Ancient IndiaAncient India& China& China

India’s GeographyIndia’s Geography

Located along the Located along the southern edge of Asiasouthern edge of Asia

Highest Mountains in Highest Mountains in the world located here the world located here (Himalaya)(Himalaya)

Ganges River most Ganges River most important to early important to early civilizationscivilizations

Monsoons important Monsoons important for rainfall factorfor rainfall factor

India’s Early CivilizationsIndia’s Early Civilizations

Early civilizations Early civilizations developed in the developed in the Indus River Valley Indus River Valley around 3000 B.C.around 3000 B.C.

Thousands of Thousands of settlements found in settlements found in the region including the region including the Harappa and the Harappa and Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro

Harappo and Mohenjo-Harappo and Mohenjo-DaroDaro

Advanced civilization Advanced civilization with cities as large as with cities as large as 35,00035,000

Carefully planned with Carefully planned with grids of streets and grids of streets and walled neighborhoodswalled neighborhoods

Public wells, Public wells, bathroom, and bathroom, and advanced drainage advanced drainage systemsystem

Harappo and Mohenjo-Harappo and Mohenjo-DaroDaro

Religion and political Religion and political power linked closelypower linked closely

Economy based on Economy based on agriculture including agriculture including wheat, barley, and wheat, barley, and peaspeas

Traded extensively Traded extensively with Mesopotamiawith Mesopotamia

AryansAryans A nomadic Indo-A nomadic Indo-

European people European people that excelled at war. that excelled at war.

Move from Asia to Move from Asia to India and give up India and give up lives of war for lives of war for farmingfarming

Develop written Develop written language of Sanskrit language of Sanskrit for religious rituals, for religious rituals, legends, and chants.legends, and chants.

Caste SystemCaste System Caste system-Caste system- social order social order

of India; very strict brought of India; very strict brought by Aryansby Aryans

Set social hierarchy that has Set social hierarchy that has specific rules for each stage specific rules for each stage

Individuals can only work Individuals can only work jobs suitable for that caste jobs suitable for that caste only marry within classonly marry within class

May be reborn into a higher May be reborn into a higher caste, but never move in caste, but never move in one lifetimeone lifetime

The Five Major ClassesThe Five Major Classes

1. Brahmins (priests and scholars)1. Brahmins (priests and scholars) 2. Kshatriyas (rulers, warriors)2. Kshatriyas (rulers, warriors) 3. Vaisyas (merchants, traders, 3. Vaisyas (merchants, traders,

farmers)farmers) 4. Sudras (peasants)4. Sudras (peasants) 5. Pariahs (“Untouchables” – perform 5. Pariahs (“Untouchables” – perform

unpleasant tasks)unpleasant tasks)

Twice Born- nothing to do with reincarnation, but rather a ritual ceremony similar to a Bar Mitzvah or Christian Confirmation – a coming of age ceremony!

Interesting FactInteresting Fact

Each Each varnavarna must observe must observe certain rules of purity. certain rules of purity. The Brahmins are The Brahmins are considered so pure that considered so pure that they may never eat food they may never eat food prepared by anyone but prepared by anyone but another Brahmin. This another Brahmin. This means that Brahmins means that Brahmins cannot go to a restaurant cannot go to a restaurant where the staff are not where the staff are not also Brahmins. also Brahmins.

No food for you, non-Brahmins!

Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita

This is the last 18 This is the last 18 chapters of the chapters of the MahabharataMahabharata; ; stresses that the stresses that the greatest way to greatest way to fulfillment is to act fulfillment is to act according to social according to social statusstatus

Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita is the is the story of Krishna, a human story of Krishna, a human form of the god Vishnu, form of the god Vishnu, that teaches devotion to that teaches devotion to Vishnu will lead to Vishnu will lead to salvation in the afterlifesalvation in the afterlife

HinduismHinduism

Based on the interpretations of sacred Based on the interpretations of sacred texts – the texts – the VedasVedas

Teaches that everything in the world has Teaches that everything in the world has BrahmaBrahma

Brahma-Brahma- refers to Indian God refers to Indian God Atman- Atman- the essence of an individualthe essence of an individual Monism-Monism- Hindu belief that Brahma and Hindu belief that Brahma and

Atman are oneAtman are one

ReincarnationReincarnation Reincarnation-Reincarnation-rebirth of the soul on path rebirth of the soul on path

to total salvationto total salvation Dharma-Dharma- fulfillment of one’s duty to help fulfillment of one’s duty to help

the soul be reborn to a higher castethe soul be reborn to a higher caste Karma- Karma- positive or negative force positive or negative force

generated by a person’s actions- this generated by a person’s actions- this determines next caste leveldetermines next caste level

Equation- Equation- Do Dharma=good Do Dharma=good Karma=higher social status in next lifeKarma=higher social status in next life

Reincarnation, cont.Reincarnation, cont. Ultimate goal is to Ultimate goal is to

complete rebirth complete rebirth cycle and unite with cycle and unite with BrahmaBrahma

Chief God = BrahmaChief God = Brahma There are other gods There are other gods

that that representrepresent Him, Him, but according to but according to Hindus, they are Hindus, they are monotheistic, not monotheistic, not polytheistic polytheistic

Most important Most important animal to Hindus is animal to Hindus is the cow; this is why the cow; this is why many Hindus do many Hindus do not eat beefnot eat beef

BuddhismBuddhism

Siddhartha Gautama (aka Buddha)- Siddhartha Gautama (aka Buddha)- wealthy wealthy son of a prince who wanted to discover son of a prince who wanted to discover truth and enlightenmenttruth and enlightenment

His two main questions: His two main questions:

(1) Why does suffering exist/(1) Why does suffering exist/

(2) What is the value of life and death?(2) What is the value of life and death? Went out to search for truth for six years! Went out to search for truth for six years!

Became known as “The Enlightened One”Became known as “The Enlightened One”

Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths

Four noble truths-Four noble truths-basic beliefs of basic beliefs of BuddhismBuddhism

(1)(1) All human life All human life involves suffering involves suffering and sorrowand sorrow

(2)(2) Desiring only Desiring only pleasure and pleasure and material goods material goods leads to suffering leads to suffering and sorrowand sorrow

(3)(3) Giving up desires Giving up desires and material goods and material goods help achieve nirvanahelp achieve nirvana

Nirvana- Nirvana- perfect perfect peace; soul released peace; soul released from reincarnationfrom reincarnation

(4) (4) Eightfold path leads Eightfold path leads to denial of desire to denial of desire and achievement of and achievement of nirvananirvana