1. 1500 BC-400 AD

2.   What impact did the Aryans have on India?  Why was the caste system central to Indian culture?  What were the accomplishments of the Mauryan and Gupta Empires?  What are the beliefs of Hinduism?  Buddhism?  How did they spread? Essential Questions:

3.   Originated in Europe and migrated to and invaded India. Indo-Aryans

4.  Slowly, the Aryans took over India and held the most powerful positions. They introduced the caste system. Aryans take power

5.   A very rigid social class structure.  A person is born into a caste and stays in that caste the rest of his/her life.  Your caste decides what jobs you can hold, who you can marry, who your friends are, and more. Caste system

6.  Caste system con’t

7.   Developed thousands of years before it was even written down!  Hindus all believe all things are interconnected.  They believe that god lives everywhere in everyone. Hinduism

8.   Henotheism  Hindus believe that god (called Brahman) exists in many (possibly thousands) of forms  They choose which god to worship.  Hindu worship is usually done in the home at small shrines Bramhan

9.   The Vedas are a collection of hymns, prayers, and instructions for religious rituals. They were passed down orally by the Aryans.  Around 750 BC, a group of Hindu teachers wrote the Upanishads, written interpretations of the Vedas. Vedas and Upanishads

10.   Reincarnation- a soul does not die, nor is there an afterlife. Once a person dies, they are born again as the same soul, but different person. Reincarnation

11.   Karma- good or bad deeds. Follows from one incarnation to the next  It was thought that if you had “bad karma” you would be reincarnated in a lower caste or would otherwise pay for it in your next life.  In this way, it reinforced the caste system. Karma

12.   Moksha= a state of perfect understanding  Once a person achieves moksha, they are liberated from the cycle of reincarnation  It usually takes several lifetimes to get there. Moksha

13.  Brahman- the Creator of the World

14.  Vishnu – the Preserver of the World

15.  Shiva- the Destroyer of the World

16.   Prince Siddhartha Gautama. Born in Nepal, 563 BC.  He was groomed to be king. But, at age 29, chose to seek religious truth.  He travelled India for six years seeking truth. Buddhism

17.   After 49 days of meditation, he achieved enlightenment, or “nirvana.”  He began to teach that enlightenment is possible for all people.  Changed his name to Buddha, which means “Enlightened One.” Buddha con’t

18.   First: Everything in life is suffering and sorrow  Second: The reason for suffering is people’s selfish desire for temporary pleasure  Third: The way to end suffering is to end desire  Fourth: The way to overcome desire is to attain enlightenment Four Noble Truths

19.   The way to attain enlightenment is the Eightfold Path The Eightfold Path

20.  Buddhism Video

21.   Missionaries spread the teachings of Buddha  Early converts were low caste people Buddhism spreads

22.  HinduismBuddhism Similarities and Differences

23.  Mauryan Empire 305 BC – 232 BC

24.   Chandragupta Maurya unified North India in 321 BC.  During the Mauryan Empire, roads were built. The emperor even ordered wells and rest houses built every nine miles to ease travelling.  Buddhism also spread during this time Mauryan Empire

25.   After a war with neighboring Kalinga, which left 100,000 people dead, Asoka started to rethink the violence used to expand the empire.  He converted to Buddhism and started to advocate non-violence and tolerance. Asoka- Mauryan Emperor

26.  Asoka video

27.  Gupta Empire 320 AD- 500 AD

28.   The Gupta made incredible advances in mathematics, inventing the concept of zero, modern numerals, and the decimal system.  Astronomy- Discovered the Earth is round by observing lunar eclipses  Literature and the arts flourished Golden Age of Classical Indian Culture

29.  Trade and the Silk Road The Silk Road ran from China all the way to Asia Minor (Turkey). It was a major trade route for thousands of years! Not only used for trade, but spread technology, ideas, language, and culture.