Chapter 6: Early India -...

The Hindu temple of DeviJagadambika in Khajuraho, India

c. 1500 B.C.The Aryans arrivein India

563 B.C.The Buddha is born

Early India

2500 B.C. 1500 B.C. 500 B.C. A.D. 5002500 B.C. 1500 B.C. 500 B.C. A.D. 500

c. 3000 B.C.India’s earlycivilizationbegins

A.D. 320The Guptaempire begins

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Chapter PreviewLike ancient Greece, early India was a land of warriors,

thinkers, and scientists. Read this chapter to find out howideas from India affect how you do math today.

View the Chapter 6 video in the World History: JourneyAcross Time Video Program.

Chapter Overview Visitjat.glencoe.com for a previewof Chapter 6.

Identifying Make this foldable to help you identify and learn key terms.

Reading and WritingAs you read the chapter,write the terms fromBuilding Your Vocabularyin your foldable. Write adefinition for each term.Then turn your foldableover (upside down) towrite a short sentenceusing each term.

Step 1 Stack four sheetsof paper, one on top ofthe other. On the topsheet of paper, draw alarge circle.

Step 2 Withthe papers stillstacked, cutout all fourcircles at thesame time.

Step 3 Staple the paper circles togetherat one point around the edge.

Step 4 Label thefront circle as shownand take notes on the pages that open to the right.

Chapter 6Key

Terms

This makesa circularbooklet.

Staplehere.

191

India’s Early CivilizationsThe earliest Indian civilization developed on theIndus River. Later, the Aryans arrived in northernIndia. A social system that determined how peoplelived evolved.

Hinduism and BuddhismEarly India’s two main religions were Hinduism andBuddhism. These two religions affected every aspectof people’s lives.

India’s First EmpiresEarly India had two great empires: the Maurya andthe Gupta. Both empires made advances in the arts,sciences, and math.

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http://jat.glencoe.com

Vocabulary

Building Your VocabularyWhat do you do when you are reading and come to a word you do not know? Here are some hints:1. Use clues in the sentence (called context clues) to help you define it.2. Look for prefixes, suffixes, or root words that you already know.3. Look it up in the glossary or a dictionary.4. Write it down and ask for help with the meaning.5. Guess at its meaning.

Look at the word Untouchables in the following paragraph.

192

There was one group that did notbelong to any varna. Its members werecalled Untouchables. They performeddirty work considered polluting such ascollecting trash, skinning animals, orhandling dead bodies.

—from page 200

Context If you knowwhat a varna is, it willhelp you figure outthe meaning ofUntouchables.

Context The“Untouchables”were a “group.”

Context The factthat they performedthe “dirty” work indi-cates how they wereviewed by others inIndian society.

Prefixes and SuffixesYou might know that theprefix un- means “not”and the suffix -ablemeans “to be able to.”You might guess that themeaning of Untouchableis an Indian who was notto be touched by others.

Read the paragraphs

that appear before and

after the word to help

you understand its

meaning.

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Defining WordsWhat are three things you could do to help you understand

the meaning of the word subcontinent in this paragraph?

Take one word from thevocabulary bookmarkthat you make in theApply It! activity. Findits definition. Thencreate a cartoon strip.Have one of thecharacters in yourcartoon strip use theword correctly.

Read to Write

193

Look at the map below. Indialooks like a diamond hanging fromthe bottom of Asia. India is a sub-continent (SUHB • KAHN • tuhn • uhnt)

because even though it is part ofAsia, huge mountains separate itfrom the rest of Asia. These moun-tains are the Himalaya (HIH • muh •LAY • uh), the highest mountains inthe world.

—from page 195

Make a vocabulary bookmark using a2-inch-wide strip of paper. As youread the chapter, write down wordsyou do not know or want to find outmore about.

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What’s the Connection?In India, just as in Egypt and

Mesopotamia, the first civilizationsdeveloped in fertile river valleys.

