Ancient Indian Civilizations

1. Ancient Indian Civilizations 2500 B.C. – 500 A.D.

3. Indus River Valley Civilizations • Geography • Surrounded by Ocean on three sides • The Himalayan Mountains provide protection from the north • Indus and Ganges Rivers lie south of the northern mountains • The Deccan Plateau makes up most of the country • Early inhabitants were sea traders

4. Indus River Valley Civilizations • Climate • Monsoons & high temperatures • Monsoons are winds that signal a change in seasons • November – March = little rain • Mid June – October = wet season

5. Indus River Valley Civilizations • Early Civilizations • 1st great civ. was from 2500 BC – 1500 BC • Two main cities were Mohenjo Daro & Harappa • Large • Water system • Public Bath • Sewer • Strong central fortress – Citadel • Store houses for grain

6. Indus River Civilizations

7. Indus River Valley Civilizations • Farmlands surrounded the cities • Also raised cattle • City dwellers were involved making or trading goods • Believed in a great god, symbolized through animals and nature • Disappeared due to a natural disaster • Great flood or earthquake

10. Indo – Aryan Migrants • Nomadic Indo – Aryans • Sheep and cattle herders • Skilled warriors • Most of what we know came from the Vedas • Vedas are ancient religious records and stories • Told from generation to generation • Written in Sanskrit by scholars

11. Indo – Aryan Migrants • Indo – Aryan Religion • Early gods were based on elements of nature, such as: • Earth • Fire • Water Shiva – the destroyer

12. Indo – Aryan Migrants • Brahmans were the ancient priests • As time went on ceremonies became more complicated

13. Indo – Aryan Migrants • Early Indo-Aryan Society • Built civilizations at the end of the Neolithic Age • Governed by a raja • These people had lighter skin • Developed a social structure with priests and warriors at the top • Arranged marriages were common

14. Indo – Aryan Migrants • Indo – Aryan Economy • Grew • Wheat • Barley • Rice • Sugar cane • Vegetables • Language was an early form of Sanskrit

15. Indo – Aryan Migrants • Southern India • Protected from invasions by mountains • Some hunted, gathered, fished, or farmed • Some traded, which made them wealthy and led to cultural diffusion

16. Hinduism and Buddhism • Upanishads and the Epics • Some began to question the authority of the Brahmans • Collection of writings was called the Upanishads • Eventually combined into two epics (poems) • Mahabharata and Ramayana

17. Hinduism and Buddhism • Caste System Developed • Complex form of social hierarchy • Five varnas (classes)

18. Hinduism and Buddhism • Hinduism • Believed in Monism- the unity of God and Creation • Hindu Beliefs • The world we see is an illusion or maya • It can take many lifetimes to reject maya • Believe in reincarnation • Dharma is the duty of people to be good • Karma is the force created by good and bad actions • Nirvana is when the soul reaches peace and connects with Brahma • Polytheistic

19. Hinduism and Buddhism • Hindu Religious Practices • Yoga • See many animals as sacred, especially cows

20. Hinduism and Buddhism • Buddhism • Founded by Siddhartha Gautama • Wealthy Hindu prince who sought the meaning of life • Became known as Buddha – Enlightened One • Buddha’s Teachings • Accepted some Hindu ideas • Taught Four Noble truths and the eight-fold path • Denied the importance of the Hindu caste system • Very appealing to the poor and untouchables

21. The Four Noble Truths 1. Life means suffering. 2. The origin of suffering is attachment. 3. It is possible to end suffering. 4. The Eightfold Path leads to the end of suffering. Hinduism and Buddhism Padma - Symbol of Purity. Can be of any color except blue.

22. Hinduism and Buddhism • 8 Fold Path • Right Views • Right Intentions • Right Speech • Right Action • Right Living • Right Effort • Right Mindfulness • Right Concentration The wheel of the law. The eight spokes represent the eightfold path.

23. Hinduism and Buddhism • Spread of Buddhism • Buddha himself only had a few followers • Split into two sects • Theravada (Southeast Asia) • Buddha was great teacher and leader • Mahayana (East Asia) • Buddha was God and Savior

24. Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires • Mauryan Dynasty • King Bimbisara of Magadha began to unify India • Helped to fight off invaders from Persia • Chandragupta Maurya • Started Mauryan Dynasty • Controlled most of India • Developed mining and weaving towns • Standardized weights throughout kingdom • Established physician qualifications • He slept in a different room each night, fearful of assassination attempts

26. Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires • Mauryan Dynasty • Asoka • Grandson of Chandragupta Maurya • Extended control of empire to all of India except southern tip • Spread Buddhism with missionaries • Revised laws • Advanced India culturally and politically • After his death the empire would slowly decline

27. Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires • The Gupta Rulers • New dynasty lead to rise of Hinduism and decline of Buddhism • Gupta family came to power • Expanded territory • Conquest • Intermarriage • Society prospered under their rule • Gave more power to local leaders

28. Ancient Indian Life and Culture • Economy and Society • Most economy came through trade • Sold: • Wool, Cotton, Spices, Silk, Precious gems, Ivory • Women did not have the same rights as men • Obey fathers • Obey husbands • If husband died, obey sons • Sometimes they would throw themselves on the burning funeral pyre of their husbands • Called Suttee • Polygamy was practiced

29. Ancient Indian Life and Culture • Cultural Achievements • Art and Architecture • Early Buddhist art show Greek and Roman influence • Growth of Hinduism brought about growth of temples • Education • Very advanced • University of Nalanda – center of higher learning during Gupta era • First people to use algebra and solve quadratic equations • Also came up with concept of innoculation • Infecting a person with disease to build up immune system