1 / 28

Ancient India

Ancient India. Early Settlers: Indus River Valley. Early people lived in the Indus River Valley Like the Nile, the Indus flooded predictably & provided rich soil for farming People of Indus River developed well-planned cities with brick homes, streets, wells, sewers, markets.

ronna
Download Presentation

Ancient 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 India

  2. Early Settlers: Indus River Valley • Early people lived in the Indus River Valley • Like the Nile, the Indus flooded predictably & provided rich soil for farming • People of Indus River developed well-planned cities with brick homes, streets, wells, sewers, markets

  3. Early Settlers: Indus River Valley • Cities in Indus River Valley began to decline & came to an end around 1500 B.C. Why? • Indus River changed course? • Over-farming & over-grazing of land? • Attacks by invaders?

  4. Early Settlers: Aryans • Aryans entered Indus River Valley in 1500 B.C. • Did not live in cities (nomads) & had no writing system; spoke early form of Sanskrit (language that is still around today in India) • Passed on traditions through Vedas—thousands of oral scriptures & poems that tell of the history & religion of Aryans

  5. Through Cultural Diffusion between Early Indus River peoples and Aryan Invaders—Unique Indian Culture Developed

  6. Early Settlers: Cultural Diffusion • Through cultural diffusion (sharing & blending of ideas) of Indus River Valley Civilization and Aryans, a unique Indian culture was created: • Hinduism • Caste System

  7. Caste System • Caste System—complicated set of divisions of people within Indian society; higher castes were “purer” than lower castes • Did not marry outside of caste; did not share food with lower caste • Each group had own occupation & dharma (duty within caste) • “Better to do one’s own duty badly than do another’s duty well”

  8. Caste System • Priests • Warriors, Rulers • Common People • Unskilled Laborers • Slaves (Untouchables)

  9. Ancient India Hinduism & Buddhism

  10. Hinduism • Oldest religion in the world • Beliefs: • Brahma—a mighty spirit that creates all & destroys all lives everywhere, in everything. • To become one with Brahman (called moksha), you must get “purer”

  11. Hinduism • Beliefs: • Caste system reflects purity; higher caste means one is “more pure” • Reincarnation—after you die, your soul returns to another body; into which caste your soul returns depends on how you lived your life (called your karma)

  12. Reincarnation . . . • Everything a person does affects the future of his/her soul. • No deed is forgotten • A person builds a future life through action.

  13. Reincarnation

  14. Buddhism • 528 B.C. Siddhartha Gautama introduced Buddhism—anyone can achieve Enlightenment through the Four Noble Truths

  15. Buddhism • Four Noble Truths: • Suffering is part of life • People suffer because they want things that cannot have • To end suffering means to end “wanting” • Once overcome suffering, can achieve nirvana (state of enlightenment by following the Eight-Fold Path)

  16. Eight-Fold Path • Right Views—believe • Right Thought—don’t be envious • Right Action—do what is right • Right Effort—be disciplined • Right Livelihood—live simply • Right Speech—say nice things • Right Mindfulness—keep good mind & body • Right Meditation—be focused

  17. Buddhism • Based on non-violence & kindness—true Buddhist wouldn’t hurt a fly • No rituals; based on meditation & actions • Anyone (even women, the poor, & slaves) could attain nirvana

  18. Spread of Buddhism • 322-298 B.C. Chandragupta united all of northern India under Mauryan Kingdom using terror • His grandson, Ashoka was more peaceful & became Buddhist • Ashoka sent hundreds of missionaries to spread Buddhism; Buddhism became a major world religion

  19. Creating a Buddhist Brochure • King Ashoka of the Mauryan Kingdom of India has asked you to create a persuasive brochure for Buddhism to help spread the faith • Your brochure should: • Include information about Buddhism • Include images that reflect your content • Explain why it is the “best” religion • Include persuasive writing that tries to convert people in the region from Hinduism to Buddhism

More Related