Focusing on the • Climate and geography influenced

the rise of India’s first civilization.(page 195)

• New ideas and technology influencedthe development of India. (page 198)

• The Aryans created a caste systemthat separated Indians into groups.(page 199)

Locating PlacesHimalaya (HIH•muh•LAY•uh)Ganges River (GAN• JEEZ)Indus River (IHN•duhs)Harappa (huh•RA•puh)Mohenjo-Daro

(moh•HEHN• joh DAHR•oh)

Meeting PeopleAryans (AR•ee•uhnz)Brahmins (BRAH•muhns)

Building Your Vocabularysubcontinent

(SUHB•KAHN•tuhn•uhnt)monsoon (mahn•SOON)Sanskrit (SAN•SKRIHT)raja (RAH• juh)caste (KAST)guru (GUR•oo)

Reading StrategyOrganizing Information Complete adiagram like the one below showinghow the Aryans changed India.

c. 3000 B.C.India’s early civilization begins

c. 1500 B.C.Aryansarrive inIndia

c. 1000 B.C.Aryans controlnorthern India

Ganges R.

KhyberPass Harappa

3000 B.C. 2000 B.C. 1000 B.C.3000 B.C. 2000 B.C. 1000 B.C.

194 CHAPTER 6 Early India

Major Ways Aryans Changed India

India’s EarlyCivilizations

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The Land of IndiaClimate and geography influenced the

rise of India’s first civilization.

Reading Focus Do you have tornadoes or hurricanes

where you live? Read to find out how geography and

weather affected India’s first civilization.

Look at the map below. India looks likea diamond hanging from the bottom ofAsia. India is a subcontinent (SUHB • KAHN •tuhn • uhnt) because even though it is part ofAsia, huge mountains separateit from the rest of Asia. Thesemountains are the Himalaya(HIH • muh • LAY • uh), the highestmountains in the world.

Today, there are five nationsthat make up the Indian subcon-tinent: India; Pakistan in thenorthwest; Nepal, Bhutan, andBangladesh in the northeast.

India has two very fertileriver valleys. Both are fed by themountains in the north. Whenthe snow in the Himalaya melts,water flows into the GangesRiver (GAN • JEEZ) and the IndusRiver (IHN•duhs). If the water iscontrolled, the land near theserivers can be used for farming.

The Ganges River runs southof the Himalaya and flows intothe Indian Ocean. The IndusRiver empties into the ArabianSea. The area around the Indus iscalled the Indus River valley.

South of the river valleys is thedry and hilly Deccan Plateau. Theeastern and western coasts ofIndia are lush, fertile plains.

Monsoons (mahn • SOONZ)are an important part of the

Indian climate. A monsoon is a strong windthat blows one direction in winter and theopposite direction in summer. The wintermonsoon brings the cold, dry air of themountains. The summer monsoon bringswarm, wet air from the Arabian Sea, whichproduces drenching rains.

When the monsoon rains begin, manyfarmers celebrate. If the rains come on timeand the rainy season lasts long enough, thecrop will be good. If the rains are delayed, adrought will occur. This extended period

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Mt. Everest29,035 ft.(8,850 m)

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Geography of India

The mighty Himalaya and several bodies ofwater border the Indian subcontinent.1. What two rivers are found in northern India?2. Based on the area’s geography, what parts of

the Indian subcontinent do you think are bestsuited for settlement?

Find NGS online map resources @ www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

Winter monsoon(dry winds)Summer monsoon(wet winds)Mountain peak

KEY

MotionIn

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Necklace from Mohenjo-Daro

Model of oxcart from Mohenjo-Daro

Harappanpriest-king

The ruins of Mohenjo-Daro (below) show a carefully planned city.The picture to the right shows a typical house in the city. Fromwhat material were most of the houses in Mohenjo-Daro made?

Early Indian CivilizationEarly Indian Civilization


without rain can be disastrous for farmers.Few crops will be harvested and manypeople will starve.

India’s Early Civilization In earlier chap-ters, you learned about civilizations thatbegan in river valleys. The first urban civi-lization in India also began in a river valley.

India’s early civilization grew up nearthe Indus River. When the summer monsoonbegan, the river rose higher and higher.When the river flooded nearby land, it leftbehind rich, fertile soil.

