1. Chapter 9 Lesson 2: Religions of Ancient India Bell Ringer Indian society was divided into four major castes. Which one was the largest? Which was the smallest? Why do you think unskilled workers and servants were grouped in the Sudra caste?

2. Guiding Questions What are the basic beliefs of Hinduism
Guiding Questions What are the basic beliefs of Hinduism? How did Hinduism develop?
Origins of Hinduism
One of the oldest religions in the world
Developed from Aryan faith
Key ideas mixed with other Indian people and became Hinduism

3. What is Hinduism?
Major belief is that there is one universal spirit called Brahman
Ancient texts called Upanishads describe the search for Brahman
Say every living thing has a soul
At death, the soul leaves the body and joins Brahman
Believed in many different gods
Gods were like people
Built temples/statues in their honor
3 most important gods
Brahma the Creator
Vishnu the Preserver
Shiva the Destroyer

4. What is Hinduism? (continued)
Belief in reincarnation – the rebirth of the soul
Souls pass through many lives
Belief in karma
People’s status in life is based on what they’ve done in past lives
What you do in this life will decide how you are reborn
Inspired people to lead good lives
Follow dharma
Your personal duty depending on your place in society
Example: farmers have different duties than a priest

5. Guiding Question Why did Buddhism appeal to many people in various parts of Asia?
Rise of Buddhism
500s BC – some Indians look for a more simpler religion than Hinduism
Trained their minds to focus and think positively, called meditation
Siddhartha Guatama was a religious teacher who became known as the Buddha
Founded a new religion called Buddhism

6. The Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama
Buddhism is one of today’s largest religions
Most followers are in Southeast Asia and East Asia
Very little in India, where it was created
Buddha’s Childhood
Born around 563 BC
Grew up as a prince
Buddha as a young man
Left the palace to explore ordinary life
Learned the world was full of suffering
Gave up everything he had to teach his beliefs

7. What did the Buddha teach?
The Four Noble Truths
1. Life is full of suffering.
2. People suffer because they desire worldly things
and want to satisfy themselves.
3. The way to end suffering is to stop desiring things.
4. The only way to stop desiring things is to follow the Eightfold Path.

8. The Eightfold Path What did the Buddha Teach? (continued)
Know and understand the Four Noble Truths.
Give up worldly things and do not harm others.
Tell the truth, do not gossip, and do not speak badly of others.
Do not commit evil acts.
Do rewarding work.
Work for good and oppose evil.
Make sure your mind keeps your senses under control.
Practice meditation to see the world in a new way.

9. What did the Buddha Teach? (continued)
When people follow these rules, they reach nirvana – a state of perfect happiness and peace
Many people followed his teachings because they disliked the caste system
The Buddha taught for 40 years
Buddhists divided into two groups after his death:
Theravada believe Buddha is a teacher, not a god
Mahayana believe Buddha is a god

10. Guiding Question What are the teachings of Jainism?
500 BC – Jainism develops alongside Hinduism and Buddhism
Has 6 million followers today, mostly in India
Exact origins are unknown
Mahavira
Was a religious leader who developed the current form of Jainism
Gave up his royal wealth after his parents died, owned nothing.
Also taught that to reach peace, you must stop desiring worldly things
Ahimsa – the practice of nonviolence toward all living things

11. Lesson 3: The Mauryan Empire
Chapter 9
Lesson 3: The Mauryan Empire
Bell Ringer
How did the Buddha say people should live?

12. Guiding Question How did religion affect the development of the Mauryan Empire?
Origin of the Mauryan Empire
500 BC – India was divided into many small kingdoms
Conflict weakened these kingdoms
They were open to foreign invaders
Persians conquer the Indus Valley
325 BC – Alexander the Great attempts to conquer India
He leaves because his soldiers are homesick and want to rebel

13. India’s first Empire
Chandra Gupta Maurya, a military officer, builds a strong army
321 BC – he conquers northern India to unify the region
He knew only a powerful empire could protect India
He establishes a well-run government in the capital city of Pataliputra
Efficient postal system improved communications throughout the empire
His powerful army crushes any resistance
Used spies to report any disloyalty
He was very afraid of being assassinated
Had servants taste his food, never slept in the same bed twice

14. Ashoka’s Accomplishments
The Mauryan empire was most successful under Chandra Gupta’s grandson Ashoka
He ruled over northern/central India from 273 BC – 232 BC
At first, he fought many fierce wars of conquest
He later came to hate killing
Began following Buddhist teachings of peace
Spent the rest of his life improving the lives of his people
Encouraged good deeds and non-violence
Spread the teachings of Buddha throughout his empire
Built many stupas for people to worship
Was tolerant of all religions

15. The End of the Mauryan Empire
232 BC – Ashoka dies, the empire declines
The kings who followed were not successful
They taxed their people heavily
They took lands from the peasants
The Indian people rebel
183 BC – the last Mauryan king is killed by one of his generals
The empire splits into small, warring kingdoms

16. Guiding Question Why did the Gupta Empire become powerful?
320 AD – India’s small kingdoms have been warring for 500 years
Chandra Gupta I comes to power in the Ganges River valley
Pataliputra now becomes the capital of the new Gupta Empire
Chandra Gupta I rules for 10 years
He chooses his son, Samudra, to rule after him
Samudra expands the empire into northern India
He was a great military leader

17. Religion The Gupta Empire (continued)
Gupta rulers and most of their people followed Hinduism
Money was given to Hindu scholars and build temples
Trade
Trade with China and in the Mediterranean/Southeast Asia made India very wealthy
Salt, cloth, and iron were common goods that were traded
They owned silver and gold mines and large estates
Pilgrims used trade routes to visit religious sites
These cities grew wealthy from their visits

18. Guiding Question What were the cultural contributions of the Mauryan and Gupta Empires?
Literature of India
Vedas and epics taught people correct behavior through interesting stories
The Mahabharata was an ancient Indian epic
Longest poem ever written, 90,000 verses
Describes a struggle for control of India in 1100 BC
The stories and heroes in this epic has influenced many Indians then and now

19. Arts and Architecture Mathematics
Ancient Hindus believed music was a gift from the gods
Many sacred texts were sung rather than read
They held annual festivals where people danced, sang, and played music
Most of the art was created on paper, so it has not survived this long
Most of what’s left today are religious sculptures carved in stone
The most important buildings were royal palaces and temples
Mathematics
Aryabhata was one of the first people to use algebra
Indians explained the idea of infinity
Invented “0” and connected it with the idea of nothing
Computers would not be possible without this concept
Created the symbols we use for 1-9

20. Advances in Science Advances in Medicine
Indians made important discoveries in astronomy and technology
They mapped the movements of planets and stars
Proposed the theory that the Earth was round and revolved around the sun
Were very skilled in metalwork
Created the pillar of iron in Dehli around 400 BC, it still stands today
Advances in Medicine
Indian doctors began practicing dentistry 1600 years ago
Used a bow drill (used to make fire) to drill teeth
They could set broken bones, sew wounds, and perform complicated surgeries
Herbal medicines were used to cure diseases and illnesses

21. Guiding Question Activity
Choose two of the following guiding questions to answer.
Answers should be written in 5 sentence paragraphs using specific examples from the text.
How did religion affect the development of the Mauryan Empire?
Why did the Gupta Empire become powerful?
What were the cultural contributions of the Mauryan Empire?