Ancient Indian Civilizations 2500 B.C. – A.D. 550
Dec 25, 2015
Indus River Valley Civilization
Objectives: Examine the role geography and climate
played in the settlement of the Indian subcontinent.
Investigate how people in the Indus River Valley civilization lived.
Geography
Indian Subcontinent Extends
southward from central Asia to Indian Ocean
Himalayas Mountains Slowed entry to
India Separates India
from Asia Khyber Pass
Permitted travel to India
Geography
Indus & Ganges Rivers Drained into the
Indo-Gangetic Plain
Deccan Plateau with mild
summer
Mount Everest"Head of the World"
Peak at 29,029 ft above sea level International border between China and Nepal runs
across the precise summit point
Climate Southwest Monsoon
provides much of the rain fall in India
Timing of Monsoon Late=crops fail Too Much rain=floods
countryside Temperatures
Along Coast and Deccan=mild summer
Indo Gangetic Plain=up to 120°
Early Civilizations2500 B.C – 1500 B.C.
Ancient Cities of Harappa and Mahenjo Daro Large and well planned Water system with public bath and brick sewers Strong central fortress citadel, built on a brick platform
Farming Grew cotton, wheat,
barley, and rice Produced cotton cloth,
pottery, bronze, gold and silver items
Harappans Religion
Believed to Worshiped a mother goddess of fertility
Used bulls, buffalo, and tigers in religious rituals
Held ceremonies in home or around sacred trees
What happen to the Harappans?????
Several unburied skeletons found at Mahenjo Daro
Violence? Earthquakes? Floods?
Indo-Aryan Migrates
Objectives Explain how live in northern India
changed with the coming of the Indo-Aryans
Identify the major contributions of the Indo-Aryans to the ancient Indian society
Nomadic Indo-Aryans
Came from North of the Black & Caspian Sea
Sheep & cattle herders and Skilled Warriors
Vedas- great works of religious literature
Sanskrit- Indo-Aryan language Vedic Age- 1500 B.C. to 1000 B.C
Indo- Aryan Religion Earliest Gods drawn from Nature
Earth, Fire, light, Rain, Sky, Storms, Sun, and Water Sky became the Father Earth became the mother
Vedic Gods Particular characteristics Example…”Varuna” was guardian of cosmic order
Brahmins Special priest that knew the proper forms and rules
for religious ceremonies
Indo Aryan Society
Settlements joined to form small independent states Governed by Raja Raja acted as military leader, judge, and
lawmaker Complex Social Orders Warriors and Priest were top of the social structure High value on marriage
Rules limited marriage among social orders Arranged marriages
Emphasized the value of sacrifices
Indo-Aryan Society Religious values changed as social classes
became rigid and identified with ritual purity Migrates impacted Northern India the most
Brought new social order and language (Sanskrit) Economy
Raised wheat and barley on the plains of the Indus and Ganges Rivers
Southern India Protected from invasion by mountains Terrain prevented unification
Hinduism and Buddhism
Objectives: Describe the
importance of religion in ancient Indian society
Identify the principle elements of Hinduism
Identify the basic beliefs of Buddhism
Upanishads and the Epics
Upanishads are written explanations of the Vedic religion
Epics- long poems based on historical or religious themes
Mahabharata and the Ramayana
Explained the idea of Vedanta
Changing Society
Caste System- complex form of social organization
Varnas – Indian society social classes 1st- Rulers and Warriors 2nd- Brahmins 3rd- Merchants, traders, and farmers 4th- Peasants who worked in fields 5th- Pariahs or untouchables
Pariahs ,”untouchables”, were viewed as being outside of the Varnas
Divided into 4 smaller groups called Jati
Hinduism
Developed through priests explanations of Vedas Devine essence of Brahman fills
everything in the world Monism is the belief that God and
creation are the same Hinduism Beliefs
Maya- world was an illusion If they accept maya, they cannot be saved
Reincarnation- rebirth of the souls
Hinduism Beliefs
Two Principles Dharma- do one’s moral duty where soul can
advance to next life Karma- good or bad force created by actions
Nirvana- perfect peace reincarnation is complete and the individual soul
units with Brahman Hindu God Brahma is represented as a
number of Gods
Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama
Founder of Buddhism
Known as Buddha or
“The Enlightened One”
Vowed to discover the
reason for human suffering
Became known as Buddha
at the age of 35
Buddha’s Teachings
Stressed the importance of selflessness
Any person can reach nirvana
All people practice honest conduct, non violence, and
poverty
Two Branches of Buddhism
Theravada- believed Buddha was a great teacher and
spiritual leader
Mahayana- regarded Buddha as a god and savior
Buddha’s Teachings
The Four Noble Truths
All human life involves suffering and sorrow
The desire for a life of pleasure and material gain
causes suffering and sorrow
Renouncing desire frees people from suffering and
helps their souls attain nirvana
The Eightfold Path leads to renunciation, or denial of
desire and attainment of nirvana
Buddha’s Teachings
The Eightfold Path
Right Views- seeing life as it really is
Right Intentions- living a life of good will
Right Speech- avoid lies and gossip
Right Action- trying to be law abiding and honest
Right Living- avoid work that harms others
Right Effort- Seeking to prevent evil
Right Mindfulness- constant awareness of one’s self
Right Concentration- Directing the mind in meditation
Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires
Chandragupta Maurya Established the Mauryan Empire Established a rigid bureaucracy
to carry out demands United Northern India from Ganges
River to west of the Indus Standardized weights and
measurements Established standards for
physicians
Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires
Asoka Enlarged the Mauryan Empire
until it included all of India, expect the southern tip
Became sick of the killings and became a Buddhist
Many Indian people became Buddhist during this time
Worked to improve the living conditions in India
Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires
Gupta Rulers Empire reached from Bay of Bengal
to Arabian Sea Hinduism was the dominant religion
but also supported Buddhism Early years referred as “the golden
years” Later years, empire weakened
because of to much power to local leaders
Ancient Indian Life and Culture
Objectives Describe how women's rights
were limited in ancient Indian society
Identify the most important achievements of the Gupta Period
Economy and Society Peasants gave portions of their crops for
taxes Relied on international trade Hindu Laws of Manu
Girls required to obey their Fathers or Husbands
Prohibited from owning property and studying Vedas
Men allowed to practice polygyny Women practiced Suttee
Required in upper castes
Cultural Achievements
Drama The Panchatantra – fables that taught
adaptability, shrewdness, and determination Jataka Tales – Indian dramas during the Gupta
Period Art and Architecture
Cave Paintings, Sculpture, and temples Temples grew with Hinduism Stupa was a dome-shaped shrine
Held artifacts associated with Buddha
Cultural Achievements
Children of higher caste received formal education Lower caste learned crafts or trades
Mathematics and Astronomy Understood concept of zero and infinity, abstract
numbers, and negative numbers Arybhata- 1st known to use algebra and solve
quadratic formulas Identified 7 planets, rotation of earth, and predicted
eclipse Medicine
Procedures included bone setting, plastic surgery, and inoculation