Farmers used the rich soil to growcrops to feed their families. Because peoplehad a plentiful supply of food, they couldspend time doing other things, such asmaking tools or building houses. As peo-ple began to trade their extra food andgoods with other people, their wealthgrew. This allowed them to build largerand larger cities.

India’s early civilization in the IndusRiver valley began about 3000 B.C. andlasted until 1500 B.C. More than a thousandvillages and towns were part of this civiliza-tion, which stretched from the Himalaya tothe Arabian Sea. We know something aboutthe way these people lived from studyingthe ruins of two major cities, Harappa(huh • RA • puh) and Mohenjo-Daro (moh •HEHN • joh DAHR • oh). The civilization ofthis time is called the Harappan or Induscivilization.

Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro Harappaand Mohenjo-Daro were large cities fortheir time. The well-planned cities had asmany as 35,000 people. A fortress was builton a brick platform probably to keep guardover the residents. There were wide mainstreets and smaller side streets. A wall sur-rounded each neighborhood, and narrowlanes separated the houses.

(l)Robert Harding Picture Library, (c)National Museum of India, New Delhi, India/Bridgeman Art Library, (r)Borromeo/Art Resource, NY, (br)Harappan National Museum of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan/Bridgeman Art Library

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Most houses had flat roofs and werebuilt with mud bricks that were baked inovens. Some houses were larger than others, but they all had a similar layout.There was a courtyard in the middle andsmaller rooms around it.

These ancient city dwellers had somesurprising conveniences. Wells suppliedwater, and residents even had indoor bath-rooms. Wastewater flowed to drains underthe streets, running through pipes to pitsoutside the city walls. Houses also hadgarbage chutes connected to a bin in thestreet. In addition, residents built largegranaries to store food for the entire city’spopulation.

Harappan Society The Harappans used aspecial script to write on seals and stamps.However, historians have not agreed onhow to decipher these markings. Becausethe Harappans did not leave other histori-

cal records, we do not know much abouttheir society or government. From the ruins,though, we can guess that the royal palaceand the temple may have been both enclosedin a fortress. This reveals that religion andpolitics were closely connected.

Most Harappans were farmers. Theygrew rice, wheat, barley, peas, and cotton.City dwellers made copper and bronze tools, clay pottery, and cotton cloth, as well as jewelry from gold, shells, and ivory.Archaeologists have also found many toysamong the ruins, such as small monkeys thatcould be made to climb up a string.

It is likely that the Harappans begantrading with the Mesopotamians about2300 B.C. Some Harappan sailors followedthe coastline and crossed the Arabian Sea,and others traveled over land.

Explain How is India separated from the rest of Asia?

Roofs were used to dry crops in the sun. The dried crops were then placed

in cool storage rooms in the house.

Almost every building had its own well. Cool water was pulled up when needed.

Outer walls ofbuildings had

no windows. Thishelped prevent

the hot summersun from heating

the insides of the house.

Bathrooms had an advanced drainage system. Drains started from houses and joined the main

sewer, which carried the water out of town.

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The Aryans New ideas and technology influenced

the development of India.

Reading Focus What would your life be like without

cars or computers? Read to find out how new ideas and

technology affected the Indians.

The Harappan civilization collapsedabout 1500 B.C. Historians think that severalearthquakes and floods damaged the cities.Then the Indus River changed its course,killing many people and forcing others toflee the area. In the years that followed, agroup of people called the Aryans (AR •ee •uhnz) began settling in the region. Soon anew civilization emerged.

Who Were the Aryans? The Aryans livedin central Asia where they raised andherded animals. The Aryans were not a race or ethnic group. Some historiansbelieve that the Aryans were part of a largergroup they refer to as Indo-Europeans. The Indo-Europeans all spoke similarlanguages. Some migrated south to Indiaand Iran. Others went west to Europe.

Cattle were a prized possession becausethey provided meat, milk, and butter. Cattlewere so important that the Aryans even usedthem as money. Individual wealth was meas-ured by the number of cattle a person owned.

