IndiaIndia 1500 BC—The 1500 BC—The AryansAryans moved into the Indus River moved into the Indus River

Valley Valley Nomadic herdersNomadic herders Mainly herded cattleMainly herded cattle

The Aryans quickly took the Indus River Valley and The Aryans quickly took the Indus River Valley and Ganges areasGanges areas Aryan tribal chief—Aryan tribal chief—rajahrajah Main economic resource—Main economic resource—cattlecattle

the more cows you owned, the wealthier you werethe more cows you owned, the wealthier you were Cattle “rustling” became an issue that led to war between the Cattle “rustling” became an issue that led to war between the

different tribesdifferent tribes

The Aryans began to settle in the Indus River The Aryans began to settle in the Indus River valley and started to farmvalley and started to farm Some grew cropsSome grew crops Others continued to herd cattle on the rich plains—Others continued to herd cattle on the rich plains—

provided meat, milk, and hides provided meat, milk, and hides

The Aryans eventually considered their herds The Aryans eventually considered their herds so important that they so important that they placed a ban on eating placed a ban on eating meatmeat

The people became strict vegetariansThe people became strict vegetarians They ate cucumbers, bananas, barley, etc.They ate cucumbers, bananas, barley, etc.

This “no meat” policy is a major principle in This “no meat” policy is a major principle in Hinduism todayHinduism today

Aryan Society and CultureAryan Society and Culture Men dominated Aryan societyMen dominated Aryan society Women had no authorityWomen had no authority

Women could remarry if their husband had diedWomen could remarry if their husband had died The Aryans spoke The Aryans spoke SanskritSanskrit, but had no , but had no

written language written language The warriors and herders used hymns to tell their The warriors and herders used hymns to tell their

historyhistory After settling, the Aryans developed a written After settling, the Aryans developed a written

language based on Sanskritlanguage based on Sanskrit

Once they had writing, the Aryan Priests collected the Once they had writing, the Aryan Priests collected the old poems, legends, and hymns into a volume of 4 old poems, legends, and hymns into a volume of 4 holy books—holy books—the the VedasVedas

The The VedasVedas became the basis for Aryan religion became the basis for Aryan religion The oldest of the 4 books is the The oldest of the 4 books is the Rig VedaRig Veda——

considered the oldest religious text still in useconsidered the oldest religious text still in use

Part of the Vedas

Aryan society was divided into 4 main social Aryan society was divided into 4 main social classes called the classes called the varnasvarnas:: 1.) Warriors (1.) Warriors (KshatriyasKshatriyas))

Most honored classMost honored class 2.) Priests (2.) Priests (BrahmanBrahman))

Studied the Studied the VedasVedas 3.) Merchants, artisans, farmers (3.) Merchants, artisans, farmers (VaisyasVaisyas)) 4.) Unskilled workers and servants (4.) Unskilled workers and servants (SudrasSudras))

The Aryans made the class system even more The Aryans made the class system even more rigid in 500 BCrigid in 500 BC

The The varnasvarnas were further divided into groups were further divided into groups called called jatijati JatiJati were based on people’s occupations were based on people’s occupations

ShoemakersShoemakers Potters Potters FarmersFarmers Metal workersMetal workers

JatiJati had their own rules for diet, marriage, and had their own rules for diet, marriage, and social customssocial customs

Different Different jatijati groups could not socialize with groups could not socialize with each othereach other

Once born into a Once born into a jatijati, one would remain in that , one would remain in that group for lifegroup for life

The system of The system of varnasvarnas and and jatijati evolved into the evolved into the caste systemcaste system in the caste system, you had to stay in the group in in the caste system, you had to stay in the group in

which you were born—your ranking in society could which you were born—your ranking in society could not changenot change

The lowest group in the cast system were the The lowest group in the cast system were the pariahspariahs (untouchables)—they lived outside the city walls(untouchables)—they lived outside the city walls

The Aryans wrote 2 The Aryans wrote 2 important epicsimportant epics

1.) 1.) MahabharataMahabharata Epic poem—100,000 Epic poem—100,000

versesverses Collection of writings Collection of writings

from different authorsfrom different authors Discusses Aryan religion Discusses Aryan religion

and philosophyand philosophy

2.) 2.) RamayanaRamayana 24,000 verses24,000 verses Tells of an ideal king—Tells of an ideal king—

