bellringer use the self-evaluation form you picked up at the front door to think about your quarter:...
TRANSCRIPT
Bellringer
• Use the Self-Evaluation Form you picked up at the front door to think about your quarter: What have you done well? What can you improve upon?
• BJOTD: Where do books sleep?
Indo-European Migrations and Indian Empires
Background
• Classical Indian civilization began in the Indus River Valley, and later spread to the Ganges River Valley.
• Indian civilization was not interrupted by invasion in its early history due to its relative isolation by natural barriers such as – the Himalayas – Hindu Kush Mountains– Indian Ocean
• Eventually, invaders entered India through the passes in the Hindu Kush mountains. These invaders were known as the Aryans.
Aryans (Indo-Aryans)
• Semi-nomadic people who crossed the mountains into the Indus Valley around 1500 BCE
• Asserted their dominance in India and over Indian people by creating a rigidly structured society, called the caste system.
Caste System
• Social classes based on skin color– Meant that the classes were not flexible (rigid)
• Castes:– Brahmins: priests and religious scholars on top– Kshtryiyas: lawmakers and warriors– Vaishyas: merchants and traders– Shudras: laborers– Untouchables: butchers, trash collectors
• Your caste influenced all social interactions and occupations
Processing
• What important contributions did the Aryans bring to the Indian civilization?
• How do you think the Nazi idea of “Aryan” compares to this form of “Aryan”?
Mauryan Empire: 305 BCE-230 BCE
• Founded by Chandragupta Maurya
• Expanded by Ashoka, who continued the political unification of India
• Ashoka converted to Buddhism after seeing the devastation that war caused.
• Contributions:– Buddhism– Free hospitals– Veterinary clinics– Improved roads
Gupta Empire: 320 CE-420 CE
• Reigned during the peak of classical Indian culture- “the Golden Age”• Significant contributions:
– Mathematics (zero, modern numbers, decimals)– Medicine (setting bones)– Astronomy (First to think the earth was round)– New textiles – Literature (poems, dramas)