Ancient India Chapter 9 Geography Geography Geography of

Ancient India Chapter 9

Geography

Geography

Geography of India • Subcontinent • Separated from Asia by mountain ranges • Himalayas (Mt. Everest) • River Valleys • Indus River • Ganges River • Deccan Plateau

Indus Valley Civilization • Mohenjo Daro & Harappa • Large cities • Designed almost identical • Paved streets, fortress for protection • Brick homes, water supply, indoor bathrooms, sewer systems

Aryan Migrations and Settlements • Cities were abandoned • Drought; crops die, people starve • Earthquakes, floods • Aryans arrive • Nomadic; searched for pastures and water for their cattle • Raiders • Mixed with existing Indus Valley people and created new culture

Religions of Ancient India

Aryans (cont. ) • Aryans adapted Indian way of life Became farmers Made iron tools Built irrigation systems Lived in tribal groups • Raja – leader of the tribe • Sanskrit developed • Allowed for records of sales, trades, and land ownership • Created hymns, stories, poems and prayers; later collected into sacred texts, Vedas • •

The Caste System of Ancient India • Varnas: Four social classes of India • People were members of the varnas they were born into. • Varnas had thousands of subsets called jati. • These had strict rules about occupation, diet, marriage and even social customs • Untouchables: were not considered part of society • Performed jobs considered unholy or beneath others.

Caste System (cont. ) • Family is center of life • Extended family lived together • Oldest male was head of household • Men had more rights than women • Boys taught by gurus • Men could only marry after 12 years of education • Marriages arranged by parents

Origins of Hinduism • 3 rd largest religion in the world • Belief System • One Universal Spirit, Brahman • Studied texts called Upanishads • Described search for Brahman • Every living thing has part of soul that is part of Brahman • Difficulties understanding • Reincarnation • Karma: status in life is not accidental • Dharma: personal duty

Rise of Buddhism • Siddhartha Gautama • • Born as a prince Never witnessed poverty Gave up everything to find meaning of life Teachings of Buddhism • • Four Noble Truths Eightfold Path Goal was to reach nirvana Reincarnation

Rise of Buddhism 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 Eightfold Path 1. Know and understand the Four Noble Truths 2. Give up worldly things and do not harm others 3. Tell the truth, do not gossip, and do not speak badly of others 4. Do not commit evil acts 5. Do rewarding work 6. Work for good and oppose evil 7. Make sure your mind keeps your sense under control 8. Practice meditation to see the world in a New way

Buddhism • Theravada Buddhism • Believed Buddha was great teacher, but not a god • Mahayana Buddhism • Teaches Buddha is a god • Believe Eightfold Path is too difficult • Will probably go to Heaven; can follow Eightfold Path there • Dalai Lama is considered a reincarnation of the Buddha

Jainism • Unknown origins • Followed many of the same teachings as Buddhism • Practice strict poverty