Ancient Indian Civilization: Society, Religion & Achievements

1. India Unit Four

2. Section One Indian Cities

3. Agenda 4-1-15 • Warm-up: Finish India Unit • Hinduism v. Buddhism venn diagram. • Finish Egypt Unit work, India Map, and India city drawing • Venn Diagram: Indian society v. our society • China Map

4. India’s First Civilization • Emerged in river valleys • 3000-1500 B.C. • Two early cities were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro • Historians call these regions the “Indus Valley”

5. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro • Both had around 35-40,000 people • Both were carefully planned • Main streets ran north-south, side streets east-west • Buildings and homes were made from mud brick • Homes had a drainage system which flowed out of the homes, under the streets • Had a trash removal system which ran to the street as well.

6. Assignment • Draw a picture of an Ancient Indian city. Show at least 3 components of the city as stated in your notes. • Write a short paragraph of 4-6 sentences explaining what you have drawn.

7. Section Two Government and Society

8. Rulers • Believed in divine power • Religion and politics were linked • Palace and temple were connected • Rulers often prayed for a big harvest as it was a farming society • Traded with Mesopotamia for textiles and food by sending them copper, lumber, stones, and cotton

9. Society • Early India was taken over by a group of people known as Aryans. • Ancient India developed a caste system which continues to this day. • At birth, position in society, social status, and economic potential were already decided. • Five castes or groups existed

10. Castes of India • Priests: Known as Brahmans, ran religious ceremonies • Warriors: Protectors of society • Commoners: Merchants or farmers • Sudras: Non-Aryans , mostly peasant farmers • Untouchables: Worked on undesirable tasks such as collecting trash/dead bodies

11. Family • 3 Generations often lived together (grandparents, parents, children • Male dominated authority (patriarchal) • Only men could inherit property, serve as priests, only men were educated • Upper class men were to get twelve years of education before marriage • Marriages were arranged • Female widows had to throw their bodies on the fire with the body of their deceased husbands

12. Assignment • Create a venn diagram which shows how Indian is similar to and different from our society

13. Section Three Religion

14. Hinduism • Came from the beliefs of the Aryans who conquered India • Evidence comes from the Vedas, collections of hymns passed down by word of mouth • Believed in a single force of the universe, called Brahman • The individual was to follow Hindu teachings in order to merge with Brahman after death

15. Hinduism • Key concepts: karma and dharma • Karma: Action in current life determines what they will be in the next (reincarnation) • Karma is ruled by dharma or divine law. • Dharma requires people to do their duty in society, which was determined by position • Higher classes had higher expectations placed upon them.

16. Hinduism • Yoga was taught as a way to achieve union with Brahman • Hundreds of gods, but, they mainly had three chief gods • Brahma-the Creator, Vishnu-the Preserver, Siva-the Destroyer • Today Hinduism remains the dominant religion of India

18. Buddhism • Emerged in the 6th century B.C. • Founder was Siddhartha Gautama (“The Buddha”) • Gautama was the son of a ruler • Married a princess • Had a very good life, but was extremely bothered by the suffering of others • He gave up his life of luxury and set out to find the “true meaning” of life. At one point, he nearly starved to death

19. Buddhism • Buddhists try to reach “enlightenment” through mediation (whereby they believed they knew the meaning of life.) • Buddhism has four principles (Four Noble Truths) • One-Ordinary life is full of suffering • Two-Suffering is caused by a desire to please ourselves • Three-The way to end suffering is to end selfishness • Four- The way to end suffering is to follow the eight fold path

20. Middle Path (Eight Fold Path) • First-Right view-need to know the four noble truths • Second-Right intention-We need to decide what we really want • Third-Right Speech-Speak the truth, and speak well of others • Four-Right Action-Do not kill, steal, lie, or do drugs and alcohol • Five-Right livelihood-Do uplifting work • Six-Right effort-Constant effort until you complete a task • Seven- Right Mindfullness-Control mind, control senses • Eight-Right Concentration-Meditation

21. Buddhism • Accepted reincarnation • Rejected caste system • Goal was to reach nirvana, to reunite with the “Great World Soul” • Didn’t want to be seen as a god • Many thought of it as a philosophy because of this • Buddhism spread throughout Asia after his death

22. Section Four Cultural Achievements

23. India is important because: • Two religions (Hinduism and Buddhism) began there. • Created a trade route with China that became known as the silk road, allowing Indian ideas to spread throughout Asia. • Written language: Sanskrit was created to write down religious and other teachings. • Literature told stories of great warriors.

24. Architecture • Three main types of architecture were created: pillar, stupa, and rock chamber. • Pillars were often created on the sides of roads to mark events in the Buddha’s life. • Stupas (burial mound) housed relics of the Buddha, such as a lock of hair. • Rock chambers were a series of rocks constructed to house the monks who practiced Buddhism.

25. Science • Recognized earth was a sphere and rotated on its axis. • Among the first to use algebra • Concept of zero