River Valley Civilizations India 3500 to 500 BC

River Valley Civilizations: India • 3500 to 500 BC The “Cradles of Civilization”

India: Indus Valley Civilization

Geography • Located on the Indus River in present-day Pakistan (Indian subcontinent).

Indus River Flood Plain

Natural Barriers • The Himalayan and the Hindu Kush Mountains as well as the Indian Ocean protected the Indian subcontinent from invasion.

Indus Valley Government • Made up of independent city-states including Harappa, and Mohenjo-Daro (and 2500 other sites)

Indus Valley Achievements • Plumbing The great bath at Mohenjo-Daro

Cotton Cloth • first to cultivate cotton and weave its fibers into cloth (textiles)

Writing • has not been deciphered

Indus Valley

Geography • Geographic barriers allowed Indian civilization to progress with few interruptions from invaders (Hindu Kush Mountains, Himalayan Mountains, Indian Ocean)

• The Indus and the Ganges were the most important rivers on the Indian subcontinent

Indo-Aryans • Nomadic herders who migrated through passes in the Hindu Kush Mountains

Khyber Pass • Aryan migration route

• Conquered advanced Indus River Valley cities (Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, etc. ) • Put native Indians on the bottom of the caste system

• Moved east and built kingdoms along the Ganges River.

Caste System • Rigid class system based on occupations (jobs) • People were born into their caste for life and could only move up in another life

Castes • Influenced all social interactions and choice of occupations • Job • Marriage • Dress

• Untouchables were considered impure and existed outside the caste system.

The Caste System

Part Two: Origins of Hinduism

Warm-up 1 1. The Hindu Kush mountains were located at A or B? 2. The river located directly below the mountains at A was the Indus or Ganges? 3. Indus Valley civilization was located in present-day Iraq or Pakistan? 4. The ocean located at C was the Pacific or Indian? A B C

Warm-up 2 1. The arrows on the map show the invasion routes of the Aryans or Gupta? 2. The diagram shows the Aryan Caste System or the Aryan government. 3. According to Hinduism there are many forms of one god or no gods. 4. The knowledge that all thoughts and actions result in future consequences is called Dharma or Karma? 5. The Hindu belief in rebirth of the soul is called Sudra or Reincarnation? 6. The two holy books of Hinduism are the Vedas and Upanishads or the Torah and Quran?

Warm-up 3 1. The area in pink on the map show the place where Hinduism or Buddhism began? 2. The founder of Buddhism is Siddhartha Gautama or Asoka? 3. Which religion believes in many forms of one god Hinduism or Buddhism ? 4. “Life is full of suffering. ” This is one of the Four Noble Truths or Eightfold Path? 5. In order to reach enlightenment a Buddhist must follow the Way of Karma of the Eightfold Path? 6. Which emperor spread Buddhism to from India to China Chandragupta or Asoka?

Warm-up 4 1. The golden age of India occurred under which civilization? D 2. This was the first civilization to arise in India. A 3. This civilization created the caste system. B 4. Contributions of this civilization include the spread of Buddhism, free hospitals, vet clinics, and good roads. C 5. The number system pictured was created under the rule of this empire. D A B C D

Hinduism • Many forms of one God (Brahman) • Reincarnation • Caste system • Karma • Vedas and Upanishads Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva

Brahman • Many forms of one major God. • The unifying soul in all things.

Karma • Idea that all thoughts and actions result in future consequences • Influences caste, health, wealth, etc. in this life and the next • What goes around, comes around

Reincarnation • Cycles of rebirth based on karma • A spirit is born again and again until moksha (perfect understanding) is achieved

Vedas • Vast collection of ancient Aryan prayers, magical spells and instructions for performing rituals • passed on orally for 1000 + years

Upanishads • Dialogues between student and teacher • Explains such concepts as Brahman, karma and reincarnation

Spread of Hinduism • Hinduism spread along trade routes from India to Southeast Asia

Hinduism

Part Three: Origins of Buddhism

Origins of Buddhism • Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in the part of India that borders presentday Nepal.

Siddhartha Guatama • Buddha : ” The Enlightened One” • Enlightenment: wisdom; a state of perfect understanding

Beliefs of Buddhism • Rejects the Hindu caste system, but keeps the concepts of karma and reincarnation • Four Noble Truths • Eightfold Path

Four Noble Truths • Life is full of suffering • The cause of suffering is desire • The way to end suffering is to end desire • To end desire, one must follow the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path • The Middle Way between desires and self-denial • right intentions, right concentration, right view, right speech, right effort, right action, right livelihood, right mindfulness

• By following the path one can reach Nirvana (release from selfishness and pain)

Buddhism: The Middle Way

Spread of Buddhism • Mahayana Buddhism spread to China, Korea, and Japan • Theravada spread to SE Asia and Sri Lanka

Religions of East Asia • Colored areas represent predominant religions today • Buddhist ideals eventually became absorbed into the Hindu religion in India

Part Four: India Empires

Mauryan Empire: Asoka • Asoka and other Mauryan emperors unified much of India

• After uniting most of India by force, Asoka became weary of war, converted to Buddhism, and renounced violence.

Asoka’s Contributions • Asoka’s missionaries and their writings spread Buddhism throughout India and to China and other parts of Asia

• Free hospitals • Veterinary clinics • Good roads

Asoka’s Elephant Warriors

India’s Faithful

Gupta Empire • Golden age of classical Indian culture

Golden Age • a period of peace and prosperity and a flourishing of arts, literature and learning

Gupta Dynasty Contributions • Mathematics - number system that provided the basis for modern numerals (Arabic numerals) - included zero - base 10 - place value and decimals