush Mountains
2 seasons: rainy & dry
Droughts & Monsoons

2. 2 Rivers: Indus and Ganges
Indus River – from melting glaciers & natural springs from mountains
Ganges River – begins in Himalayas. Considered sacred river.
Rivers: used mud for bricks, silt for farming, water for irrigation

3. Hinduism 3rd most popular religion – polytheistic
Developed out of Brahminism
Sacred Text: Vedas & Upanishads
Holy place: Ganges River
No founder
Meditation
Universal soul – Brahman. 3 gods form 1 supreme god
Brahman is in everyone called Atman

4. Reincarnation
Soul born in human body, animal body and possible insect body
Moksha – spiritual goad of Hindu is to become one with Brahma.
Work selflessly for the good of society
Karma – how a person is reincarnated is determined by karma
Respect for elder
Many Hindu gods & goddess
Hindu Temple
Holy books written in Sanskrit called the Vedas
Caste system

5. Buddhism Religion about suffering and how to get rid of it
Founder: Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha)
Do not believe in a personal creator God
Path to Enlightenment – reincarnation
Wheel of Life – symbolizes the cycle of life, death & rebirth (Reincarnation)
Lotus flower
Buddha statues
Worship at temples. Shrine

6. Nirvana – end of reincarnation. Perfect peace and free of suffering
Meditation
Holy book: Tripitaka
Dharma – teaching of Buddha
4 Noble Truths & The Eightfold Path – lead the Buddhist towards the path of Enlightenment.
No soul
Karma: Reincarnation

7. Achievements Language: Sanskrit (earlies & only known modern language)
Mathematics: Use of Zero& decimal system.
Hindu-Arabic number system
Algorithm, Algebra
Astronomy: Map movement of planets & stars
Theory: Earth round & revolved around the sun

8. Mahabharata – famous epic; longest poem in the world
Metalworking
Medicine: Dental, surgeries, scalpels & needles
Heal the causes of disease not treat the disease
Mud brick for building
Sewage system & planned cities

9. Political Systems Strong government. Monarchy. King or Emperor
Planned cities
King Asoka: ruled by Buddhist beliefs, made hospitals, tolerated other religion
1st great empire: Chandra Gupta Mauryan Empire

11. Economy Farming & Trade
Traded wheat, rice, cotton, salt, gold, silk, pottery, spices
Salt, cloth and iron – big trade items
Trade routes

13. Social Structures Caste System – little movement between each caste
Sudra – servants, could not own a business or land, work for others.
Vaishya – farmers & traders, own business or land. Heavily populated.
Kshatriya – warriors & rand government. Very few in this group
Brahmin – Priests, teachers and judges. Most powerful. Lived in temples. Very few in group.
Untouchables – did jobs on else wanted, consider not human.