The Aryans were good warriors. Theywere expert horse riders and hunters. Theyhad metal-tipped spears and wooden

chariots, which they sometimesused to invade nearby villagesfor food.

After 2000 B.C., the Aryansbegan leaving their home terri-tory. They moved in waves,and some groups crossedthrough the mountain passesin the Himalaya. They enteredthe Indus River valley around1500 B.C.

Around 1000 B.C., theAryans began expandingacross the Punjab and GangesPlains and south into theDeccan Plateau. Features oftheir civilization mixed withthose of local cultures.

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Aryan migration:

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Aryan Migration 2000–500 B.C.

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The Region Today

The Aryans were nomadic herders whoeventually controlled much of India.1. After crossing the mountains, what

physical feature did the Aryans followinto India?

2. Into what area of southern India did theAryans travel?

MotionIn

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The Aryans Bring Change When theAryans arrived in India, they no longerlived as nomads. They became farmers butcontinued to raise cattle. Eventually, theAryans would declare that cattle weresacred and forbid them to be used as food.

Aryan technology improved farming inIndia. They invented an iron plow to helpclear India’s many jungles and built canalsto irrigate. They slowly turned the GangesRiver valley into good farmland.

India’s varied climate supported manytypes of crops. In the north, farmers grewgrains such as wheat, barley, and millet. Ricewas grown in the river valleys. In the south,there was a mix of crops, including spicessuch as pepper, ginger, and cinnamon.

The Aryans also brought a newlanguage to India. As nomads, they had nowritten language, but in India theydeveloped a written language later calledSanskrit (SAN • SKRIHT). Over time, the sacredsongs, poems, and prayers that Aryans had known for many centuries were writ-ten down.

The Aryans were organized into tribes.Each tribe was led by a raja (RAH • juh), orprince. The rajas ran their own small king-doms, which often fought among them-selves. Rajas fought over cattle and treasureand over women kidnapped from otherstates. These small rival kingdoms existedin India for about a thousand years, from1500 B.C. to 400 B.C.

Analyze Why do you thinknomads like the Aryans were great warriors?

Society in Ancient IndiaThe Aryans created a caste system that

separated Indians into groups.

Reading Focus Why are some people treated differently

than others? Read why this idea was accepted in India.

One of the results of the Aryan arrival inIndia was the development of a caste sys-tem. A caste (KAST) is a social group thatsomeone is born into and cannot change.

CHAPTER 6 Early India 199

Development ofSanskrit c. 1500 B.C.

Sanskrit became the most importantlanguage for public affairs in much ofancient India. Hindi, the nationallanguage of India today, and otherregional languages evolved out ofSanskrit. The earliest example of orallytransmitted, ancient Sanskrit is thefour Vedas—sacred writings. Sanskritwas in common usage until about A.D.

1100 and was used in some officialcommunications until A.D. 1830.

Sanskrit Definition English Definition

Nava Ship Navalor navy

A fleet of

Dua Two Dual Consisting of

Deva God Divine

Sanskrit Influences on English Words

ships

two parts

relating toGodWeb Activity Visit jat.glencoe.com and

click on Chapter 6—Student Web Activity tolearn more about India.

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A caste dictates what job you will have,whom you can marry, and with whom youcan eat or drink. In India, no one uses theword caste, which is the word Portuguesemerchants used to describe India's socialgroups. Indians call these groups jati.Thousands of jati exist in India.

Why was this system created? No one issure, but ideas about skin color were prob-ably part of it. The Aryans were a light-skinned people. They thought they werebetter than the dark-skinned people theyencountered in India.

The Aryans might have created the castesystem because the people they encoun-tered in India greatly outnumbered them.The caste system kept groups separate and

set the rules for everyone’s behavior. Thishelped the Aryans stay in control.

Social Levels of the Caste System Thethousands of different jati in Indian societywere grouped together into four classescalled varnas. The top two varnas wereBrahmins (BRAH • mihns) and Kshatriyas(KSHA • tree • uhs). Brahmins included thepriests—the only people who could per-form religious ceremonies. The Kshatriyaswere warriors who ran the governmentand army.

