Ancient Indian Civilizations

2500 B.C. – 500 A.D.

Indus River Valley Civilizations

Geography• Surrounded by Ocean on three sides

• The Himalayan Mountains provide protection from the north

• Indus and Ganges Rivers lie south of the northern mountains

• The Deccan Plateau makes up most of the country

• Early inhabitants were sea traders

Indus River Valley Civilizations

Climate– Monsoons & high temperatures– Monsoons are winds that signal a change in

seasons• November – March = little rain

• Mid June – October = wet season

Indus River Valley Civilizations

Early Civilizations– 1st great civ. was from 2500 BC – 1500 BC– Two main cities were Mohenjo Daro &

Harappa– Large– Water system– Public Bath– Sewer– Strong central fortress – Citadel– Store houses for grain

Indus River Civilizations

– Farmlands surrounded the cities• Also raised cattle

– City dwellers were involved making or trading goods

– Believed in a great god, symbolized through animals and nature

– Disappeared due to a natural disaster• Great flood or earthquake

Indus River Valley Civilizations

Indo – Aryan Migrants

Nomadic Indo – Aryans • Sheep and cattle herders

• Skilled warriors

• Most of what we know came from the Vedas– Vedas are ancient religious records and stories

– Told from generation to generation

– Written in Sanskrit by scholars

Indo – Aryan Migrants

Indo – Aryan Religion– Early gods were based on elements of nature,

such as:• Earth

• Fire

• Water

Shiva – the destroyer

Indo – Aryan Migrants

– Brahmans were the ancient priests– As time went on ceremonies became more

complicated

Indo – Aryan Migrants

Early Indo-Aryan Society– Built civilizations at the end of the Neolithic

Age– Governed by a raja– These people had lighter skin– Developed a social structure with priests and

warriors at the top– Arranged marriages were common

Indo – Aryan Migrants

Indo – Aryan Economy– Grew

• Wheat

• Barley

• Rice

• Sugar cane

• Vegetables

– Language was an early form of Sanskrit

Indo – Aryan Migrants

Southern India– Protected from invasions by mountains– Some hunted, gathered, fished, or farmed– Some traded, which made them wealthy and

led to cultural diffusion

Hinduism and Buddhism

Upanishads and the Epics– Some began to question the authority of the

Brahmans• Collection of writings was called the Upanishads• Eventually combined into two epics (poems)

– Mahabharata and Ramayana

Hinduism and BuddhismCaste System Developed

• Complex form of social hierarchy• Five varnas (classes)

Hinduism and Buddhism

Hinduism– Believed in Monism- the unity of God and Creation– Hindu Beliefs

• The world we see is an illusion or maya• It can take many lifetimes to reject maya• Believe in reincarnation• Dharma is the duty of people to be good• Karma is the force created by good and bad actions• Nirvana is when the soul reaches peace and connects with

Brahma• Polytheistic

Hinduism and Buddhism

Hindu Religious Practices– Yoga– See many animals as sacred, especially cows

Hinduism and Buddhism

Buddhism– Founded by Siddhartha Gautama

• Wealthy Hindu prince who sought the meaning of life• Became known as Buddha – Enlightened One

Buddha’s Teachings– Accepted some Hindu ideas– Taught Four Noble truths and the eight-fold path– Denied the importance of the Hindu caste system

• Very appealing to the poor and untouchables

Hinduism and Buddhism

The Four Noble Truths– 1. Life means suffering.– 2. The origin of suffering

is attachment.– 3. It is possible to end su

ffering.– 4. The Eightfold Path lea

ds to the end of suffering.

Padma - Symbol of Purity. Can be of any color except blue.

Hinduism and Buddhism

8 Fold Path– Right Views

– Right Intentions

– Right Speech

– Right Action

– Right Living

– Right Effort

– Right Mindfulness

– Right Concentration

The wheel of the law. The eight spokes represent the eightfold path.

Hinduism and Buddhism

Spread of Buddhism– Buddha himself only

had a few followers

– Split into two sects• Theravada (Southeast

Asia) – Buddha was great

teacher and leader

• Mahayana (East Asia) – Buddha was God

and Savior

Ancient Indian Dynasties and EmpiresMauryan Dynasty

– King Bimbisara of Magadha began to unify India• Helped to fight off invaders from Persia

– Chandragupta Maurya• Started Mauryan Dynasty• Controlled most of India• Developed mining and weaving towns• Standardized weights throughout kingdom• Established physician qualifications• He slept in a different room each night, fearful of

assassination attempts

Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires

Mauryan Dynasty– Asoka

• Grandson of Chandragupta Maurya

• Extended control of empire to all of India except southern tip

• Spread Buddhism with missionaries

• Revised laws

• Advanced India culturally and politically

• After his death the empire would slowly decline

Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires

The Gupta Rulers– New dynasty lead to rise of Hinduism and

decline of Buddhism– Gupta family came to power– Expanded territory

• Conquest• Intermarriage

– Society prospered under their rule– Gave more power to local leaders

Ancient Indian Life and Culture

Economy and Society– Most economy came through trade– Sold:

• Wool, Cotton, Spices, Silk, Precious gems, Ivory

– Women did not have the same rights as men• Obey fathers• Obey husbands• If husband died, obey sons

– Sometimes they would throw themselves on the burning funeral pyre of their husbands

• Called Suttee

– Polygamy was practiced

Ancient Indian Life and Culture

Cultural Achievements– Art and Architecture

• Early Buddhist art show Greek and Roman influence

• Growth of Hinduism brought about growth of temples

– Education• Very advanced

• University of Nalanda – center of higher learning during Gupta era

• First people to use algebra and solve quadratic equations

• Also came up with concept of innoculation– Infecting a person with disease to build up immune system