1 / 29

Ancient Civilizations: India

Ancient Civilizations: India. Maurya & Gupta Empires. Geography & Environment. The Geography. On which continent is India located? Asia; India is a subcontinent of Asia. The Geography.

xiang
Download Presentation

Ancient Civilizations: India

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Ancient Civilizations:India Maurya & Gupta Empires

  2. Geography & Environment

  3. The Geography • On which continent is India located? • Asia; India is a subcontinent of Asia

  4. The Geography • On which river did the ancient Indians settle? • The Indus & Ganges Rivers

  5. Early Indian Empires

  6. The Mauryan Empire

  7. Mauryan Empire • Established in 322 BC by the great Indian military leader, Chandragupta Maurya

  8. Mauryan Empire • Politically united North India for the first time ever • Created a highly effective government; included tax collection & the enforcement of laws

  9. Mauryan Empire • In 269 BC Asoka, Chandragupta’s grandson, became emperor of the Mauryan Empire

  10. Mauryan Empire • After many years of violent conquest, Asoka felt remorseful

  11. Mauryan Empire • Converted to Buddhism & ruled by Buddha’s teaching of “peace to all beings” • Spread Buddhism throughout India & other parts of Asia via missionaries

  12. Asoka’s Rock Edicts • Laws carved on rock pillars were placed throughout the empire • Stressed concern for other human beings

  13. The Gupta Empire

  14. Gupta Empire • After the fall of the Mauryan Empire India experienced 500 years of chaos • Finally in AD 320 a strong leader known as Chandra Gupta rose to power in Northern India

  15. Gupta Empire • 320 AD to 535 AD • India’s “Golden Age,” or the flourishing of arts & sciences

  16. Gupta’s Golden Age • Achievements in Mathematics: • Principles of algebra • Infinity & Zero • Value of Pi • Arabic numerals  1, 2, 3…

  17. Gupta’s Golden Age • Achievements in Science: • Earth is round • Identified 7 planets • Invented medical instruments, performed operations, set bones, etc.

  18. The THREE PILLARS of Indian Life

  19. The Caste System: System of social hierarchy within India 5 different castes (social classes) 1) The Caste System

  20. Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaisyas Sudras Priests Nobles, warriors, royalty Caste System Merchants & skilled workers Servants, peasants, slaves, laborers Untouchables: Outcasts = outside caste system

  21. Members of higher castes were considered more pure Untouchables were considered spiritually polluted; ignored by members of other castes Caste Purity?

  22. Caste Roles • Different castes were viewed as being different species • Castes were separated from each other (location, housing, clothing, occupation, etc.)

  23. Caste Roles • If you were obedient to the restrictions of your caste, you would be reincarnated into a higher caste

  24. 2) Family • One was aware of his or her caste from childhood • It was the FAMILY’S responsibility to teach children about caste, as well as their expected duties/behaviors

  25. 2) Family • Family needs ALWAYS came before individual wishes • Patriarchal society

  26. 3) Village • Community served as the heart of Indian life • Community needs ALWAYS came before individual wishes

  27. 3) Village • Different castes lived together in the SAME village • WHY IS THIS SO?

  28. The Indian Caste System – An Introduction • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh_xvKLhZHg

More Related