Next were the Vaisyas (VYSH • yuhs), orcommoners. Vaisyas were usually farmersand merchants. Below the Vaisyas came theSudras (SOO • druhs). Sudras were manuallaborers and servants and had few rights.Most Indians belonged to the Sudra varna.

There was one group that did not belongto any varna. Its members were calledUntouchables. They performed dirty workconsidered polluting such as collecting trash,skinning animals, or handling dead bodies.

Life for an Untouchable was very hard.Most Indians believed that being near anUntouchable was polluting, so they forcedthem to live apart from others. When


Today, Untouchables refer tothemselves as Dalit, which means “oppressed.” Why did the Aryans create the castesystem?

Warriors, rulers

Common people

Unskilled laborers, servants

Kshatriyas

Vaisyas

Sudras

Brahmins Priests

Early India’s Social SystemEarly India’s Social System

A Brahmin

(l)Carl Purcell/The Purcell Team, (r)AFP Worldwide

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Reading SummaryReview the • India’s early civilization, including

the cities of Harappa andMohenjo-Daro, developed in thefertile Indus River valley.

• The Aryans, a group of nomadicherders, migrated into the north-ern part of India by about 1000B.C. They brought the iron plowand the language later calledSanskrit to India.

• India’s caste system divided peo-ple into specific social andeconomic classes. Ancient Indiansociety favored men over women.

1. Describe the cities of Harappaand Mohenjo-Daro.

2. Why are monsoons importantto Indian farmers?

Critical Thinking3. Cause and Effect What

caused the collapse ofHarappan civilization?

4. Cause and Effect Draw adiagram to show how theAryans changed the lifestyle of the Indians.

5. Contrast How did the Aryanand Harappan lifestyles differ?

6. Explain How did India’s socialclasses, or varnas, shape India’ssociety?

7. Descriptive Writing Write a description of the city ofHarappa or Mohenjo-Daro that could have been used toattract residents to that city in ancient India.

8. VocabularyExplain how the suffix in theword plentiful can help youdetermine its meaning.

What Did You Learn?

Study CentralTM Need help with the material in this section? Visit jat.glencoe.com


Untouchables traveled, they had to tap twosticks together so that everyone would hearthem coming and have time to move away.

The Role of Men and Women In ancientIndia, the family was the center of life.Grandparents, parents, and children alllived together in an extended family. Theoldest man in the family was in charge.

Men had many more rights thanwomen. Typically, only sons could inheritproperty, and only men could go to schoolor become priests. Women received theireducation at home.

In families at the top of Indian society, aboy had a guru (GUR •oo), or teacher, untilhe went to the city for more education.Young men from these families could marryonly after finishing 12 years of schooling.

In India, parents arranged marriagesfor their children. Even today, parents

arrange 90 percent of marriages in India.Boys and girls often married in their teens,but ideally not until after completing theireducation. Divorce was not allowed, but ifa couple could not have children, the hus-band could marry a second wife.

One custom shows how the lives ofIndian men were considered more impor-tant than the lives of Indian women. InIndia, people were cremated, or burned in afuneral fire, when they died. Sometimeswhen a man from a prominent family died,his wife was expected to leap into thefuneral flames. This practice was called sut-tee (suh • TEE). If the wife resisted and didnot kill herself, it was a great shame.Everyone would avoid the woman fromthen on.

Identify What were thefive major groups in Indian society?

Cause Effect

Cause Effect

Cause Effect

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Hinduism andBuddhism

What’s the Connection?Much of Indian civilization is

based on Aryan ideas and culture,which you learned about in the lastsection. One of the most importantand long-lasting contributions of theAryans is the main religion of India,Hinduism.

