INDIA

SOL STANDARDS ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS Why were physical

geography and location important to the development of Indian civilization?

What impact did the Aryans have on India?

Why was the caste system central to Indian culture?

What were the accomplishments of Mauryan and Gupta empires?

What are thebeliefs of the Hindu religion?

How did Hinduism influence Indian society and culture?

What are the beliefs of Buddhism?

How did Buddhism spread?

GEOGRAPHY

Hindu Kush Mountains

Himalayan Mountains

Indian Ocean

Geographic barriers allowed Indian civilization to progress with few interruptions from

invaders.

INDO-EUROPEANS

Nomadic peoples who migrated across Europe and Asia

They spoke forms of the same language

INDO-ARYANS Nomadic herders who migrated through

passes in the Hindu Kush Mountains

KHYBER PASSAryan migration route

ARYAN INVADERS Conquered advanced Indus River Valley cities

Put native Indians on the bottom of the caste system

ARYANSMoved east

and built kingdoms along the Ganges river.

The Indus and the Ganges were the most important rivers in the Indian subcontinent

VEDASVast collection of ancient Aryan

prayers, magical spells and and instructions for performing rituals

•passed on orally for 1000 + years

CASTE SYSTEM Rigid class system based on occupations

People were born into their caste for life and could only move up in another life

CASTESInfluenced all social interactions

and choice of occupations

• Job•Marriage•Dress

HINDUISMMany forms of one God

Reincarnation

Caste systemKarmaVedas and Upanishads

Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva

BRAHMANMany forms of one major deity (God).

The unifying soul in all things.

REINCARNATION

Cycles of Rebirth A spirit is born again and

again until moksha (perfect understanding) is achieved

KARMAGood deeds and bad deeds

Future life based on present behavior

Influences caste, health, wealth, etc.

SPREAD OF HINDUISMHinduism spread from India to Southeast Asia

UPANISHADS

Dialogues between student and teacher

Explains such concepts as Brahman, karma and reincarnation

ORIGINS OF BUDDHISM

Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in the part of India that borders present-day Nepal.

SIDDHARTHA GUATAMA Buddha :” The Enlightened One”

Enlightenment: wisdom; a state of perfect understanding

BELIEFS OF BUDDHISMRejects the

Hindu caste system, but keeps the concepts of karma and reincarnation

Four Noble Truths

Eightfold Path

FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

Life is full of suffering

The cause of suffering is desire

The way to end suffering is to end desire

To end desire, one must follow the Eightfold Path

EIGHTFOLD PATH The Middle Way between desires and self-denial

•    By following the path anyone could reach Nirvana•    Nirvana: release from selfishness and pain

ASOKAAsoka’s missionaries and their writings spread Buddhism from India to China and other parts of

Asia

SPREAD OF BUDDHISMMahayana spread to China, Korea, and Japan Theravada spread to SE Asia and Sri Lanka

RELIGIONS OF EAST ASIAColored areas

represent predominant religions today

Buddhist ideals eventually became absorbed into the Hindu religion in India

GUPTA EMPIREGolden age of classical Indian culture

INDIA’S GOLDEN AGE

a period of peace and prosperity and a flourishing of arts, literature and learning

•Mathematics•Textiles (cotton)•Literature•Sugarcane

Gupta DynastyContributions

HINDU NUMERALS Base 10

Included zero Place value and decimals

GUPTA DYNASTY LITERATURE

KalidasaTamil poets

INDIAN TRADE

sugarcane

• cotton cloth

•spices

LATEEN SAIL

REFLECTION A characteristic of the Aryan society of India is

A. a rigid caste system.B. development of a sophisticated alphabet.C. Buddhism as a religion.D. tolerance of conquered peoples.

A belief in reincarnation, karma, many forms of one major deity, and a caste system are characteristics of which of the following religions?A. HinduismB. BuddhismC. JudaismD. Zoroastrianism

The following is a sacred writing of Hinduism:A. Ten CommandmentsB. Code of HammurabiC. UpanishadsD. Koran