Ancient India: Origins, Empires, and Religions

1. Asia

2. Ancient India • Geography • Indus River: Where the first civilizations began • Himalayas: Tallest mountain chain in the world • Hindu Kush: Another mountain chain • Harappa’s • First Civilization (2500 BC-1500 BC) • Much is still unknown (religion, communication) • Disappeared around 1500 BC

4. Ancient India • Indo-Aryans • Invaded around 1500 BC • Vedas: Religious writings • Sanskrit: Indo-Aryan Language • Religion: Based on things of nature • Race: Tended to be of a lighter complexion • Southern India • Remained relatively untouched by invaders • Today • India is still divided North/South

5. Ancient Indian Empires • Mauryan Empire • Chandragupta Maurya: • Established the empire • United Northern India from the Ganges to Indus Rivers • Did great things for India • Asoka • Grandson of Chandragupta • Dominated almost whole Indian subcontinent • Spread Buddhism • Died in 232 BC, empire collapsed within 150 years • Gupta Empires and Rulers • Began around 300 AD • Decline in Buddhism, spread of Hinduism • Chandra Gupta II • Golden Age of Gupta Empire • Rule ended around 550 AD

7. Ancient India • Ancient Indian Culture • Farming and trade (more trade to South) • Inequality between men and women • Polygamy: More than one wife • Panchatantra: Ancient stories, 2nd most translated book in history • Nalada: Famous Buddhist University, education was very important • Math, Astronomy, etc • Inoculation: infection someone with a mild form of disease (vaccine). Small pox vaccine 1300 years before Europeans • 4 Class Society: Strict rules to keep people in class • Rulers/Warriors, Priests, Merchants/Farmers, Workers/Peasants

9. Indian Religion: Hinduism • Foundation • Earliest teaches based off of epics (long poems) dating back to the time of the Vedas (Bhagavad Gita) • Hindu Beliefs: • Belief that every thing in the universe is of the same essence (spirit). Unity of God and People • World we see is an illusion, takes many lifetimes to realize this. • Dharma: Moral duty, helps the soul advance to next life • Karma: Good or bad force created by a persons actions • Nirvana: Perfect peace…what all Hindu’s hope to accomplish

10. Hinduism • Hindu Beliefs • Reincarnation: Upon death, soul goes to another person or animal…takes many lifetimes to get salvation • General rule: better you are, the higher social status you will be in next life. So only the highest class will reach Nirvana • Hindu Symbols • Yoga: Bring the body and mind together • Cows are protected by the law • Brahman: Main God • Where is it popular • More popular in western and central India

15. Indian Religion: Buddhism • Foundation • Siddhartha Gautama: Founder, know as Buddha • Wealthy, shocked by how bad ordinary people had it • Eventually he found out why people were suffering • Teachings • Good is rewarded, evil is punished • Salvation comes from following the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path • Live selfless lives (peaceful/moral lives of poverty) • Anyone could reach nirvana

18. Buddhism • Teachings cont.. • Vedas: Hindu holy books were not sacred writings • Anyone could reach nirvana, was not reliant on reincarnation • Spread of Buddhism • Spread slowly • Buddhism divided over how Buddha is viewed.. • Eventually has spread throughout much of Asia..declined some in India

22. Modern India • Foreign Control • India was controlled by the Turks during the 1300s • Eventually they were overthrown by the Mongols, led by Babur • Mughal Empire • Akbar: Babur’s grandson was the greatest emperor • Ruled from 1556-1606 • Blend of Persian, Islamic and Hindu cultures • Tolerant of other religions, also increased trade throughout India. • TajMahal: Famous building constructed during this time • Other rulers (Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb) had trouble keeping peace, especially among different religious views. Aurangzeb even used elephants to trample protestors. • A lot of hatred between Muslims and Hindu’s in India!!

25. British and India • British Involvement • In the mid 1850’s, Great Britain took direct control of India by dividing the land up into over 550 states. • Did very little to ease the religious tension between Hindu’s and Muslims. • By the early 1900s, there were plenty of British living side by side with people of India. • The British viewed themselves as the superior race. • Only good thing was that the British established many Westernized schools that increased education for all people of India. • Many people wanted independence but the British were able to maintain control into the early 1900s.

