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Ancient India

Ancient India. From Mohenjo-Daro (2500 BC) through the Mongol Dynasty (1707 AD). Geography. 1 of the 4 major river valleys Is a sub-continent protected by natural barriers Mountains (Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Himalayas) Rivers: Indus and Ganges (1,500 miles) in Northern India

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Ancient India

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  1. Ancient India From Mohenjo-Daro (2500 BC) through the Mongol Dynasty (1707 AD)

  2. Geography • 1 of the 4 major river valleys • Is a sub-continent protected by natural barriers • Mountains (Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Himalayas) • Rivers: Indus and Ganges (1,500 miles) in Northern India • Indus flows from the Himalayas to the Arabian Sea yearly but lack of consistent floods rule agriculture. • Flows through present day Pakistan • Deccan plateau: border lands in Southern India • Monsoons: seasonal wind from October-May • Winter dry air from across continent from northeast • Spring go southwest with moisture from ocean

  3. Civilizations in Ancient India (2500-1500 BC) • Mohenjo-Daro and Harrappa. (Harapans) • Carefully planned cities of about 1 mile square in area. • Early religion linked to Hinduism • stamps/seals on stone for long-distance trade • Like other civilizations we studied they: • Grew grain, domesticated animals, had standard of weights and measures • Used bronze, gold, baked brick and pottery • Held stores of grain for over 35,000 people • built seaports & traded with other civilizations. • After 1500 BC cities fell into decay

  4. Aryan Invasion • By 1500 BC Harrapan civilization came to an end. • High salt content in water • Natural disasters? • Invasion • Mohejo-Daro abandoned and Harrapa destroyed • Aryan invaders brought 4 books called Vedas (1500 BC – 300 AD) • Were a collection of • wise sayings, battle hymns, religious rituals, chants & tales • Aryans/Indians believed life is a cycle and everything will happen again therefore it wasn’t necessary for things to be recorded • Vedas:

  5. Vedic Age 1500-1000 BC • Originally Aryan/Indians were a warlike civilization. • Marriages took place by kidnapping, purchase, and mutual consent • Once settled, favor of gods most important • Originally a 3 class system: warrior, priest, commoner • Eventually a caste system develops: • Essential for Hindus to: chose an appropriate occupation according to their caste, marry within their own caste, and avoid sharing meals with people of lower castes • Caste system is so strict that contact with a person of a lower caste could pollute your soul

  6. Epic Age (1000-500 B.C.) • Mahabharata – long epic poem • Great Civil War near Delhi • Last 18 chapters (Bhagavad-Gita = Lord’s Song) stresses moral duty • Krishna (human incarnation of Vishnu explains how love and devotion can lead to salvation in the afterlife. • Ramayana • Adventures of royal heroes Prince Rama and wife Sita • Faithfulness to duty & devotion to each other and their kingdom symbolizes the ideals of manhood and womanhood • Upanishads (800-600 B.C.) • Collection of writings based on the Vedas (a collection of battle hymns, religious rituals, wise sayings, chants, and tales.) • Rig-Veda • discuss basic ideas of right and wrong. • They describe a "world spirit" or "Supreme Principle" called Brahman

  7. Hinduism • Hindus believe in the endless cycle of life. • Hindu Gods • Brahma - • Shiva - • Vishnu - • The goal for a Hindu is to purify oneself enough to be absorbed back into the universal spirit. • They believe this is a process of purification over many lifetimes. • “Maya” • A person living according to his responsibilities (dharma) of one’s caste is a way to earn one’s spiritual purity (Karma) (good or bad) • Depending on the Karma received one goes up or down in caste. • Outcastes - • reincarnation: • Moksha:

  8. Siddhartha Gautama 563-483 B.C. • Son of Kshatriya Hindu • grew up: married, son, rich, and protected in father's palace • While off estate: 4 signs • Old man, sick man, dead man, wandering beggar • Why does suffering exist? • What is the meaning of life? • Meditation • Great Renunciation • Left his family to answer to questions that plagued him. • Sought enlightenment as a scholar, hermit, yoga, and fasting

  9. Budda: Enlightened One • Meditated under fig tree for 49 days / answers came to him • 4 Noble Truths 1. sorrow 2. people suffer 3. the way to escape suffering is to overcome frustrating desire and reach nirvana: 4. Eightfold Path Eightfold path • 1. right views • 2. right intentions • 3. right speech or avoid lying and gossiping • 4. right actions or avoiding committing crimes/be honest • 5. right living • 6. right effort • 7. right mindfulness • 8. right concentration to direct the mind in mediation

  10. Buddhism vs. Hinduism • Buddhism differed from Hinduism. • Didn’t have a complete system of rituals • only people change evil to good • Taught in vernacular • Enlightenment could be achieved in 1 lifetime • Strict code of non-violence • Eventually Hindus accept Buddha as an incarnation of Vishnu • 100 B.C. split in Buddhism • Hinayana: • Mahayana:

  11. Indian Empires • Mauryan Empire (323-184 B.C.) • Chandragupta • Takes control of N.E. India (Magadha) • Builds Pataliputra a magnificent city on the Ganges. • Unites Magadha and Punjab when Alexander retreats. • Develops roads, army and postal service. • Leaves power in order to become a Jainist monk (legend). • Ashoka (269 – 232 B.C.) • Grandson of Chandragupta. • Considered one of ancient India’s greatest rulers. • After 100,000 deaths & 150,000 prisoners taken in southern conquest. He renounces violence and became a vegetarian Buddhist. • Built 84,000 temples, repealed harsh laws, forbade animals sacrifice, pardoned prisoners, sent missionaries, and supported tolerance. • He placed his edicts and rulings on pillars in public for all to read. • The curly mane lion which topped his pillars are still the symbol of India today. • The people supported Ashoka for love not fear.

  12. Indian Empires: Hindu • Invasions (232 B.C. – 320 A.D.) • Greeks, Huns, Persians • Rulers not strong enough to hold the empire together. • Gupta Empire (320 A.D. - 520 A.D.) • Chandra Gupta • Last great Hindu Empire in India • Mathematicians develop decimal and zero. Arab Algebra, medicine, astronomy, originally an Indian art. • Guptas claim power to rule came from the gods therefore, they supported Hinduism over Buddhism • Invasions (520-712 A.D.) • Huns invade and are eventually driven out • Rajputs rule individual provinces of India independently

  13. Indian Empire: Muslim • Muslims Invade (4 times) (712 - 1526 A.D.) • India ruled by Muslims, but the majority of the people remain Hindu • 712 A.D. Arab Muslems vs. Rajput Warriors "Kshatriya" Class • 1000 A.D. Turks (Mahmud of Ghazni) wins Punjab • 1175 A.D. Turks (Muhannad Ghori) wins Deccan Plateau and the Delhi Sultanate is established. • Mongols swept across Asia in 1200 A.D. • destroy the Muslim capital of Baghdad in 1258. • destroy the Muslim capital of Delhi, India in 1398 • Muslims regain power in India (1450-1526)

  14. Jainism • Mahavira ("Great Hero") founded the Jains. • He described Karma as a substance that clung to your soul. • Only through pure living & self-denial did one rid himself of Karma. • No Prayer or Worship • Vows against stealing, lying, desiring, killing, and violence. • Ahisma - non-violence • Strict Jains hired people to seperate ground before them for fear of insects • Wore masks to strains water and air. • Limited to India

  15. Hindus Idols Music Caste system No No Ate pork Drank alcohol Muslims No No Equal under Allah Seclusion of women Poligamy Ate cow No Hinduism vs. Islam

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