Zoroastrianism

1. Zoroastrianism Meanwhile… Greek theology c Taoism and Confucianism Judaism Hinduism and Buddhism

2. c. 2200 BCE Yellow River Shang and Xia dynasties (ancient China) c. 3000 BCE Indus River Valley Harappan/Vedic (ancient India)

3. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” Ancient India in relation to China Ancient India in relation to Mesopotamia Ancient India

4. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” Earliest major settlements and cities

5. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Bronze Age Rigveda composed c. 15oo bce Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro emerge c. 26oo bce 3300 bce 1300 bce Early Harappan Mature Harappan Late Harappan c. 2600 – 1900 bce c. 3300 bce– 2600 bce c. 1900 – 1300 bce Old Kingdom [Egypt] Middle Kingdom [Egypt] New Kingdom [Egypt] c. 2700 – 2181 bce c. 2134 – 1690 bce c. 1549 – 1069 bce Akkadian Empire Babylonian Empire c. 2000 - 1750 c. 2300 – 2100 bce • Assyrian Empire • c. 930 – 600 bce • Persian/Achaemenid • c. 549 – 330 bce

6. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Bronze Age Mohenjo-Daro “Pashupati” seal

7. “Horned-God” Seal “Bison Seal”

8. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Bronze Age Mohenjo-Daro “Priest-King” figure

9. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Bronze Age Mohenjo-Daro Harappa “Dancing Girl” Female Figures

10. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Bronze Age Mohenjo-Daro Urban Planning and Architecture

11. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Bronze Age Mohenjo-Daro Urban Planning and Architecture

12. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” Vedic Period – 1500 – 500bce (the period during which the Vedas were composed) 3300 bce 1500bce__ __________________500bce___ Late Harappan c. 1900 – 1300 bce Rigveda composed c. 15oo bce The Vedas • Would become the sacred texts of Hinduism • c. 1500 BCE- 500 BCE. • written in SANSKRIT.

13. Religious breakdown in India, 2011 Hinduism, at least 3500 years old by 2011, still dominates the religious perspectives of Indians in the 21st century But thought dominant, Hinduism is certainly not the only religion practiced. The relationship between Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, and Buddhists in India has greatly affected the history of the region.

14. The long history of religious difference as a source of conflict in India—here are some images of twentieth-century conflicts Anti-Sikh riots, 1984 Aftermath of “Direct Action Day” conflict between Hindus and Muslims, 1947

15. Noted penned by Mahatma Gandhi, 1927 Although written in 1927, how do Gandhi’s sentiments that “God is truth,” that truth exists, and that it can be approached through “ahimsa” or non-violence, relate to the Axial Age?

16. Rituals and traditions of Hinduism still practiced today

17. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Iron Age Maurya Empire begins c. 321 bce Nanda Empire begins c. 424 bce 1300 bce 1bce Kurukshetra War [Kauravasvs.Pandavas] c. 900 bce Nanda Empire ends c. 321bce MauryaEmpire ends c. 185 bce Portrayal of Kurukshetra War, c. 1820 Map of Kuru The conflict between the Kauravas and Pandavas serves as a central myth in Hindu literature.

18. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Iron Age Mahajanapadas were 16 politically distinct regions in ancient India. They were a middle ground between isolated city-states and an integrated empire. They are similar to what we call “kingdoms” in other regions of the world.

19. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” • Social Distinctions and The Vedas

20. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Iron Age Indian Iron Age, c. 1300 – 1 bce Maurya Empire begins c. 321 bce Nanda Empire begins c. 424 bce 1300 bce 1 bce Kurukshetra War [Kauravasvs.Pandavas] c. 900 bce Nanda Empire ends c. 321bce MauryaEmpire ends c. 185 bce Nanda Empire right before it ends, 323 bce

21. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Iron Age Mauryan Empire •Founded in 320 by Chandragupta Maurya •Capital city: Pataliputra •Chandragupta overthrew the Nanda Empire •Key Rulers: -Chandragupta -Bindusara -Ashoka (ruled: c. 269 – 232)

22. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Iron Age Spread of Maurya Empire under Chandragupta Maurya The Nanda Empire, 323 bce The Maurya Empire, 321 bce The Maurya Empire conquers parts of Persia, 305 bce The Maurya Empire spreads south, 300bce

23. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Iron Age Religion and Politics in the Mauryan EmpireAshokan Edicts by location After ruling ruthlessly for 9 years, Ashoka had a crisis in 260 bce. In that year, he waged a war against the Indian state of Kalinga, a war that was particularly brutal. Though he won the war, Ashoka was filled with guilt and horror after realizing the atrocities he and his armies committed. He then decided to convert to Buddhism, and then developed a campaign for promoting Buddhism within the empire. Part of this campaign was his issuing of the “Ashokan Edicts,” which he had carved in various stones and placed throughout the empire. How might these edicts apply to Ashoka himself? Or, in other words, in what ways is Ashoka willingly limiting his political power as a result of his religious beliefs? Worth noting that the conflictof the battle of Kalinga led to Ashoka’s conversion

24. Indus River Valley and Ancient “India” – Iron Age Religion and Politics in the Mauryan Empire Hinduism: The last “Vedic” text composed c. 500 bce Ashoka becomes emperor, c. 269 Mauryan Empire begins c. 321 bce, under Chandragupta Ashoka issues his Buddhist “Edicts” 600 bce 185 bce MauryanEmpire ends 185 bce Buddhism: Siddharta Gautama (the Buddha) born sometime between 563 bce and 483 bce Battle of Kalinga, c. 260 Ashokadies, 232 bce Nanda Empire ends c. 321bce Buddhism: Ashoka, ashamed of the violence caused by waging the war, converts to Buddhism. Buddhism adopted as state religion Key: In blue = religious event In black = political event In red = both political and religious