1. India and China
3000 BC – AD 500

2. Chapter Objectives
Explain how geography influenced the development of civilizations in India and China
Identify characteristics of these civilizations
Explain political and social structures in these countries
Describe the role of religion
List the contributions of each civilization

3. Early Civilization in India
The Land of India
India’s First Civilization
The Arrival of the Aryans
Society in India
Hinduism
Buddhism

4. Lesson Essential Question
What were the main characteristics of Aryan civilization in India?

5. Graphic Organizer
Hinduism
Buddhism

6. The Land of India
The Indian subcontinent is composed of a number of core regions
Mountain ranges
River valleys
Dry interior plateau
Fertile coastal plains
The Himalayas, in the far north, are the highest mountains in the world
The Ganges River Valley, directly south of the Himalayas, if one of the chief regions of Indian culture
The Indus River Valley to the west is a relatively dry plateau that forms the backbone of modern day Pakistan
In ancient times, it enjoyed a more moderate climate and served as the cradle of Indian civilization

7. The Land of India (Cont)
The Deccan plateau lies south of India’s two main rivers, and extends from the Ganges Valley to the tip of India
The interior of the plateau is relatively hilly and dry
East and West Coast are lush plains
Most densely populated regions of India
Primary feature of India’s climate is the monsoon- a seasonal wind pattern in southern Asia
Warm, moist air from southwest during the summer
Brings heavy rains which farmers depend on to grow crops
If rains come early or late, or too much or too little rain falls, crops are destroyed and thousands starve
Cold, dry air from northeast during the winter

8. India’s First Civilization
Emerged in river valleys between 3000 BC and 1500 BC
The valleys of the Indus River supported a flourishing civilization that extended from the Himalayas to the coast of the Arabian Sea
Advanced civilization flourished in two major cities for hundreds of years
Harappa
Mohenjo-Daro

9. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
Both Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro had around 35,000-40,000 inhabitants at their heights
Well organized governments
Both cities were carefully planned
Main broad streets ran in a north-south direction
Crossed by smaller east-west roads
Large walled neighborhoods with narrow lanes separating the rows of houses
Buildings built of square mud bricks forming a mud pattern
Public works provided a regular supply of water
Bathrooms- advanced drainage system
Wastewater flowed out to drains located under the streets; carried to sewers outside city walls
Trash collected in bins

10. Think-Pair-Share
What evidence leads us to conclude there must have been well organized governments in Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro?
They are carefully structured cities, with public water supplies, advanced drainage systems, wastewater carried to sewer pits, trash collected in garbage bins, planned neighborhoods, and buildings made from oven-baked bricks

11. Rulers and the Economy
Harappan rulers based their power on a belief in divine assistance
Religion and political power were closely linked
Royal palace and holy temple combined in the fortress
Economy based primarily on farming
Flooding of the Indus River every year provided rich soil
Also carried on extensive trading with Mesopotamian city- states
Much of trading was carried out by ship via the Persian Gulf

12. The Arrival of the Aryans
Arrived around 1500 BC from their original homeland of central Asia
Moved south across the Hindu Kush mountain range into the plains of northern India
They conquered the Harappans and created a new Indian society based on Aryan culture and institutions
Nomadic people who excelled at the art of war
Moved throughout India until they controlled most of India

13. The Aryan Way of Life Pastoral people with a strong warrior tradition
Gave up pastoral life for regular farming
Introduction of iron
Iron plow made it possible to clear the dense jungle
Irrigation
Developed first writing system, Sanskrit, by 1000 BC
Wrote down legends and religious chants and rituals
Early writing reveal India was a world of warring kingdoms and shifting alliances
Aryan leaders, rajas, carved out small states and fought each other
Seized women, cattle, and treasure

14. Society in Ancient India
The conquest by the Aryans had a lasting impact on Indian society
A set of social institutions and class divisions that has lasted to the present day, with minor changes, arose during this time period

15. The Caste System- Reading Activity
Read the section titled The Caste System on pages 75-76
After reading, make a graphic organizer identifying and describing the different castes in Indian society.

16. The Family In Ancient India
Life was centered on family
3 generations lived in same household- grandparents, parents, children
Patriarchal- oldest male held legal authority over entire family
Males superior- allowed to inherit property, serve as priests, educated
Divorce was usually not allowed
Man could take second wife if first not able to bear children
Children were important
Expected to take care of parents as they aged

17. The Family Life in Ancient India (Cont)
Marriages were arranged and common for young girls
Daughters were seen as an economic drain on their parents
The ritual of suttee is perhaps the best visual symbol of man’s dominance over women
Women required to throw themselves on the pyre of her burning husband

18. Hinduism One of the most complex religions in the world
Developed over 3500 years ago (around 1500 BC)
No one founder
Told people to live moral lives
Many followers avoided violence
Many sacred texts
Believed in the existence of a single force in the universe, ultimate reality or God, Brahman
Duty of the individual self, to seek and know ultimate reality
Merge with Brahman after death

19. Hinduism (Cont)
Reincarnation- belief that the individual soul is reborn in a different form after death
After many reincarnations, the soul reaches its final goal in a union with the Brahman
Karma- force generated by a person’s actions
Determines how the person will be reborn in the next life
What people do in their current lives determines what they will be in their next life
Also, a person’s current status is a result of that person’s actions in a past existence
The concept of karma is ruled by the dharma-divine law
Requires all people to do their duty
Duties vary depending on their societal status

20. Hinduism (Cont)
System of reincarnation provided a religious basis for the rigid class divisions in India
People on higher end of society would not have those priviledges if they were not deserving
Gave hope to those on the lower end of the scale
Developed the practice of yoga
Designed to lead to the union with the Brahman
Hundreds of deities in Hindu religion- 3 chief ones
Brahma- Creator
Vishnu- Preserver
Siva- Destroyer

21. Hinduism (Cont)
Many Hindu regard the multitude of gods simply as a different expression of the Brahman
However, the various gods and goddesses gave ordinary Indians a way to express their religious feelings
Hinduism is still the religion of the vast majority of Indian people

22. Buddhism
Founded in late 500’s BC by Siddhartha Gautama- the Buddha (“Enlightened One”)
Denied the reality of the material world
Believed physical surroundings were simply illusions
Pain, poverty, and sorrow caused by people’s attachment to material items
Achieving wisdom is a key step to achieving nirvana- or ultimate reality
Achieving nirvana led to a reunion with the Great World Soul
Based on the Four Noble Truths
Ordinary life is full of suffering
This suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy ourselves
The way to end suffering is to end desire for selfish goals and to see others as extensions of ourselves
The way to end desire is to follow the Middle Path

23. Buddhism (Cont) The Middle Path- Eightfold Path Right view
Right intention
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right concentration

24. Buddhism (Cont)
Accepted the idea of reincarnation, but rejected the caste system
All humans could reach nirvana as a result of their behavior in this life
Rejected the multitude of gods that had become identified with Hinduism
Spread throughout India after the Buddha’s death
Built monasteries to promote his teaching and provide housing and training for monks
As Buddhism’s roots spread through Asia, it slowly declined in India

25. What were the main characteristics of Aryan civilization in India?
Exit Ticket
Using your notes and book, answer the following question.
What were the main characteristics of Aryan civilization in India?