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Welcome to World History Today is 9/20/08. Daily kickoff- list five facts you know about the Indus River Valley Civilization. Indus River Valley. An Interesting Fact
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Welcome to World HistoryToday is 9/20/08 Daily kickoff- list five facts you know about the Indus River Valley Civilization.
Indus River Valley • An Interesting Fact • The civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt left behind many artifacts as well as a written language that could be translated; however historian know less about this region because their language has never been translated The Geography • Indian Subcontinent • Refers to the landmass of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh • Means a large area of land that is part of a continent but is also seperated from the continent
India • Rivers, Mountains, and Plains • The Indus Valley natural barriers helped to shield the lands from invasions • Himalayas and the Arabian sea • Fertile plain is formed by the Indus River (southwest) and the Ganges • Rivers produce water for irrigation as well as silt for rich land • Lower India occupied by the Thar Desert • Monsoons • A wind that changes direction can also mean a heavy rain • Storms bring moisture so much that they cause floods • Can cause droughts in the summer– lack of moisture • Environmental Challenges • Yearly floods of rich soil • Unpredictable • Rivers change course
India • Civilization Emerges on the Indus • Earliest Arrivals • Historians do know that farming along the Indus Valley took place by about 3200B.C, because of the discoveries of the Harappan civilization • Planned cities • About 2500 B.C. the Harappan civilization made strategic grid maps and mazes of the cities • Engineers also created sophisticated plumbing systems and the organization suggest that there was a strong central government • Harappan Planning • Built city on mud brick • To protect from flooding • Built areas called citadels • Protect the royal family • Served as a temple
India • Harappan Culture • Language • They did have a written language, but one that has been impossible to decifer • It is found on stamps and seals • Culture • Animals were a major part of culture • Clay and wooden children toys • Trade • Conducted thriving trade with region • Gold and silver came from north of Afghanistan • Used the Indus River as a means of transportation for the trade of goods • Role of Religion • Theocracy • Some signs of Hinduism
India • Indus Valley Culture Ends • Gradually fell into decay • Shifts of tectonic plates shift • Earthquakes and floods
Hinduism: Complex Religion • No Founder – always existed • No SINGLE sacred Text • Vedas • Upanishads:
Brahman • All-powerful, spiritual force • “God is one, but wise people know it by many names” • Brahman is not separate from the entire universe and all things within the universe
Polytheistic or Monotheistic? • Hinduism belief in “god” does not fit neatly into the framework of monotheism or polytheism • Brahman takes on many forms • Hindus worship many different “gods” they believe they are all just forms of Brahman. • Brahman is all existence
Atman • Hindus believe that all people have a soul or Atman. They believe that this Atman is part of Brahman
Moksha • The ultimate goal is to reach Moksha • Moksha means salvation or oneness with Brahman • Union of your soul with Brahman • Free yourself of selfish desires • Ends cycle of Reincarnation
Reincarnation • Rebirth of soul in another body • SAMSARA: the cycle of reincarnation • It is the ultimate goal to be released from Samsara • The only way to be released is to achieve Moksha
Dharma • Religious and moral duties of an individual. • Each individual in society is expected to follow their Dharma
Ashramas • Dharma instructs people about responsibilities in each stage of life • These stages are called Ashramas • Student • Householder • Forest Dweller • Renouncer
Karma • Karma is based on the belief that every action has an effect • Good deeds leave a positive imprint and bad deeds leave a negative one • When a person gives off a lot good Karma during life they can be reborn at a higher point and move closer to Moksha.
Welcome to World History • Today is 8/22/08 TGIF • Take the first 10 minutes to look over your notes • Agenda • Quiz • Caste System Activity
Quick Quiz • Write down the question and your answer • What was the first civilization to settle in Mesopotamia? • Name the two rivers that created a fertile crescent in Mesopotamia. • Did they have a form of writing? If so what was the name of it? • Why did Mesopotamia suffer so many invasions? • What river flows through Egypt? • Does Egypt have natural barriers? • Describe Egypt's religion with one word. • Name two similarities and two differences of Mesopotamia and Egypt.
The Caste System • “Clean Caste” • Brahmans- priest, holy men • Kshatriyas-kings, warriors, soldiers • Vaishyas- Businessmen, traders, commercial class • Shudras- farmers, producers, peasants “The Untouchables” -down bad in an life before - have to do dirty work like , like dealing with animals, dead bodies, and trash.