1. Ancient Civilization of India
The Indus River, Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro, Aryans, Hinduism, Buddhism, Castes, the Guptas and More

3. View of Mohenjo-Daro towards the Great Bath

4. Street in Mohenjo-Daro with Covered Drain

6. Lord Rama

7. Brahma the Creator

8. The Buddha

9. Khajuraho

12. mumbai

13. Early Civilizations in India – 2 Cities– Harappa y Mohenjo-Daro
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro – near the Indus River (currently Pakistan)
Well organized cities and government
Agriculture and Commerce/Trade
Many gods, including sacred animals
Declined for many reasons, some unknown

14. Aryans arrive from the North
Aryans, a group of persons united by their similar languagues, come from southern Russia to the northeast of India; later to the Deccan Plateau
We know them largely through the Vedas, a collection of religious writings written in Sanskrit
Changed from a nomadic life to agriculture
Aryans formed a social structure with many levels, or castes
First worshiped many gods, based on nature

15. Caste System – Rigid Social Categories
Your “caste” or “jati” determined both your job/ economic position and your social position
There are 1000s of castes in India, based on occupation and your family network
4 major social classes, called varnas:
Brahmans – in charge of religious ceremonies
Kshatriyas – originally warriors
Vaisyas – commoners; merchants and farmers
Sudras – peasants, manual laborers; most Indians
Below everyone – Untouchables; collect trash/bodies

16. Hinduism Developed by Aryans sometime after 1500 B.C.
Single spiritual force in the world – Brahman
Believed in reincarnation – soul is reborn in different form after death
Final goal – union with Brahma
Karma – force generated by person’s actions
Dharma – divine law – all must do their duty
Justified class divisions; could rise above your caste only after death
Yoga – way to achieve union with God

17. Brahma the Creator

18. Buddhism Began after 550 B.C., in northern India
Founder – Siddhartha Gautama, or Buddha, the “Enlightened One”
Siddhartha was rich man who became aware of sorrow, tried to find cure for suffering, true meaning of life
Must abandon worldly cares to find true meaning; must search for wisdom
Goal: Achieve Nirvana – end of self & reunion with the Great World Soul
Would spread from India to China and SE Asia

19. Four Noble Truths Ordinary life is full of suffering
Suffering caused by desire to satisfy ourselves
Must end desire for selfish goals; see others as extensions of ourselves
Way to end desire is to follow the “Middle Path”
There are 8 steps to the middle path: right view, intention, speech, action, work, effort, mindfulness and concentration

20. Powerful Empires of India – Mauryan Empire
In 321 BC, Chandragupta Maurya, started the first Indian empire; lasted from 321 BC to 185 BC
Capital – Pataliputra – Splendid city
Well-organized bureaucracy; effective but cruel
Grandson Asoka – most successful emperor
Conquered region of Kalinga, but then gave up violence and converted to Buddhism
Sent missionaries out to spread Buddhism
After Asoka, Mauryan Empire fell apart
1st empire to unify all of India

22. Powerful Empires of India – The Guptas
From 320 AD to 540 AD – Golden Age under the Gupta regime
Peace and prosperity; decentralized government, elected by artisans and businessmen
Advances in philosophy, literature, mathematics (arabic numbers, zero), other areas of knowledge