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India and China . Early Civilizations in India Chapter 3 Section 1. The Impact of Geograph y. Mountains, Rivers and Plains Himalaya – Far north mountain range in India Ganges River – South of the Himalayas Indus River Valley – dry plateau that forms the backbone of modern day Pakistan
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India and China Early Civilizations in India Chapter 3 Section 1
The Impact of Geography • Mountains, Rivers and Plains • Himalaya – Far north mountain range in India • Ganges River – South of the Himalayas • Indus River Valley – dry plateau that forms the backbone of modern day Pakistan • Deccan Plateau – hilly and dry in the interior • Eastern and Western Coasts are lush plains
Monsoons • Seasonal wind pattern • June through September winds come from the South and Southwest • October through February winds blow from the north to the northeast
Indus Valley Civilization • Harappa and MohenjoDaro • Cities were carefully planned • Main streets ran in a north south direction • Walled neighborhoods with narrow lanes separated the row of houses • Houses formed a grid pattern • Public wells • Bathrooms featured an advanced drainage system • Wastewater flowed out to drains located under the streets then was carried to sewage pits beyond the city walls • Chutes took household trash from houses to street level garbage bins
Migration and Interaction • Indus River Valley Civilizations ending is a mystery • Gradual decay, floods, earthquakes, change in the course of the river • Arrival of the Aryans • Lived in tribal groups and had a strong warrior tradition • Gradually moved eastward across India and gradually took over the Indus River Valley people
Migration and Interaction • A New Way of Life • North – wheat, barley and rice • South – grain, vegetables, cotton, pepper, ginger and cinnamon • Writing • Sanskrit – Indo-European language • Vedas – early writings that tell of small kingdoms throughout India
Migration and Interaction • Daily Life in Ancient • Family was the basic unit in society • Grandparents, parents, and children lived under the same roof • Patriarchal • Oldest male had legal authority • Inherit property • Children • Marriages were arranged • Parents would support their daughters until marriage and then pay a dowry to the family of the man she married
Migration and Interaction • Daily Life • Suttee • Dead were placed on heaps of material called pyres which were set on fire • The wife was required to throw herself on her dead husband’s flaming pyre • If she did not she was held in disgrace
Social Class in Ancient India • Aryans believed Society was divided into 4 varnas • Top Level = Brahmins (priests) • 2nd Level = Kshatriyas (warriors) • 3rd Level = Vaisyas (commoners) • 4th Level = Sudras (peasants or servants) • 5th Level = Untouchables • Caste System • Born into a caste and it determined what occupation you could have, who to marry, and what groups they could socialize with • Lowest level in Indian society were the Untouchables who were given menial tasks
Religions of India • Hinduism • Believed in the existence of a single force in the universe = Brahman • Yoga • Leave behind earthly life and join Brahman in a kind of dreamless sleep • Most ordinary Indians could not relate to this ideal and came to have a number of human like gods and goddesses • Brahma – the creator • Vishnu – the preserver • Shiva – the destroyer
Religions of India • Principles of Hinduism • Reincarnation • Rebirth • Gives hope to people especially those in the lower castes • Karma • “what goes around comes around” • Dharma • Requires people to do their duty which depends on their status in society
Religions of India • Buddhism • Siddhartha Gautama – founder of Buddhism • Raised in luxury and at age 16 he married a princess and began to raise a family • At age 20 he noticed people suffering from illness, death and old age • Decided to spend his life seeking the cure for human suffering • Practiced self denial but it took him very close to death • Turned to meditation and met enlightenment and his teachings became Buddhism
Religion in India • Principles of Buddhism • Siddhartha denied the reality of the material world • Believed human sufferings were caused by their attachments to things in this world • Nirvana – ultimate reality • Four Noble Truths • Ordinary Life is full of suffering • This suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy ourselves • The way to end suffering is to end desire for selfish goals to see others as extensions of ourselves • The way to end desire is to follow the Middle Path
Religions of India • Middle Path • Eightfold Path 1. Right view – know the 4 noble truths 2. Right intention – Need to know what we want 3. Right Speech – Speak truth and well of each other 4. Right Action – Do not: Kill, steal, like, unchaste, drugs or alcohol 5. Right Livelihood – Work that uplifts us and others 6. Right effort – Do not give up 7. Right Mindfulness – Keep our minds in control of our senses 8. Right Concentration – meditate to see the world in a new way