Rama—and his faithful Rama—and his faithful wife—Sitawife—Sita

It is a story about good It is a story about good and eviland evil

Good prevails over evilGood prevails over evil

Aryan ReligionAryan Religion Aryans were polytheists—believed in lots of godsAryans were polytheists—believed in lots of gods

AgniAgni—god of fire—god of fire IndraIndra—god of thunder and war—god of thunder and war Usha—Usha—goddess of dawngoddess of dawn

The Aryans’ religion evolved into The Aryans’ religion evolved into HinduismHinduism Hinduism is based on the many beliefs found in the Hinduism is based on the many beliefs found in the VedasVedas

and the Indian Epicsand the Indian Epics

Many Aryans became tired of the ritual in the Many Aryans became tired of the ritual in the VedasVedas and began developing new religious and began developing new religious ideasideas

These new ideas were written in the These new ideas were written in the UpanishadsUpanishads UpanishadsUpanishads tell of a universal spirit in all living tell of a universal spirit in all living

thingsthings Hindus believed all animals had souls—they Hindus believed all animals had souls—they

banned the killing of any animalbanned the killing of any animal Hindus believe all souls are part of one eternal Hindus believe all souls are part of one eternal

spirit—spirit—BrahmanBrahman NergunaNerguna

The The UpanishadsUpanishads encouraged the Hindus encouraged the Hindus to fast and participate in to fast and participate in yoga (prayer)yoga (prayer)

Hindus believe in Hindus believe in reincarnationreincarnation—the —the soul is reborn after soul is reborn after deathdeath The soul may have The soul may have

many lifetimes before many lifetimes before its final joining with its final joining with Brahman NergunaBrahman Nerguna

The cycle of The cycle of reincarnation is reincarnation is determined by one’s determined by one’s karmakarma—how one lived —how one lived his/her life determines his/her life determines what the soul will be what the soul will be reborn intoreborn into

If one lived a just life, If one lived a just life, the soul may be reborn the soul may be reborn into a higher casteinto a higher caste

If one did not live a just If one did not live a just life, the soul may be life, the soul may be reborn into a snake or reborn into a snake or insectinsect

Hindus also practice Hindus also practice ahimsaahimsa—non-violence —non-violence toward all living toward all living creaturescreatures All living creatures are to be All living creatures are to be

protectedprotected Ultimate aim of all HindusUltimate aim of all Hindus

——mokshamoksha—the release —the release from all pain and sufferingfrom all pain and suffering One reaching One reaching mokshamoksha has has

ended the cycle of ended the cycle of reincarnation and has become reincarnation and has become one with one with Brahman NergunaBrahman Nerguna

To achieve To achieve mokshamoksha, one , one must participate in:”must participate in:” PrayerPrayer Religious ritualReligious ritual Strict self denialStrict self denial Reject all worldly Reject all worldly

possessionspossessions

►500 BC—religious life in India saw a 500 BC—religious life in India saw a changechange

►Hindus were becoming unhappy with Hindus were becoming unhappy with the rigid rituals of Hinduismthe rigid rituals of Hinduism

►The people wanted a more spiritual The people wanted a more spiritual faithfaith

►Many left their villages to search for Many left their villages to search for answers in the countrysideanswers in the countryside

Development of BuddhismDevelopment of Buddhism

IndiaIndia

►The founded of the Buddhist faith was The founded of the Buddhist faith was a a KshatriyasKshatriyas Prince— Prince—Siddharta Siddharta GautamaGautama

►566 BC—Gautama had a life changing 566 BC—Gautama had a life changing experience—his driver took him experience—his driver took him through the poor part of the citythrough the poor part of the city he saw, for the first time, pain, suffering, he saw, for the first time, pain, suffering,

and deathand death

►He vowed to find why people suffered He vowed to find why people suffered and a way to end people’s sufferingand a way to end people’s suffering