28. Indian Independence • GB/India • GB promised some independence in return for India helping them out during WWI • Much disagreement on how much independence, etc • Mohandas Gandhi • Leader of Indian Nationalism • Passive Resistance: Urged people to nonviolently refuse to cooperate with GB control. • Began boycotts and quit paying taxes. GB responded with violence, which made more people mad • By 1935, India had some self government but not total control. • Gandhi was assassinated in 1948

30. End of British Rule • WWII • GB demanded that India help them during WWII • India began to demand independence • Muslims vs Hindu’s • Gandhi (Hindu) demanded complete separation from India. • Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Muslim) demanded a separate Muslim state within India (Pakistan) • Violence was crazy between the two sides, millions killed in fighting • Independence • August 15 1947: India and Pakistan were both created

32. Independent India • Early government • Jawaharlal Nehru: First Prime Minister of India • Nonalignment: Did not ally with either USA or USSR • Daughter became prime minister in 1966 (Indira Gandhi) • Political Unrest • Indira Gandhi fought with Shikh’s (different religion) in northern India. Eventually she was assassinated by them. • Political instability followed for the next 20 years. • Pakistan (Muslim) and India (Hindu) do not like each other and have each threatened nuclear weapons on the other one.

34. Independent India • Economy • Mixed Economy: Mix between private and government ownership of industries. • Problem was that the population was (and is) growing too fast. This has led to massive problems with overcrowding, unemployed, etc. • By 2000, India had over a billion people (1.237)…will catch China by 2050. • Manmohan Singh: Prime Minister today • Foreign Relations • India and China had problems because India offered refuge for the Dalai Lama (Tibetan Monk) • Kashmir: Area of Northern India that has been fought over with Pakistan still to today.

36. Pakistan • Division • East Pakistan and West Pakistan became the countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh • Pakistan • Formed a government led by military leaders and Islamic Nationalists • Benazir Bhutto: Became the first women to serve as Prime Minister of a Muslim country • Nawaz Sharif: Prime Minister today • Problems: Pakistan is home to Al-Queda • Bangladesh • Floods, famine, storms, and poor leaders have made this country very poor

38. China • Geography • Large country, many geographic features • Made up of many different regions • 3 Great Rivers: Huang (Yellow), Chang, Xi • Chinese were the first to use dikes to prevent flooding • Parts under China’s control at different times • Mongolia, Manchuria, Tibet, Northern Korea • Mountains • Himalaya's • Deserts • Gobi • All these things led to China being very isolated in its development

40. Chinese Dynasties • Shang • First dynasty to invade into area (1750 BC) • Bureaucracy: Government organized into different levels and tasks. • Strong military and technology made the Dynasty expand • Science: Calendars based on sun and moon • Religion: Worshiped nature • Early system of writing • Zhou (JOH) formed an alliance with invaders, overthrew the Shang Dynasty….said they were not fit to rule

42. Other Chinese Dynasties • Zhou (JOH) Dynasty • 1050 BC-250 BC • Mandate of Heaven: Supreme Ruler had chosen them to rule the people of China • Qin Dynasty • Cheng: First leader of Qin Dynasty • Autocracy: Government where emperor has total power • Great Wall of China: Began by the Qins to help protect them from invaders. • Empire made people mad, overthrew the Qins • Han Dynasty • More moderate, kept the rule for 400 years (200 BC-200 AD) • Ruled over an area larger than the Romans, Liu Ch’e (most powerful ruler) • Civil Service Government: Leaders were examined, most qualified got positions of power. Style lasted until the 1900s. • Silk Road: Road from China to Mediterranean…traded goods with Romans/Greeks

47. Chinese Philosophy • Yin and Yang • Yang (male) and yin (female) represented the balance of forces of nature. • Balance was the key to success • Confucius • Main Chinese Philosopher • Importance: family, respect of elders, reverence for ancestors • Wanted to figure out how people could better rule themselves. Everyone should accept their roles in life and work to be the best they could be

49. Chinese Philosophy • Mencius • Follower of Confucius • People’s characters should benefit others • Rulers who were ethical should receive support from people; weak or unjust rulers should be overthrown • Laozi (Lowd-ZOO) • Founded Daoism • Dao: Indescribable force that ruled nature. • People should live peaceful lives and not strive for material wealth. • Both Daoism and Confucianism provided a balance that people of China followed for centuries (Yin and Yang) • Buddhism • Mahayana Buddhism became very popular in China because it agreed with many of the teachings of Chinese Philosophers

50. Middle Age Chinese Dynasties • Sui Dynasty • Ruled during the 500’s AD • Created the Grand Canal (linked N and S China) • Defeated by the Turks • Tang Dynasty (600-900s) • Defeated the Turks, extended China to India and Middle East. • Xi’an: Capital, over 2 million people lived there • Began the golden age of China • Confucianism and Daoism were very important ideas. Stress of ethics would remain the main religion until the 1900s. • Built temples to Confucius and made people study his teachings • Buddhism became very popular during this time.