1. How would the geography of the Indian subcontinent both help and hinder India s development?

1. How would the geography of the Indian subcontinent both help and hinder India s development?

Ancient & Classical India

1900BCE marked as the beginning of Indian history Geography subcontinent It is essentially cut off from mainland Asia by Himalyas

Has 2 major rivers 1. Indus River located in present-day Pakistan heart of ancient Indian civ 2. Ganges River runs west-east along northern India into Bangladesh sacred river for Hindus

Accessible in the northwest by two large valleys through Hindu Kush Kyber Pass Bolan Pass Connect Modern Afghanistan into modern Pakistan Click Me

Affected by monsoons Seasonal wind Brings rain in summer months Good for crops, bad for people Dry air in winter months

Difficult to politically unify India due to regional and, later, religious differences Three dominant religions in India 1. Hinduism 2. Buddhism 3. Islam (which came a much later)

The Aryan Invasions Around 1900 BCE lighter-skinned people from south central Asia invaded Indus Valley through Khyber & Bolan Passes

Contributed greatly to India s history Aryan stories in Sanskrit 1. Rig-Veda hymns dedicated to Aryan gods 2. Mahabharata epic poems about gods and people in society 3. Upanishads formative religious text that contributes to spread and acceptance of Hinduism»Important for Regents exam

Contributed to the social hierarchy still utilized today & is reinforced by Hinduism The Caste System Caste social class one is born into & cannot change» The only way to change one s caste is to die and reincarnate into a new caste Established by the Aryans to create social order and establish a patriarchal society Brahmins - Priests Kshatriyas - Warriors Vaisyas Merchants, Landlords Sudras farmers, workers Pariahs or Harijans Untouchables

Hinduism Currently 3 rd largest religion in the world Mostly found in India and SE Asia Origin is unknown but believed to be blend of Aryan and India faiths Three major dieties Has one god Brahma the Creator, the World Soul takes the form of all other gods

Vishnu The Healer, Friend of Humanity Shiva The Destroyer, Fertility Referred to as the Cosmic Dancer No that s not a mustached baby that s a dwarf, Apasmara, who symbolizes ignorance

Humans are expected to experience Samsara Birth, life, death cycle via reincarnation to achieve peace with their Atman, essential self (soul) Cycle continues until moksha is achieved Union with Brahman, released from reincarnation

Guiding principles of Hinduism 1. Karma Personal actions that affect one s atman 2. Dharma Religious and moral duties that affect one s atman Both determine the caste one is born into 3. Ahmisa Non-violence All Hindus are expected to be peaceful Why is this cartoon wrong about the idea of karma?

Hinduism enforces the Caste System One s karma and dharma determine caste Perfect way to keep social order India & Hindu faith are patriarchal Women were subservient to men Reinforced by dharma Expected to practice Sati»Act of throwing oneself onto the husband s funeral pyre

SOAPSTone

Buddhism Religion or philosophy? Mostly found in Northern India, Sri Lanka, Tibet, China, SE Asia, and Japan Emerged out of Hinduism due to doctrinal differences How does one achieve union with Brahman?

Tripitaka Three Baskets of Wisdom Sacred text collection of Siddhartha Gautama s teachings Written by his followers

Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE) Born into Kshatriya caste Married at 16, lived a life of luxury Ventured out of his palace for the first time the day before his 29 th birthday He saw poverty, misery, and suffering and he asked himself why?

Goes on a spiritual quest to find most efficient route to the World Soul and/or personal harmony Fasted and lived in poverty for 6 years Mediated under a Bodhi tree and became the Enlightened One»Became known as the Buddha or Enlightened One

Did not consider himself to be a god Kept some ideas of Hinduism Samsara, karma, dharma Wanted to change aspects of Hinduism Main one get rid of Caste System

Enlightenment can be achieved by following The Four Noble Truths 1. All Life is suffering. 2. All suffering is caused by the desire for things that are really illusions (money, power, long life). 3. The cure for suffering is to overcome desire. 4. The way to overcome suffering is to follow the Eightfold Path.

Eightfold Path 1. Right View 2. Right Intention ----------------------------Wisdom 3. Right Speech 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood ----------------------------Ethical Conduct 6. Right Effort 7. Right Concentration 8. Right Mindfulness -----------------------------Mental Development

Five Precepts (Moral Rules) 1. Don t kill 2. Don t steal 3. Don t Lie 4. No alcohol 5. Don t commit adultery

When one is enlightened, one achieves Nirvana- ultimate goal of Buddhism to be one with the Universe and released from the cycle of rebirth Cannot be achieved in one life believed in samsara

Two branches of Buddhism 1. Theravada Buddhism Way of the Elders Closest to Buddha s central teachings as found in the Tripitaka Buddha is NOT a god 2. Mahayana Buddhism Greater Vehicle Found mostly outside India in Japan, Korea, Tibet, China, Thailand, and other countries in SE Asia Ritualistic Buddhists nirvana is similar to concept of Christian heaven and hell Buddha is a god Most popular form of Buddhism today Dalai Lama is a Mahayana

Two Major Classical Indian Societies 1. Maurya Empire (Dynasty) 324-184 BCE Founded by Chandragupta along the Ganges River Established powerful military as the result of clashes with Alexander the Great of Macedonia (N. Greece) Pataliputra capital city

Most important Mauryan leader Ashoka (Asoka) 269-232 BCE Grandson of Chandragupta Military general brutally repressed dissenters Ultimately converts from Hinduism to Buddhism»Advocated for religious tolerance Increases the size of India»Established an extensive road system

1. Along what river is the capital of the Mauryan Empire located? 2. Using the map, how did Alexander the Great get onto the Indian subcontinent? 3. What connection can be made between Buddhism and the Mauryan Empire?

2. The Gupta Empire 320 CE 550 CE India increased in size to almost the same as present-day India Used marriage to build the empire instead of war Pataliputra - capital Gupta leaders were Hindu but encouraged religious tolerance Fully accepted the Caste System

Had a golden age Made a ton of money from trade with»east Africa»Middle East»SE Asia

Achievements»Created our number system (Arabic Numerals)»Had a decimal system based on 10»Developed concept of zero»physicians used herbs to treat illness»surgeons set bones & performed simple surgeries»doctors began vaccinating against smallpox 1,000 years before the practice spread to Europe

»built stone temples called Stupas»a large dome shaped shrine»kept the remains of holy people»literature was written in sanskrit

The Gupta Empire is eventually invaded and conquered by the White Huns around 535-550 BCE

G R A S P E D I T