3.1 Early Civilizations In IndiaBig Idea: Changes to the Physical environment & the migration of Aryans led to major changes in

India’s culture.

Geography of India • Subcontinent – part of a

large continent• Mts., rivers plains

– North-Himalaya Mts – South -Ganges River Valley – West- Indus River.– South -Deccan Plateau

(interior-lush plains)• Monsoons

– Seasonal wind (rain) • Summer • Winter

• Harappan Civilization •Cities-Harappa and Mohenjo

Daro. •Grid pattern•Public wells, bathrooms.•Waste water drainage system•trash chutes

•Religion & government closely linked

•Divine Right •Economy

•Farming •Trade with Mesopotamia

•Copper, precious stones and cotton.

•Not sure how Indus Valley came to an end

Indus River Valley 3000B.C.-1500B.C.

Vedic Age • Aryans Arrive .

– Indo-Europeans moved across Hindu Kush Mts. • political control of India. • strong warriors• Nomadic – move place -place• Cow/ Bulls • Rajahs- war leaders / chiefs control kingdoms• Sanskrit writing

– oral stories “Vedas.” – India’s early history

Vedic Age• Daily Life in Ancient India- • Family centered.

– Patriarchal (male dominated)• High class men educated

– guru(teacher).• Women

– subordinate – suttee ritual.

• Social Classes– Aryan Ideals –caste system– Varnas ( social groups)

– Brahmins- priest / high class– Kshatriyas- warriors /rulers– Vaisyas-commoners/traders/farmers– Sudras –peasants/slaves

» Untouchables –outside caste-lowest of low

The Caste System

The mouth?

The arms?

The legs?

The feet?

Outside the caste?

WHO IS…

BrahminsBrahmins

KshatriyasKshatriyas

VaishyasVaishyas

ShudrasShudras

Religions• Aryan beliefs blend with Dravidian =Hinduism.• Hinduism

– Religious beliefs of Aryans.• From Vedas,

– single force (Brahman) -ultimate reality– YOGA -oneness with God. – Human-like gods ( 3 main gods- Holy

Trinity) » Brahman ( Creator) » Vishnu (Preserver)» Shiva (Destroyer) .p72

– Principle of Hinduism• 1. Reincarnation- reborn different form • 2. Karma-determines rebirth• 3. DHARMA- Divine law

– Jainism -All people do their duty.

Buddhism

• Founder – Siddharta Gautama

(Budda- enlightened one)• Principles of Buddhism • 1. Denied reality of material

world– NIRVANA (ultimate reality)

• end of the self • reunion with Great

World soul.• 4 noble truths page 75

– The middle path

Section 3-1 Review

• What is the highest mountain in the world?• Himalaya• The priestly class of Indian society was what?• The Brahmins• What were the major ancient cities of the

Indus River valley?• Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

Section 3-1 Review

• Reincarnation is the Hindu belief that the individual soul does what?

• Is reborn in a different form• Who were the Indo-Europeans who invaded

northern India?• Aryans• In Hindu belief, karma is a force that what?• Determines how a person will be reborn

Section 3-1 Review

• What is a set of rigid social categories?• Caste system• Siddhartha denied the reality of what?• The material world• Was it Buddhism or Hinduism with the belief

in a single, universal force called Brahman?• Hinduism

Section 3-1 Review

• The Aryans developed a writing system called Sanskrit to do what?

• Record their religious writings and legends