Essential Question: What were the important characteristics of the civilizations in the Indus River...
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Transcript of Essential Question: What were the important characteristics of the civilizations in the Indus River...
Essential Question: What were the important characteristics
of the civilizations in the Indus River Valley?
Warm-Up Question: Name 2 similarities between Egypt &
Mesopotamian civilizations Name 2 differences
The Indus River Valley (India)
Class Activity:Take a diamond shaped schematic
map and use the ancient India map in the blue World History textbook pg. 53 to help you fill out the schematic map
Do-Now
What can you learn about a civilization by looking at its cities?
Provide at least 3 examples.
India began along the Indus River,
which flooded & left behind fertile soil
Seasonal monsoons caused summer rains & floods
The people were well protected on the Indian
subcontinent by the oceans, mountains, &
deserts that surrounded the Indus River Valley
9H - Do-Now:
When you think of an advanced civilization/society, what images or ideas come to mind? Make a list of 5-10 elements of an advanced civilization.
Lasting Contributions
Advanced cities: Indus cities were laid out in a grid system with high walls & citadel of major buildings
Two of its most famous cities were
Harappa and Mohenjo-
Daro
Well-Planned Cities Reveal Organized Government
Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were possible twin capitals of the civilization.
Baked clay bricks were common building materials
Had a complex plumbing system – sewers, drains, baths, etc.
Merchants had a uniform system of weights and measures.
Well organized government Urban Planning
Lasting Contributions
Technology: Advanced plumbing; Most houses had toilets & private bathrooms connected to underground sewer systems
Standard, oven-baked bricks
Farming & Trading in the Indus River Valley
Making a Living by Farming and Trading Most were farmers Variety of crops: wheat, barley, melons, and
dates. Others were merchants and traders Ships carried the following: cotton cloth,
grain, copper, pearls, and ivory Reached the city-states of Sumer Indus valley developed their own writing
system (not yet deciphered) and religious beliefs.
Religion of the Ancient Indus Valley
Polytheistic Mother goddess, a source of
creation, was widely honored – there was also a male god
Viewed certain animals sacred: buffalo, bull, and cattle
Veneration – special regard for cattle
Indus River Civilization Declines
1900 BC Indus Valley declines Crude pottery, use of writing
declined, cities abandoned, populations decreased.
Scholars do not know what happened, however there are various possibilities: invaders, damage to local environment, major flooding, and/or an earthquake.
Aryan Civilization Develops During the Vedic Age
Nomads migrated to Central Asia Traveled through mountain passes in
Northwest India Aryans Emerge in India Nomads intermarried with local peoples to
form a group called Aryans Acculturation – blending of two or more
cultures Combined the cultural traditions of the
nomads with those of earlier Indian peoples. Left behind very little archaeological evidence
Aryan Civilization
Vedas – collection of hymns, chants, ritual instructions, and other religious teachings.
Measured wealth in cows and bulls From Nomadic Life to Farming Settled into villages to cultivate crops and
breed cattle Learned how to make tools out of iron Rajahs – Aryan tribes were led by chiefs;
skilled war leader, elected to his position by an assembly of warriors.
Aryans Structure Society
Divided society into ranks based on occupation: Early Caste system
Highest group was Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaisyas (herders, farmers, artisans, and merchants).
Sudras were those who were not of Aryan heritage. This also includes: farm workers, servants, and other laborers.
Lasting Contributions
Specialized Workers: Indian society was divided by the “caste system” which divided people based on their purity in Hinduism
Lasting Contributions
Government:Little is known about Indus government other than they were ruled by kings
Lasting Contributions
Writing: Indus writing has not been fully translated so much of Indus life is still a mystery
Writing contained about 400 symbols that were both pictograms & phonetic characters
Aryan Religious Beliefs Develop Polytheistic Worshipped gods and goddesses who embodied
natural forces like the: sky, sun, storm, and fire. Indra – the god of war Varuna – god of order and creation Agni – god of fire and the messenger who
communicated wishes to the gods Brahmins offered sacrifices of food and drink to the
gods. Brahman – a single spiritual power that existed
beyond the many gods and resided in all things Mystics – people who seek direct communion with
divine forces.
Aryan Writings
Epic Literature Tells About Aryan Life Sanskrit – priests used this written language to
write sacred texts. Maintained a strong oral tradition – memorize
and recite ancient hymns Mahabharata Tells of Warfare and Religion
India’s greatest epic Bhagavad-Gita – reflects important Indian religious
beliefs about the immortality of the soul and the value of performing one’s duty.
Ramayana Teaches Values of Behavior Priest-poets added new morals to the tales to
teach different lessons.
Lasting Contributions
Religion:Believed in a polytheistic religion called Hinduism
Hindus believe that one’s soul is reborn until moksha is achieved (reincarnation)
Moksha (enlightenment or nirvana) is the spiritual release from human form
A soul’s karma (good or bad deeds) effect reincarnation
Hinduism
Hinduism does not have one founder and no single sacred text.
