1. The Indus River Valley Civilization

2. Geographic River system: Ganges and Indus – full of silt
River-flow changes direction = farming impacts
Monsoons- seasonal wind that brings HEAVY rain
Indus Valley – 1st civilization 2500BCE
Harappa and Mohenjo Daro
Streets in a grid pattern
Centralized design- Citadel at the center with warehouses and meeting halls in it

3. Religion- Hinduism
Polytheistic faith of Hinduism formed along rivers by the Aryans
No specific founder – the people’s belief system
BRAHMAN- eternal being that created and preserves the world
Several of their gods are manifestations of Brahman- Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (Destroyer)
Reincarnation- a persons life now determines their next life- KARMA

4. VEDIC PERIOD (INDIA) 2000 BCE
Sacred literature left behind – the Vedas: 4 collections of prayers, spells, and rituals
Rig Veda: 1,028 hymns to gods
Yajurveda/Samaveda: focus on sacrifice and prayer
Atharveda: protective spells from demons and healing
VEDIC PERIOD (INDIA)
2000 BCE

5. Between the Ganges and Indus Rivers
Plickers
4. Where did the Indus People live?
In the Himylayas
Between the Ganges and Indus Rivers
Between the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers
South India

6. Mauryan Empire Led by Chandragupta Maurya
Gained most of his power through military and became dependent on strong centralized government to control his empire
Divided his empire into districts led by appointed relatives and generals
Chandragupta passed his throne on to his grandson ASHOKA in order to become a Jainist Monk
After converting to Buddhism, he left his violent wants and encouraged peace. He inscribed his policies on rocks throughout the kingdom to encourage peace and religious tolerance
Empire declined as Ashoka’s sons fought for power

7. Jainism
Around 500 BCE, a group of Hindus broke away and founded a new religion led by Mahavira
Hindus focus to much on ritual and that’s unnecessary
Achieve perfection by giving up all worldly possessions and controlling their actions
Ahimsa- NON VIOLENCE
Jains carefully avoid hurting any living creature
Vegetarian
Promised to tell the truth and avoid stealing

8. Gupta Empire Chandra Gupta I
Divided the country into units and had a royal official govern each unit
Gupta rule became known as the Golden Age, or a period of great cultural achievements, peace and prosperity
Many great works of Sanskit literature were written during the Gupta period
Much of the art and architecture during the Gupta period was religious
Many temples built out of cliff faces
Gupta scholars devised a system of Hindu-Arabic Numerals which we use today! (invented 0!)

9. Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama- the Buddha
Lived a very sheltered life free of hardship or suffering (he was a prince!), but when we learned that people died and got sick he resolved to find a way to overcome age and sickness to keep people from having to suffer
Sought enlightenment for 6 years as he traveled
He reached enlightenment under a tree after meditating all night long
Seeking NIRVANA- heaven/ state of perfect peace after death
If you don’t reach Nirvana- you are reborn

10. Buddhism 4 Noble Truths 8 Fold Path Suffering is part of human life
Suffering comes from desire for pleasure and material goods
Overcoming desire during life brings an end to suffering
Desires can be overcome by the Eightfold Path
Right View- Accept the 4 noble truths
Right attitude- moderation
Right speech- love not hate
Right action- fair
Right livelihood- avoid harm
Right effort- improvement
Right mindfulness- remain aware
Right concentration- ignore temptations

11. Social
Fierce social-class system based on Hinduism – the Hindu Caste
Your position in life is based on skin color and wealth – can’t change level!
Housing built on neighborhood model – functioning sewer system divided the people
Language is undecipherable