Ancient Civilizations India Geography Environment The Geography On

Ancient Civilizations: India

Geography & Environment

The Geography On which continent is India located? Asia; India is a subcontinent of Asia

The Geography Indian subcontinent: landmass that includes India, Pakistan, & Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, & Bhutan

The Geography World’s tallest mountain ranges separate it from the rest of Asia Mountains to the north & desert to the east help protect Indus Valley from invasion

The Geography On which river(s) did the ancient Indians settle? The Indus & Ganges Rivers which form flat, fertile plains

The Indus Valley Civilization

Earliest Arrivals About 7000 BC, evidence of agriculture & domesticated animals; by 3200 BC, people farming in villages along Indus River

Planned Cities By 2500 BC, people build cities of brick laid out on a grid system Indus valley called Harappan civilization after Harappa Mohenjo-Daro is another city on Indus

Planned Cities Engineers create plumbing & sewage systems Lanes separate rows of houses which featured bathrooms!

Thinking Question… What does the city planning and attention to plumbing and sewer systems tell us about this ancient culture?

Harappan Culture Language: Had writing system of 400 symbols, BUT scientists can’t decipher it

Harappan Culture Role of religion: priests closely linked to rulers some religious artifacts reveal links to modern Hindu culture Trade: had thriving trade with other peoples, including Mesopotamia

Harappan Decline Signs of decline begin around 1750 BC Earthquakes, floods, soil depletion may have caused decline Around 1500 BC, Aryans enter area & become dominant…

Clash of Cultures

The Clashing of Cultures About 1500 BC, Indo-European people called the Aryans migrated into the Indus Valley region

The Clashing of Cultures The Aryans: Were male dominated nomadic tribes Herded animals (cattle) Were warriors Had no written language

The Clashing of Cultures: From the clash of these two cultures came: Religious Writings Distinct Social Structure; the CASTE system Hinduism

Religious Writings The VEDAS: “Books of Knowledge” Songs & prayers of the Aryans – passed down through oral tradition

The Caste System

The Caste System Aryans were physically distinct from people of India (lighter skin, taller) 4 castes, or groups based on occupation, develop to separate Aryans & non-Aryans

Ca ste Sy ste m Brahmins: Priests Kshatriyas: Rulers & Warriors Vaishyas: Traders & Landowners, Merchants Sudras: Laborers & Servants Untouchables: Outcasts = outside caste system

Thinking Question: • What do these body parts indicate about each of the 4 major castes?

The Caste System People are born into their caste for life; hundreds of subgroups arise later Members of higher castes were considered more pure

The Caste System People outside the caste system: the Untouchables! Considered spiritually polluted; ignored by members of other castes

The Caste System If you were obedient to the restrictions of your caste, you would be reincarnated into a higher caste

Hinduism The Beginnings…

The Beginnings Hinduism: a collection of religious beliefs that developed slowly over time No one founder

The Beginnings 750 -500 BC Hindu teachers tried to interpret and explain meanings of Vedic hymns Create Upanishads texts of religious teachings

Hindu Gods

Hindu Gods Brahman: Supreme god and universal world soul

Hindu Gods Hindus believed that Brahman was too complex a concept for humans to understand Worshipped gods & goddesses who served as links to Brahman

s d o G u d Hin Brahma The Creator Brahman One Divine Essence Unity Vishnu The Preserver + millions of other gods Shiva The Destroyer

Hindu Beliefs

Major Hindu Beliefs Each person has atman – individual soul Goal in life is to unite atman (individual soul) with Brahman (world soul) How? . . .

Major Hindu Beliefs Reincarnation: The cycle of rebirth; people born to new lives Karma: Every action is punished or rewarded which determines course of new life

Major Hindu Beliefs Dharma: One’s moral duty in life; varies according to caste, gender, etc. How might this reinforce the caste system? ?

Major Hindu Beliefs Moksha: State of perfect understanding = freedom from rebirth Union with Brahman achieved Hindus choose own path to moksha

Impact of Hinduism spread throughout Indian subcontinent Jainism – New religion 500 s BC; will not harm any creature; practice religious tolerance

Early Indian Empires

The Mauryan Empire

Mauryan Empire Established in 322 BC by the great Indian military leader, Chandragupta Maurya

Mauryan Empire Politically unites North India for the first time ever Taxation supports huge army and creates highly effective gov’t

Asoka’s Reign In 269 BC Asoka, Chandragupta’s grandson, becomes emperor

Asoka’s Reign After many years of violent conquest, Asoka feels remorseful

Asoka’s Reign Converts to Buddhism & rules by Buddha’s teaching of “peace to all beings” Spreads Buddhism throughout India & other parts of Asia via missionaries; but tolerant of other religions

Asoka’s Reign Asoka’s Rock Edicts: Laws carved on rock pillars are placed throughout the empire Stress concern for other human beings

Asoka’s Reign Builds extensive road system with wells and shelters Makes travel and communication easier Asoka dies in 232 BC; Kingdoms soon break away

The Gupta Empire

Gupta Empire After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, India experiences 500 years of chaos Finally in AD 320 a strong leader known as Chandra Gupta (not related to 1 st emperor!) starts Gupta Empire

Gupta Empire nd During India’s 2 empire, there is a flowering of civilization, & rebirth of Hindu culture Chandra Gupta’s son expands empire with years of conquests

Gupta Empire Daily Life in the Gupta Empire: Majority of Indians are farmers; family raises crops together Farmers have to contribute work to gov’t and pay heavy taxes Families are patriarchal – headed by the eldest males

Gupta’s Golden Age • 320 AD to 535 AD: • India’s “Golden Age, ” or the flourishing of arts • & sciences

Gupta’s Golden Age Achievements Earth in Science: is round Identify 7 planets Invent medical instruments, perform operations, set bones, write medical guides

Gupta’s Golden Age Achievements in Mathematics: Principles of algebra Infinity & Zero Value of Pi Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3…

Indian Trade India has spices, diamonds, precious stones & good quality timber Trade routes called the silk roads connect Asia & Europe; Indians build trading posts in middle

Indian Trade Increased trade spreads Indian culture/religion to other places What do we call this concept? Cultural diffusion!