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Chapter3India

... four ancient books of Aryan religious traditions in which can be ... hymns and poems. religious prayers. magical spells. lists of the gods. and goddesses. Rig Veda oldest work. ...

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Chapter3India

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    Chapter 3 – Classical Civilization: India 1600-1000 B.C.E. –Aryan invasions of India 1500-1000 B.C.E. –Vedic Age Aryan Migration pastoral ? depended on their cattle. warriors ? horse-drawn chariots. The Vedic Age The foundations for Hinduism were established! The Framework for Indian History: Geography and a Formative Period Alexander the Great: Greek invader who provided important contacts between India and Hellenistic culture Aryans: During Vedic and Epic ages these Indo-Europeans migrants developed the region’s first epic stories, later written down in Sanskrit. Their rigid ideas abut social order influenced India's castes system Himalayas – Northern mountain ranges Monsoon – wind and rain Sanskrit: The first literary language of India, introduced by the Aryans. Under the Guptas, it became the language of educated people but never became the universal language of India. Was the language of the Vedas, the sacred books of early India. Vedas: Meaning hymns to the gods; four ancient books of Aryan religious traditions in which can be found the origins of Hinduism. Buddha Vedic Age – Means “knowledge” Epic poems A. Mahabharata B. Ramayana C. Upanishads Jati – basic castes, divided into smaller subgroups Brahma – Hindu idea that a basic holy essence formed part of everything in the world Indra = Aryan god of thunder and lightening India at the Time of Ashoka Sanskrit writing The Vedas 1200 BCE-600 BCE. written in SANSKRIT. Hindu core of beliefs: hymns and poems. religious prayers. magical spells. lists of the gods and goddesses. Rig Veda ? oldest work. Patterns in Classical India Development of Sanskrit language Chandragupta Maurya –322-298- B.C.E. Ruler of a small Ganges Valley state who defeated the Greeks in the area and made himself king in322 B.C.E. He then created and enlarged the Mauryan Empire.– highly autocratic Ashoka: Greatest Mauryan ruler. Gained all but the southern tip of India through conquest. Converted to and greatly promoted Buddhism. Dharma – law of moral consequences, a kind of ethical guide - Ashoka propagated Buddhism throughout India while honoring Hinduism. Kushans – Invaders of India c. 100 B.C.E. who were gradually absorbed into Indian culture and became the Kshatriya caste. Taj Mahal Gupta: Empire began in 320 C.E. and provided two centuries of political stability. Overturned in 535 C.E. by invading Huns Political Institutions Gupta – uniform law codes Promoted Sanskrit Regionalism and political diversity dominated classical Indian political life Increase complex caste system Caste system allowed various race to live together without perpetual conflict and without full integration of cultures and values. Varnas (Social Classes - Hierarchy) Shudras Common Labors Vaishyas Traders and Farmers Kshatriyas Warriors Pariahs [Harijan] ? Untouchables Brahmins - Priests Initially warriors were highest – during Epic Age, Brahmins replaced them as highest Shiva – as Celestial dancer – The Destroyer Religion and Culture Hinduism: The religion of India’s majority, developing at first in the Vedic and Epic ages. Hinduism has no single founder or central holy figure, unlike all other major religions. Dharma: A Hindu concept that was a guide to living in this world and at the same time pursuing spiritual goals. Vishnu and Shiva: Two important gods in the enormous Hindu pantheon. Vishnu was the preserver and Shiva the destroyer. Reincarnation: Hindu idea in which souls do not die when bodies do but pass into other beings, either human or animal. Where the soul goes depends on how good a life that person has led. Gurus: Hindu mystics who gathered disciples around themselves. Yoga: Hindu practice of mediation and self-discipline which has the goal to free the mind to concentrate on the divine spirit. Bhagavad Gita: Hindu sacred hymn which details the story of Arjuna, a warrior, who struggles with the decision of whether to go to battle against his own family Siddhartha Gautama - Buddha – “the Enlightened One” 563-483 B.C.E. – Creator of a major Indian and Asian religion; born in the 6th century B.C.EE. As son of a local ruler among Aryan tribes located near Himalayas; became an ascetic; found enlightenment could be achieved only be abandoning desire for all earthy things. Millions of gods in Hinduism Economy and Society India develop extensive trade Rights of women limited Economy vigorous especially trade Merchants traded from the Roman Empire to Indonesia to China Hinduism expands Indian Influence Indian cultural influence spread in southeast Asia Buddhism was a leading cultural export Political dominance of outside peoples was not a characteristic of Indian governments White indicates the Brahmin Caste In Depth: Inequality as the Social Norm Indian caste system – humans are inherently unequal All classical systems – played down the importance of the individual All society’s throughout history – few challenged the “natural order” of social hierarchy Bathing in Ganges China and India Both stable structures over large areas India primary religion - Hinduism China - separate religions China – art – practical technology India – mathematics – trade played a greater role Both relied on large peasant classes in agrarian settings – political power based on land ownership

    Slide 21:Global Connections: India and the Wider World

    Open to outside influence Innovations in math and science Buddhism one of the world major religions Placed between the great empires and trading networks of the Mediterranean and China, Indian influenced both East and West.

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