►He left his princely lifestyle, his wife, He left his princely lifestyle, his wife, and newborn child to wander the and newborn child to wander the countryside looking for answerscountryside looking for answers

►Gautama’s journey to search for Gautama’s journey to search for answers is called the answers is called the Great Great RenunciationRenunciation

►He spent 7 years on the Great He spent 7 years on the Great RenunciationRenunciation

►During the 7 years, he lived as a During the 7 years, he lived as a hermit and beggarhermit and beggar

►Legend says that the answers came to Legend says that the answers came to Gautama while he was meditating Gautama while he was meditating under a treeunder a tree

►He began preaching his ideas and He began preaching his ideas and gained lots of followers—his followers gained lots of followers—his followers called him called him BuddhaBuddha—the “enlightened —the “enlightened oneone

Gautama Meditating

►Buddha’s ideas were Buddha’s ideas were set down in the set down in the Four Four Noble Truths Noble Truths and the and the Eight Fold PathEight Fold Path

► Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths► 1.) All people suffer 1.) All people suffer

and know sorryand know sorry► 2.) People suffer 2.) People suffer

because their because their desires bind them to desires bind them to the cycle of the cycle of reincarnationreincarnation

► 3.) To end suffering, 3.) To end suffering, one must end desireone must end desire

► 4.) To end desire, 4.) To end desire, follow the Eight Fold follow the Eight Fold PathPath

► Eight Fold PathEight Fold Path► 1.) Know the Truth1.) Know the Truth► 2.) Resist Evil2.) Resist Evil► 3.) Say nothing to 3.) Say nothing to

hurt othershurt others► 4.) Respect Life4.) Respect Life► 5.) Work for the good 5.) Work for the good

of othersof others► 6.) Free minds from 6.) Free minds from

evilevil► 7.) Control your 7.) Control your

thoughtsthoughts► 8.) Practice 8.) Practice

meditationmeditation

► If one followed the Eight Fold Path and If one followed the Eight Fold Path and avoided extremes, one would reach avoided extremes, one would reach NirvanaNirvana—freedom from the cycle of —freedom from the cycle of reincarnationreincarnation

►Once reaching Nirvana, a person has Once reaching Nirvana, a person has become one with the universebecome one with the universe

►Buddhism does not believe in the Buddhism does not believe in the Hindu caste system—anyone can Hindu caste system—anyone can reach enlightenment regardless of reach enlightenment regardless of classclass

Path to Nirvana

►Buddha preached his ideas for 45 Buddha preached his ideas for 45 years, until his deathyears, until his death

►He gained lots of followers who He gained lots of followers who continued to preach after Buddha’s continued to preach after Buddha’s deathdeath

►Buddhist monks took the religion out Buddhist monks took the religion out of India into different parts of Asiaof India into different parts of Asia

ChinaChina MalaysiaMalaysia

KoreaKorea SiamSiam

JapanJapan IndonesiaIndonesia

►Buddhism’s spread into Asia has Buddhism’s spread into Asia has made the religion one of the most made the religion one of the most dominant in Asia todaydominant in Asia today

►As the religion spread, the followers As the religion spread, the followers began to differ over Buddha’s role, began to differ over Buddha’s role, causing 2 forms of Buddhism to causing 2 forms of Buddhism to developdevelop

2 Forms of Buddhism2 Forms of Buddhism

► 1.) 1.) TheravadaTheravada► Found in South AsiaFound in South Asia► Follow the original Follow the original

teachingsteachings► See Buddha as a See Buddha as a

teacherteacher

► 2.) 2.) MahayanaMahayana► Worships Buddha as Worships Buddha as

a savior and goda savior and god

Indian EmpiresIndian Empires

After 500 BC, strong kingdoms will After 500 BC, strong kingdoms will dominate South Asia and establish dominate South Asia and establish some very powerful empiressome very powerful empires– Mauryan EmpireMauryan Empire– Gupta EmpireGupta Empire

1.) 1.) Mauryan EmpireMauryan Empire 321 BC—Chandragupta Maurya overthrew 321 BC—Chandragupta Maurya overthrew

a powerful kingdom in India (the Magadha a powerful kingdom in India (the Magadha Kingdom) and created the Mauryan EmpireKingdom) and created the Mauryan Empire—located in Northern and Central India—located in Northern and Central India

