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INDIA. Geography. India is a land of diversity . It has 110 languages and over 1000 dialects. In regards to geography, India has four core regions: mountain ranges, river valleys, a dry interior plateau, and fertile coastal plains. The Himalayas are the highest mountains in the world.
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Geography • India is a land of diversity. • It has 110 languages and over 1000 dialects. • In regards to geography, India has four core regions: mountain ranges, river valleys, a dry interior plateau, and fertile coastal plains. • The Himalayas are the highest mountains in the world. • Monsoons are seasonal wind patterns in southern Asia.
First civilizations • Early civilizations in India emerged in river valleys. • Two of India’s major ancient cities were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. • Both were carefully planned. The main streets ran in a north-south direction while the smaller streets ran in an east-west direction. • Both cities had advanced drainage systems. • Indian rulers based their power on divine assistance while the economy was based on farming and trade with Mesopotamia.
Aryans • The Aryans were a group of Indo-European nomadic people. • They developed a writing system known as Sanskrit. This enabled them to write down their legends and religious rituals. • One of the lasting legacies of the Aryans is the caste system.
Caste system • The caste system was a set of rigid social categories that determine a person’s position in society. • There are five major divisions of Indian classes: • priests- Brahmans • warriors- Kshatriyas • commoners- Vaisyas • peasants- Sudras • lowest class- Untouchables • Indians practiced the ritual of suttee. The dead were placed on pyers then set on fire. The ritual required the wife to throw herself on the pyre.
Hinduism • Hindus believed in the existence of a single force in the universe called Brahman. • Hindus also believe in the idea of reincarnation- the belief that the individual soul is reborn. • Karma is the force generated by a person’s actions that determines who the person will be reborn. • Dharma means divine law. • Yoga is a training method designed to lead to a union with God.
buddhism • Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama. He was known as Buddha or the “Enlightened One.” • Buddha believed pain, poverty, and sorrow were caused by an attachment to material things. • Bohdimeans wisdom. • Buddhists believe achieving wisdom is the key step to achieving nirvana- ultimate reality. • The simple message of Buddhism is based on the Four Noble Truths. • The way to end all desire is to follow the Middle Path. • Buddhism is seen as a philosophy rather than a religion.
Mauryan dynasty • The first Indian Empire was highly centralized. • The Mauryan Empire flourished during the reign of Asoka. He is considered to be the greatest ruler in Indian history. • Asoka used his religion of Buddhism to guide his rule. • This led him to set up hospitals for people and animals.
Kushan kingdom and silk road • In the first century, nomadic warriors established the Kushan kingdom. • The Kushans prospered from the trade that passed through their land. • Most of the trade was between the Roman Empire and China and was shipped along the Silk Road. • China’s most valuable product, silk, was shipped along this route. • It covered a distance of 4,000 miles. • Chinese merchants traded goods such as silk, spices, teas, and porcelain.
guptas • The kingdom of the Guptas was established around 320 A.D. • Its ruler, Chandragupta II, created a new age of Indian civilization. • The Gupta Empire traded with China, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean. They traded cloth, salt, and iron. • Pilgrims are people who traveled to religious places. • The Gupta Empire ended when the Huns invaded, gradually reducing the power of the empire.
Indian culture • The Vedas were India’s earliest known form of Indian literature. • The Mahabharata is the longest poem in any language. • The most famous section of the book is the Bhagavad Gita. It is a sermon given on the eve of battle. • There are three types of Indian structures.
The pillars were constructed along-side roads to mark sites related to events in Buddha’s life. • Stupas were the houses of relics of Buddha. • Rock chambers were used to house monks. • Aryabhata was one of the first scientists to use Algebra. • Mathematicians introduced the concept of and symbol for zero.
