1. Ancient India

2. Indus River Valley
Some of the earliest people in India lived along the Indus River, for the same reasons people in North Africa and the Middle East settled around the Nile and the Tigris and Euphrates
By the Indus River communities developed

3. Social Structure of Ancient India
Varnas is the system of four main social classes
Brahmans: Priests, study and teach the Vedas, perform religious ceremonies
Kshatriyas: Warriors, Rulers, study the Vedas, lead the gov’t and head the army
Vaisyas: Common people, merchants, artisans, farmers, tend the herds, sell products
Sudras: Unskilled laborers, servants, serve other Varnas
Parihas: Slaves, perform unclean tasks

4. Early India’s Social System
GROUPS OUTSIDE VARNAS:
Pariahs = orange
VARNAS:
Brahmans = red
Kshatriyas = purple
Vaisyas = blue
Sudras = green

5. Concept of Duty
Dharma is the duties of the males who belonged to each varna
The concept of dharma includes doing what is proper for one’s age

6. HINDUISM

7. Hinduism Based on different beliefs and practices
Differences from other religions: was not founded on the teachings of one person and does not have one holy book
As a result, it became a complex religion of many deities
Three important gods:
Brahma  the creator
Vishnu  the preserver
Shiva  the destroyer

8. Hinduism (cont’d) Religious writings is the Upanishads
They tell that all living things have souls and all souls are part of one eternal spirit, the Brahman Nerguna
To experience true freedom a soul must be separated from the material world and united with the Brahman Nerguna

9. Hinduism Cycle of Rebirth
Reincarnation  rebirth of the soul
A soul passes through many lifetimes before it achieves union with the universal spirit
Karma  determines the cycle of rebirth
How a person lives their life will determine what form they take on in the next life; failure to fulfill your dharma means you might be reborn into a lower varna
To move towards universal spirit you must have good karma and fulfill your dharma

10. Hinduism Cycle of Rebirth (cont’d)
Ahimsa  practice that requires believers to protect humans, animals, plants, insects
Still important today
Cycle of rebirth continues until a person reaches spiritual perfection
Ultimate aim of life is moksha, or release from the pain and suffering of rebirth after rebirth

11. BUDDHISM

12. Buddhism Founded by Siddhartha Gautama A Kshatriya prince
Lived a sheltered life and one day was exposed to scenes of misery
Wandered for 7 yrs as a hermit to seek the truth through fasting and self-denial
Soon he began to share his insights with others and the meaning of his “enlightenment”
Began to be called Buddha or “Enlightened One”

13. Four Noble Truths 1: all people suffer and know sorrow
2: people suffer because their desires bind them to the cycle of rebirth
3: people could end their suffering by eliminating their desires
4: one cold eliminate desire by following the Eightfold Path

14. The Eightfold Path Urges his followers to do 8 things: Know the truth
Resist evil
Say nothing to hurt others
Respect life
Work for the good of others
Free their minds of evil
Control their thoughts
Practice meditation

15. The Eightfold Path (cont’d)
By following the path one could reach nirvana or a state of freedom from the cycle of rebirth
Buddha rejected the varna system
Said your place in life depended on the person, not their birth
Did not believe in caste system or Hindu deities

16. Spread of Buddhism Buddha spent 40 years teaching
After his death monks spread this belief to India, Asia (China, Japan, Korea)
Architecture honored Buddha through stupas or large stone mounds over the bones of Buddhist holy people
Theravada: close to original teachings (SE Asia, S Asia)
Mahayana: encouraged worship of Buddha as savior (China, Korea, Japan)

17. Mauryan Empire 322 BC Founder: Chandragupta
Asoka – after fierce wars of conquest, became “enlightened”
Renounced war
Followed Buddhist teachings
Buddhism official religion, but Hinduism tolerated
Spread Buddhism throughout India and other parts of Asia

18. Asoka’s Rock Edicts Laws carved on rocks and pillars throughout empire
Written in local languages
Laws stressed concern for other human beings

19. Gupta Empire 320AD-535AD: after Mauryan Empire
India’s “Golden Age” – arts & sciences flourished b/c low taxes
Began to write down rules for everything: grammar, drama, politics
Sanskrit of Gupta court became major language of north

20. Economy of Empires Agricultural (agrarian)
Coastal Rim – trade in cotton, gems, spice, gold, silk, cashmere