All Hindus share certain basic beliefs One Force Underlies Everything Major Gods include:
Brahma – the creator Vishnu – the preserver Shiva – the destroyer
Major Tenets of Hinduism
Sacred Texts Reveal Hindu Beliefs Hindu teachings were recorded in the sacred texts of Vedas Upanishads are a section of Vedas that address mystical
questions related to Hinduism
Achieving Moksha Is the Goal of Life (State of perfect understanding) Atman – individual soul of a living being Brahman – the world soul that contains and unites all atmans. Moksha – union with brahman; must separate themselves from
selfish desires Reincarnation – rebirth of the soul in another bodily form Karma – all actions of a person’s life that affect his or her fate
in the next life. Dharma – religious and moral duties of an individual Ahimsa – nonviolence
Jainism Grows Out of Hinduism
A religion that grew out of Hindu traditions
Emphasizes meditation, self-denial, and an extreme form of ahimsa
The Caste System & Hinduism Shape India
Aryans divided society into four groups Castes – social groups into which people are born
and rarely change.
Complex Rules Uphold the Caste System Closely linked to Hindu beliefs Rules governed every aspect of life Untouchables
Caste Affects the Social Order Could achieve a higher state in life by faithfully
fulfilling their duties of their present caste Limit social and economic progress
Buddhism Grows Out of Hinduism
Siddhartha Gautama – a reformer; his teachings spread across Asia to become core beliefs of Buddhism
From Boy to Buddha Early life known from various religious writings and
literature Born a prince Buddha – the enlightened one
Following the Four Noble Truths Four Noble Truths – heart of Buddhism Eightfold Path – the “right” way of living Nirvana – union with the universe and release from the
cycle of rebirth
What is the fundamental cause of all suffering?
What is the fundamental cause of all suffering?
Desire!Desire! Therefore, get rid of selfish
desires, don’t obsess about oneself.
Eight Fold Path
Middle Way between desires and self-denial.
By following the Eightfold Path, anyone could reach nirvana, the Buddha’s word for release from selfishness and pain.
Eightfold Path
1. Know the truth 2. Resist evil 3. Say nothing to hurt others 4. Respect life 5. Work for the good of others 6. Free your mind of evil 7. Control your thoughts 8. Practice meditation
Eightfold PathEightfold Path
NirvanaNirvanaThe ultimate goal of any BuddhistEscape from the cycle of rebirth.Buddhists also believe in reincarnation and that it takes many lifetimes to reach nirvana.
Comparing Hinduism and Buddhism
Both religions stress nonviolence and believed in karma, dharma, and a cycle of rebirth.
Buddha urged each person to seek enlightenment through meditation
Buddhists rejected the caste system
Buddhism Spreads Beyond India Monasteries grew into centers of learning
Collecting the Buddha’s Teachings throughout Asia
Tripitaka – three baskets of wisdom Buddhism Spreads and Divides Missionaries and traders spread Buddhism Sects – subgroups
Theravada Buddhism closely follows Buddha’s original teachings
Mahayana made Buddhism easier for ordinary people to follow
The Mauryan Empire
Founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 324 BC Gained power in the Ganges Valley;
conquered northern India. He controlled a well-organized bureaucracy
Divided empire into 4 provinces Each province had its own royal prince
(governor) Terrified of being assassinated!!!
Had food tasters and never slept two nights in a row in the same bed!!!!
Asoka
Chandragupta’s grandson Ruled the empire at its height Converted to Buddhism, rejected violence,
preached tolerance and resolved to rule by moral example.
Stone pillars set up across India, offering moral advice.
Built hospitals Expanded trade which led to prosperity After his death the empire started to decline 183 BC the empire falls Division and Disunity Set In
Gupta Empire“Golden Age of India”
320 AD Chandra Gupta founded this new empire
335AD Samudra Gupta assumes the throne Expanded the empire with war and conquest
375AD Chandra Gupta II becomes king. Defeats Shakas to the west and negotiates peace
Golden Age: time of peace and prosperity and many achievements in math and science
Declined around 5th century AD with the invasion of the Huns
Family and Village Life Shape Indian Society
Everyday life revolved around the rules and duties.
Joint Family Structure Joint family – parents, children, and their
offspring share a common dwelling. Families were patriarchal in Northern India, the
father or oldest male in the family headed the household.
Families were matriarchal in Southern India, mother or oldest female headed the household.
Property belonged to whole family.
Family and Village Life Shape Indian Society
The Family Performs Certain Duties Dowry – payment to the bridegroom; financed the weddings
Role of Women Changes Over Time Shakti – a creative energy that men lacked
Typical Village Structure Ran its affairs based on caste rules and traditions Village headman and council made decisions Women were once allowed to be a part of council, but as time
progressed, they were restricted from doing so. Organized villagers to cooperate on vital local projects
Agriculture and Trade Shape Life Farming depended on the rains brought by the summer monsoons Communication with other villages allowed the sharing of
common ideas across the subcontinent.
Indian Achievements
Literature Vedas, Mahabharata,
Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita
Architecture Stone pillars: marked
events Buddha’s life Stupa: house relics of
Buddha Rock chamber: house
monks, place have religious ceremonies