His empire lasted until 184 BCHis empire lasted until 184 BC Maurya used his powerful military to Maurya used his powerful military to

maintain controlmaintain control He also used spies to watch over his He also used spies to watch over his

enemiesenemies

Mauryan EmpireMauryan Empire

Chandragupta Maurya’s grandson—Chandragupta Maurya’s grandson—AsokaAsoka—helped the Mauryan empire —helped the Mauryan empire to grow and helped spread Buddhism to grow and helped spread Buddhism throughout Asiathroughout Asia

268 BC—he became emperor268 BC—he became emperor He quickly expanded the empire by He quickly expanded the empire by

conquering neighboring kingdomsconquering neighboring kingdoms He controlled 2/3 of IndiaHe controlled 2/3 of India

Asoka

Asoka experienced a transformation Asoka experienced a transformation similar to Buddha’ssimilar to Buddha’s

Legend says Asoka had never been Legend says Asoka had never been to the battlefield after his army had to the battlefield after his army had taken an areataken an area– One day, he decided to visit after a One day, he decided to visit after a

battle and was horrified by what he saybattle and was horrified by what he say– He vowed never to rule by force againHe vowed never to rule by force again– He converted to Buddhism and became He converted to Buddhism and became

a man of peacea man of peace

Asoka created laws based on Asoka created laws based on Buddha’s teachingsBuddha’s teachings

His laws were known as the His laws were known as the Rock Rock EdictsEdicts

He built free hospitals for the peopleHe built free hospitals for the people He built veterinary clinics for animalsHe built veterinary clinics for animals He constructed roads in the empireHe constructed roads in the empire He sent out many missionaries to He sent out many missionaries to

spread the ideas of Buddhismspread the ideas of Buddhism

232 BC—Asoka died and the empire 232 BC—Asoka died and the empire slid into declineslid into decline

The new leaders heavily taxed the The new leaders heavily taxed the peoplepeople

184 BC—Mauryan Emperor was 184 BC—Mauryan Emperor was murderedmurdered

Northern India split into separate Northern India split into separate kingdomskingdoms

2.) Gupta Empire2.) Gupta Empire

500 years after the end of the 500 years after the end of the Mauryan Empire fell, another Mauryan Empire fell, another powerful empire emerged in India—powerful empire emerged in India—Gupta EmpireGupta Empire

AD 310—AD 310—Chandragupta Chandragupta II started started the Gupta Empirethe Gupta Empire

His empire ruled Northern Indian for His empire ruled Northern Indian for 200 years200 years

Gupta EmpireGupta Empire

Gupta Empire was HinduGupta Empire was Hindu Gupta leaders encouraged the Gupta leaders encouraged the

people to learn from the people to learn from the UpanishadsUpanishads The Gupta Dynasty has been called The Gupta Dynasty has been called

India’s Golden AgeIndia’s Golden Age– The arts and sciences flourishedThe arts and sciences flourished

Chandragupta II (375-415)Chandragupta II (375-415) Gupta Empire reached its height Gupta Empire reached its height

under Chandragupta IIunder Chandragupta II He reduced taxesHe reduced taxes Gave the people more freedomGave the people more freedom Education and learning became Education and learning became

importantimportant Developed a new number—the Developed a new number—the ZeroZero

((00)) Created new number symbols—Created new number symbols—1-91-9

((Arabic NumeralsArabic Numerals))

Gupta scientists understood the Gupta scientists understood the Earth was roundEarth was round

They had a vague knowledge of They had a vague knowledge of gravitygravity

Doctors could set broken bonesDoctors could set broken bones Doctors performed simple operations Doctors performed simple operations

with newly developed medical toolswith newly developed medical tools

AD 415—Chandragupta II died and AD 415—Chandragupta II died and empire began falling apartempire began falling apart

The government became weak and The government became weak and corruptcorrupt

Outsiders began invading the empireOutsiders began invading the empire Ad 600s—the empire had Ad 600s—the empire had

disappeareddisappeared Northern India was divided into small Northern India was divided into small

kingdomskingdoms