Insights into Ancient Indian Civilizations: Indus Valley to Vedic Age

1. Chapter 12: Civilizations of Early India

2. Section 1: Indus Valley Civilization Picture depicting what a city in the Indus Valley may have looked like. Image taken from: crystalinks.com

3. FACTS ABOUT INDIA • The highest mountain in India is Kanchenjunga, standing at 28,209 ft • Many different languages are spoken in India. The main ones are Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, and Urdu. • The capital city is New Delhi, while the most populated city is Mumbai

4. FACTS ABOUT INDIA • India has the second largest population in the world, with over 1.2 billion people • India is the seventh largest country by total area. • India belongs to the continent of Asia

5. FACTS ABOUT INDIA • The TajMahal a famous mausoleum and popular tourist attraction • India became an independent nation in 1947 after ending British rule that began in 1858. • Mahatma Gandhi is famous for the important part he played in gaining India's independence.

6. FACTS ABOUT INDIA • Once British rule was over, India was split into the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. • The national symbol is the Bengal Tiger. • The most popular sport in India is cricket

7. Indian Subcontinent • India is called a subcontinent • large landmass that separates itself from the rest of the continent. • The climate is a very important factor in the Hindu people’s lives • Monsoons: • the people may burn from the heat and in the winter they might freeze. • they generally bring rain, which translates to water for crops. • Leave behind very rich soil

8. Advances • The Indus Valley cities • thick walls • sewer systems • streets arranged in a grid pattern. • They had an agricultural economy. • Farmers grew wheat, barley, and cotton and raised sheep, cattle, chickens, and goats. • They also domesticated animals for transportation. • The economy was also based on trade.

9. Government and Religion of Indus Valley • No evidence that Indus valley people had a king or queen. • They were a very well organized group of people. • This assumption was made based on the level of planning in making their city. • Historians believe they practiced some form of Hinduism • Hindu-like statues were found.

10. Citadel and Disappearance • The purpose of the citadel • a fortified area of protection from floods or attackers. • It had a wall around it. • the center of the government. • the disappearance of the Indus Valley civilization • No one knows for certain • Some explanations: disease, floods, climate change, drought, and foreign invasion.

11. Section 2: India’s Vedic Age Picture depicting the wealth of the Vedic Age. Image taken from: media.radiosai.org

12. The Origins of the Indo-Aryans • There are three theories as to where the Aryans came from: • the Aryans defeated the local Indians, then they settled into the Indus Valley. • the Aryans were the original inhabitants of the Indus Valley • the Aryans migrated to the Indus Valley

13. Aryan Life • The Aryans were initially nomadic, but they changed their lifestyle. • the Aryans were judged by how much cattle they had. • To entertain themselves, they danced, played music, had chariot races, and gambled.

14. Vedas • the Veda was to put religious and society’s ideas into song or hymns. • Each Veda consisted of hundreds of hymns. • The Vedas called upon people to make offering to their Gods. • The Vedas were written down in a language called Sanskrit.

15. Growth of Vedic Civilization • Growth came very quickly for the Vedic civilization • they eventually created clans and tribes. • they were joined together to form republics, although they were not democratic in nature. • Finally, they were able to form kingdoms

16. The Caste System • The purpose of the Caste System is to separate India’s society in social classes. • In India’s Caste System people are born into a caste and stay there for the rest of their lives. • They do not marry or socialize outside their caste system. • The Indians were grouped by occupation and religious status.

17. Caste System • The Caste System had five varnas or categories: • The Brahmins were the priests of the country. • The Kshatriyas were the rulers and warriors. • The Vaishyas were landowners, bankers, and merchants. • The Sudras were the farmers, laborers, and servants. • Finally, the Dalits were people who performed dirty jobs, such as butchering and preparing the dead for burial. • Times have changed, but Indian culture is still ingrained in its society.

18. Hinduism Symbol of the Hindu religion. Image taken from: sacred-texts.com

19. Roots of Hinduism • Hinduism originated from Brahmanism. • people started asking questions, such as: Why are we born? How should we live? • These questions led to the change of the people’s religious thoughts and the start of Hinduism. • The teachers are gurus

20. Beliefs about God • There are two main aspects of the Hindu religion. • there is one supreme spiritual force, or God known as Brahman. • every person is born with a soul. • Brahman is viewed as a source of all things • all of the Hindu Gods are forms of Brahman.

21. Beliefs about Life • Hindus believe that if one lives a good life (good karma) they will be reborn into a higher varna or social class. • If they live a bad life (bad karma) then they will be reborn into a lower varna or social class. • Every year millions of Hindus go the Ganges River to get spiritually cleansed

22. Beliefs about Life • The four goals of Hinduism as • doing what is right, meaning following your caste rules without complain. • Striving for well being, or earning a livelihood with dignity. • Attaining pleasure, such as eating good food or taking a bath. • Finally, attaining moksha, or liberation from reincarnation.

23. Hinduism’s Impact • Hinduism spread because • people did not have to worship a single God • Hinduism does not call for people to attend regular religious services. • In fact they can pray or make offerings in their own home.

24. Section 4: Buddhism Picture of the Buddha. Image taken from: globalone.tv

25. The Buddha’s Life • Siddhartha’s mom had a dream that her son would grow to become a holy man. • Siddhartha’s father wanted him to become a ruler. • To ensure that he would become a ruler, Siddhartha’s father shielded him from the ill of the world.

26. Search for Enlightenment • Siddhartha reached enlightenment when he meditated under a fig tree for 49 days. • he reached a place where he thought he found the perfect state of wisdom.

27. After Enlightenment • Buddha means ‘the enlightened one’ • He chose to go back into the world and teach others what he had learned. • He traveled across India for the next 45 years, preaching a message of truth and hope. • The Middle Way is a life of neither total luxury nor poverty, but the path between the two extremes.

28. Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path of Buddhism • The Four Noble Truths: • All life involves suffering. • Selfish desires cause suffering. • Giving up selfish desires ends suffering. • People overcome selfish desires by following the Eightfold Path. • The Eightfold Path leads to wisdom, morality, or right action, and meditation.

29. Two Schools of Thoughts • The two schools of Buddhism: • Theravada Buddhism • Mahayana Buddhism. • Theravada Buddhist: Buddha’s greatest achievement was enlightenment and entry into nirvana. • Mahayana Buddhist: Buddha’s greatest achievement was his compassion.