1. Early Civilizations of India

2. Geography Indian Subcontinent
The subcontinent is protected
North by the Himalayas
Northwest by Hindu Kush
Isolated this area to develop cultures on its own.

3. Indus Valley Civilization
2600 B.C
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
Present day Pakistan - Indus river

4. Indus Valley Civilization
Plumbing, Sewers, Water Chutes
(well organized governments)

5. Indus Valley Civilization
Regional Trade
To Persia:
From Mesopotamia

6. Indus Valley Civilization
1900 BC - the culture disappears
Earth Quake
Plague
Aryans

7. Aryan Civilization 2000-1500 BC Aryans migrate into India.
Chariots, Bows, Nomad

8. Aryans
They stopped nomad life
started farming in India – Ganges Plain

9. Aryan Civilization
Began the Vedic Age

10. VEDAS Earliest Hindu Sacred Text

11. Aryan Epic Literature Common language Sanskrit Epic poems emerge
Rama and Sita

12. Aryan Epic Literature The Mahabharata India’s greatest epic poem
- outlines religious beliefs, immortality, and value duties
Rama and Sita

13. Hinduism

14. Hinduism No single founder One of world’s most complex religions
Grew from over-lapping beliefs of various people
One of world’s most complex religions

15. POLYTHEISIC Vishnu Brahma Shiva Most important gods were
Brahma, the Creator
Vishnu, the Preserver
Shiva, the Destroyer
POLYTHEISIC

16. Aryan Religion and Hinduism
Many gods reveal some Character of Brahman Brahman a single spiritual power beyond the many gods and the Vedas

17. The Caste System Aryan class divisions
groups into which people are born
socio-economic roles (occupations)

18. Hinduism and The Caste System
Why would people continue to live this way for a couple thousand years?

19. Hinduism and The Caste System
govern all aspects of life to ensure Spiritual Purity

20. Hinduism and The Caste System
govern all aspects of life to ensure Spiritual Purity
Karma and Reincarnation
Saṃsāra

21. Moksha - Liberation from the cycle -

22. Achieving Moksha – the goal of life
Reincarnation - the upward trek toward moksha through rebirth

23. Achieving Moksha – the goal of life
Reincarnation - the upward trek toward moksha through rebirth
Dharma - religious and moral duties.

24. Achieving Moksha – the goal of life
Reincarnation - the upward trek toward moksha through rebirth
Dharma - religious and moral duties.
Karma - refers to all actions in life that affect your fate in the next life.

25. Achieving Moksha – the goal of life
Reincarnation - the upward trek toward moksha through rebirth
Dharma - religious and moral duties.
Karma - refers to all actions in life that affect your fate in the next life.
Moksha – union with Brahman
free self from selfish desires

26. Achieving Moksha – the goal of life
Reincarnation - the upward trek toward moksha through rebirth
Dharma - religious and moral duties.
Karma - refers to all actions in life that affect your fate in the next life.
Moksha – union with Brahman.
free self from selfish desires
Non – Violence
(Mahatma Gandhi)