1 / 14

Classical India

Classical India. Ch 3. I. General Information. India is bordered to the North by the Himalayan and Hindu Kush Mts. Passes allowed with contact with other people groups Indian agriculture revolves around the summer monsoon season

amy
Download Presentation

Classical India

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Classical India Ch 3

  2. I. General Information • India is bordered to the North by the Himalayan and Hindu Kush Mts. • Passes allowed with contact with other people groups • Indian agriculture revolves around the summer monsoon season • Main civilization is centered between the Indus River and the Ganges River • Has a diverse culture and a strict caste system

  3. I. General Information • Main invading influences consisted of the Aryans and Alexander the Great (327-325) • Early period is divided into the Vedic Age (1500-1000 BC) and the Epic Age (1000-600 BC) • Main language is Sanskrit

  4. II. Vedic Age and Epic Age • Main time of Aryan migration • Hunters and herders • Created social classes (Varnas) • Brought polytheistic religions (Hinduism) • History was passed down through epics (Vedas) • Mahabharata • Ramayana • Upanishads

  5. II. Vedic Age and Epic Age Brahmins Priest Kshatriyas- Warriors Vaisyas- Traders/ Farmers Sudras- Common Laborers Untouchables

  6. III. Mauryan Dynasty • Chandragupta Mauryan (322-298 BC) • One of the first rulers to unite most of India • Influenced in part by Alexander • Had large armies • Very paranoid • Had only women close to him • Constantly switched rooms • Became an ascetic after putting his son, Bindusara

  7. III. Mauryan Dynasty • Ashoka (269-232 BC) • Grandson of Chandragupta Maurya • Expanded the empire to include all but the southern tip of India • Very aggressive militarily • Converted to Buddhism and sent out missionaries • Built roads and rest areas • His death led to the empires eventual collapse and regional rule • The Kushans later took over.

  8. IV. Gupta Empire • The Kushans fell out of power in 220 AD • The Guptas took over in 320 AD • Had a much smaller territory but was much more stable • Allowed autonomy for regional governments • Chose to intermarry with local ruling families to help keep peace • Believed they were appointed by the gods

  9. V. Religion • Hinduism • Originated with the Aryans • No central founding figure • Reacts to other religions • Approaches • Ritualistic ceremonies performed by Brahmans • Mysticism- unite humans w/ divine essence • Allows for many paths of enlightenment • Bhagavad Gita- hymn- emphasis on duty

  10. V. Religion

  11. V. Religion • Bhuddhism • Siddhartha Gautama- 563 BC • Buddha- the enlightened one • Searched for enlightenment • Agrees with Hinduism except caste system and worldy desires • Denied rituals • Can reach nirvana by self denial/ destruction • Spread by monks

  12. V. Religion

  13. VI. Contributions • Supported Universities • Astronomy- length of solar year • Medical • Bone setting, plastic surgery and sterilization • Mathematics • Concept of zero, negative numbers, square roots, “Arabic” numbers and π

More Related