1. India  Role of Geography

2. The Earliest Indus River Civilizations

3. Harappan India  Centered along the Indus River in NW India  Similar to Mesopotamia and Nile cultures  Agricultural economy

4. Aryan arrival  Came from Central Asia  Arrived ca 1500-1000 BCE  Vedic Age, 1200-600 BCE:\  Epic stories of Varuna, the mighty god, and Indra, the warrior god  Connected with veneration of the god Shiva  Invasion of Alexander, 326 BCE

5. Hinduism  Vedic Age gave rise to Hinduism  Upanishads—philosophical speculations  Maya  Transmigration of Souls  Karma  Caste System

6. Hindu Castes Brahmins: Profs and priests Kshatriyas: Military leaders and politicians Vaishyas: Farmers, landlords, businessmen Sudras: Peasants, servants, laborers Untouchables (Dalit): Workers in polluting jobs (Officially outlawed in 1949) Untouchables (Dalit): Workers in polluting jobs (Officially outlawed in 1949)

8. Mauryan Empire  First Indian dynasty to control India  Chandragupta Maurya drove out Greeks  Grandson, Ashoka, consolidated control (r. 269-232)  Buddhist convert  Edicts of Ashoka  India fell into disunity and regionalism

9. Ashoka India (3C BC)

11. Gupta India  320-550 CE in northern India  Less militaristic than Mauryan state  Golden Age  Helped spread a uniform law code  Hinduism crystalized during this time  Aryabhata—Archimedes of India

12. Indian Government  Did not develop the traditions of China,or the inquiry of Greece and Rome  Altered between regional and national unity  Not particularly elaborate systems  Local villages the key to social cohesion

13. Coming of Muslim Rulers  Babur the Tiger (1526)—subordinated Hindu chieftains to his rule.  Mughal Dynasty controlled India until British Imperialists seize power.  Mughal Dynasty under Akbar (1556- 1605) brings order and stability to Hindu Country  Din Ilahi  Akbar’s successors squander wealth and attempt to impose Sharia on Hindu population.

14. Akbar the the Moghul Conqueror of India (1556- 1605)

15. The Spread of the Mughal Empire

16. Contemporary India

17. The Taj Mahal built by Shah Jahan in the 17C

18. Brahma: The Creator

19. Lord Krishna or Vishnu: The Preserver

20. Lord Shiva: The Destroyer

21. “Twining of the Creeper” from the Kamasutra

22. Image of Buddha from 13C