Indian Dynasties: Stupas, Pilgrims, and Ancient Wisdom

2. Dynasty • Stupa • Pilgrim Vocabulary (Pgs 194 - 216) • Brahman • Reincarnation • Dharma • Karma • Buddhism • Nirvana • Theocracy • Himalayas • Monsoons • Sanskrit • Raja • Caste • Guru • Hinduism

3. The first Indian civilizations started along the Indus and the Ganges Rivers.- What river did Egypt’s civilization begin?- What about Mesopotamia?- How about China?- What do we call these places where civilizations begin near a river? First Civilizations

4. Caste SystemA caste is something you’re born into and cannot change. This system decided who you would marry, hang out with, and and what type of job you could have.

5. 1500-400 B.C Aryans • Arrived in northern India • Extended family lived together and the oldest male was in charge. • Only sons could inherit property. • Young wealthy boys had a guru (teacher) until they went to school • Could not marry until until you completed 12 years of schools (90% of marriages arranged-still this way today). • Divorce was not allowed but if your wife could not have children you could have 2 wives.

6. Cattle was a prized possession. • Sanskrit-written form of their language • Aryans groups were divided into tribes and each tribe had it’s own RAJA = prince. • Cremation (burning) was a popular form of burial. When a wealthy man died, the wife was suppose to throw herself into the burning flame with her beloved, and if she did not she would be shamed (ignored) for the rest of her life • 1st civilization with indoor plumbing.

7. Hinduism • 3rd largest religion in the World • Believed that deities controlled forces of nature • Brahman was their universal spirit. • Believed in reincarnation & that you would have many lives before you were united with Brahman. • Dharma - If you did your duty & you were happy about doing it, then this would help you to be reincarnated into a better caste system. • Karma - If you were good then good things would happen and if you were bad then bad things would happen to you.

8. Buddhism 600 B.C. • Ordinary Hindus wanted a simpler life. They also felt that Hindu priest were more concerned about their temples /ceremonies then peoples needs • Prince Siddhartha Gautama - had everything (wealth, good looks, beautiful wife, son). One day he left the palace & saw suffering all around him. He wanted to find out how his peoples suffering could be cured. Meditated for 49 days and almost died from starvation.

9. Siddhartha becomes the Buddha! • Finally, he learned that if you gave up worldly possessions (fame, money) sorrow would vanish. • Spent 40 years traveling and sharing his teachings. • He became known as the Buddha - which means “the enlightened one”. • Dalai Lama - Leader who headed the government, people believed he was Buddha reincarnated.

10. Empires of India • 500 B.C. Persia • 327 B.C. Alexander the Great • 321 B.C. Maurya Dynasty (empire) • No one specific ruler for 500 years • 320 A.D. Gupta Dynasty

11. Maurya Dynasty • Good Government • Good Army • Had spies to avoid rebellion • Set up postal system • Asoka the warrior The Stupa at Sanchi

12. King Asoka - Mauryan Dynasty • Asoka was a warrior who hated blood shed. He dedicated his life to peace and to the following of Buddhist beliefs. • Set up hospitals for people and animals. • Built roads with shades area were people could rest. • Built Stupas - shrines. • Sent Buddhist teachers all over India to teach beliefs. • Very prosperous when King Asoka died his empire grew very weak

13. Gupta Dynasty • Grew Wealthy from trade. Traded with China and other countries • They were Hindu’s • Golden Age for Arts and Learning • Pilgrims are people who use trade routes to travel to religious shrines Contributions - Astronomy - Set bones/performed operations - Invented old coins & metal mirrors - Math, came up with the concept for infinity and zero.