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AP World History: Ancient India

AP World History: Ancient India. Harappa Civilization, Maurya , and Gupta Empires. Presentation Outline. Geography of India Harappa Civilization Aryan Invasion Caste System Hinduism Maurya Empire Gupta Empire. 1. Geography of Ancient India.

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AP World History: Ancient India

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  1. AP World History: Ancient India Harappa Civilization, Maurya, and Gupta Empires

  2. Presentation Outline • Geography of India • Harappa Civilization • Aryan Invasion • Caste System • Hinduism • Maurya Empire • Gupta Empire

  3. 1. Geography of Ancient India • The Indian subcontinent has the following geographic features which have contributed to the development of civilization • Monsoonal rains can help sustain life but can also cause disastrous flooding • Three River valleys: Indus, Brahmaputra, and Ganges rivers • To North: Impassable Himalayas • To East: Passable low hills • To Northwest: Passable Hindu Kush, Khyber Pass • To West: Arabian Sea

  4. 2. Harappa Civilization • 3000 B.C.E- 1500 B.C.E • Located along the Indus River Valley in modern day Pakistan/India • Wheat and barley were cultivated in Indus valley • Harappa and Mohenjo-daro • Possibly served as twin capitals • Each city had a fortified citadel and a large granary • Broad streets, market places, temples, public buildings • Standardized weights, measures, architecture, bricks • Specialized labor and trade • Domestic trade, items inc. pottery, tools, metals • Trading with Mesopotamians about 2300 to 1750 B.C.E

  5. After years of natural disasters (earthquakes and flooding) Harappa Civilization began to decline • People began to flee their cities • Unable to defend their civilization, Harappa civilization was vulnerable to invaders

  6. 3. Aryan invasion • Between 1750 and 1500 B.C.E Aryan invaders from Central Asia and Eastern Europe invaded India • They brought with them a new language (Sanskrit), a social order (caste system), and a new religion (Hinduism)

  7. 4. Caste System • Caste and varna • Caste: • Hereditary, unchangeable social classes • Sanskrit word varna, "color," referring to social classes • Social distinctions based on racial skin colors • Social distinctions in the late Vedic Age • Four main varnas, recognized after 1000 B.C.E. • brahmins (priests) • kshatriyas (warriors and aristocrats: rulers) • vaishyas (cultivators, artisans, and merchants) • shudras (landless peasants and serfs) • Later, the category of the pariah (untouchables) was added Caste and social mobility • Caste system was capable of accommodating social change • Social mobility was very difficult but still possible • Foreign peoples could find a place in society of the castes

  8. 5. Hinduism • The Upanishads • Works of religious teachings, 800 to 400 B.C.E. • The religious forums: dialogues between disciples and sages • Brahman: the universal soul • Brahman was the only genuine reality • Highest goal: to escape reincarnation and join with Brahman • Atman: The individual self-soul that is part of Brahman • Teachings of the Upanishads • Samsara: An individual soul was born many times • Dharma: Caste duties • Karma: specific incarnations that a soul experienced • Moksha: permanent liberation from physical incarnation • Religion and Vedic Society • Samsara and karma reinforced social hierarchy • Upanishads were also spiritual and intellectual contemplations • Taught to observe high ethical standards • Respect for all living things, a vegetarian diet

  9. Hindu gods Hinduism is a polytheistic religion

  10. 6. Mauryan Empire • 322 B.C.E to 185 B.C.E Chandragupta united India in 322 B.C.E after defeating the Persians (from modern day Iran) • Divided empire into districts and collected taxes • Enforced strict adherence to caste system Asoka took over as ruler of Maurya around 252 B.C.E • converted to Buddhism • Dedicated to building roads and improving education Chandragupta Asoka

  11. After Asoka’s death, the Maurya Empire weakens and India is divided into separate states

  12. 7. Gupta Empire • A revived Indian Empire was established under Chandra Gupta I in 320 C.E. • The Gupta Empire allowed a degree of religious toleration, allowing both Hinduism and Buddhism to coexist • Extensive trade networks were established • Many scientific and artistic achievements

  13. Extensive trade with other empires

  14. Extensive Trade:4c spices silks cotton goods spices rice & wheat horses gold & ivory gold & ivory cotton goods

  15. GuptaArt Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & architecture.

  16. Gupta Achievements 1000 diseasesclassified 500 healingplants identified Printedmedicinal guides Kalidasa Literature PlasticSurgery Medicine GuptaIndia Inoculations C-sectionsperformed SolarCalendar Astronomy Mathematics DecimalSystem The earthis round PI = 3.1416 Conceptof Zero

  17. Gupta India declined around 400 C.E. during the White Hun invasions • India would again be divided into separate states and only later unified again after Muslim invaders in the 7th and 8th centuries

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