Focusing on the • Hinduism grew out of the ancient

beliefs of the Aryans. (page 203)

• A new religion, Buddhism, appealedto many people in India and otherparts of Asia. (page 205)

Locating PlacesNepal (nuh•PAWL)Tibet (tuh•BEHT)

Meeting PeopleSiddhartha Gautama (sih•DAHR•

tuh GOW•tuh•muh)Dalai Lama (DAH•LY LAH•muh)

Building Your Vocabulary Hinduism (HIHN•doo• IH•zuhm)Brahman (BRAH•muhn)reincarnation

(REE• ihn•kahr•NAY•shuhn)dharma (DAHR•muh)karma (KAHR•muh)Buddhism (BOO•DIH•zuhm)nirvana (nihr•VAH•nuh)theocracy (thee•AH•kruh•see)

Reading StrategySummarizing Information Create a web diagram like the one below. Inthe ovals, identify major beliefs ofHinduism.

c. 1500 B.C.Aryans bring earlyHindu ideas to India

c. 563 B.C.The Buddhais born inNepal

c. 200 B.C.Theravada Buddhismspreads to Sri Lanka

Ganges R.

NEPAL

SRILANKA

1500 B.C. 800 B.C. 100 B.C.1500 B.C. 800 B.C. 100 B.C.

Hinduism

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HinduismHinduism grew out of the ancient

beliefs of the Aryans.

Reading Focus Have you ever wondered why most

people try to behave properly or do good deeds? As you

read this section, find out how a Hindu would answer

this question.

Hinduism (HIHN •doo • IH • zuhm) is one ofthe oldest religions in the world, and today itis the third largest. The basic principles ofwhat is known today as Hinduism werealready formulated by 1500 B.C. They arefound in the four Vedas—sacred writings.The Aryans believed in many deities whocontrolled the forces of nature. We knowabout Aryan religion from their sacredhymns and poetry, especially their epics, orlong poems.

For centuries, the priests, or Brahmins,recited these works, and much later theywere written down in Sanskrit. Over the cen-

turies, Aryan religion changed. It borrowedsome religious ideas from the people theAryans encountered in India. This mix ofbeliefs eventually became Hinduism.

Early Hinduism Hinduism grew out of thereligious customs of many people overthousands of years. This might explain whyHinduism has thousands of deities. Hindustend to think of all deities as different partsof one universal spirit. This universal spiritis called Brahman (BRAH •muhn).

The search for a universal spirit isdescribed in the ancient sacred texts knownas the Upanishads (oo • PAH • nih • SHADZ).Those writings say that every living beinghas a soul that wants to be reunited withBrahman and that this happens when a per-son dies.

The Upanishads describe how a personunites with Brahman: A soul that becomesone with Brahman is like a lump of saltthrown into water. The lump of salt is gone,but the water tastes salty. The salt hasbecome part of the water.

Hindu temple

Fire sacrifice accompanied by readingfrom the Veda. What ancient scripturesdescribe a universal spirit?

203(l)Robert Harding Picture Library, (r)Borromeo/Art Resource, NY

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Name Realm

Brahma

Vishnu

Siva

Ganesha

Krishna

Lakshmi

Surya

Saraswati

Parvati

creator of the world

preserver of the world

destroyer of the world

lord of existing beings; remover of obstacles

teacher of the world

deity of light, beauty, good fortune, and wealth

deity of the sun

deity of knowledge, music, and creative arts

universal mother

Major Hindu DeitiesMajor Hindu Deities

Siva

Ganesha

What Is Karma? Hindus believe that asoul is not joined to the Brahman immedi-ately after a person dies. Instead, a personmust pass through many lives to be unitedwith Brahman. On its journey, a soul mightbe reborn into a higher caste. If a personlived a bad life, he or she might be reborninto a lower caste or life–form.

This idea of passing through many livesto reach the Brahman is called reincarnation(REE • ihn •kahr •NAY • shuhn). It is very impor-tant in Hinduism and it influences howHindus live their daily lives. It even affectshow they treat animals because they con-sider all life sacred.

To earn the reward of a better life in theirnext life, Hindus believe they must performtheir duty. Dharma (DAHR • muh) is thedivine law. It requires people to perform theduties of their caste. A farmer has differentduties than a priest and men have differentduties than women.

The consequences of how a person livesare known as karma (KAHR•muh). If Hindusdo their duty and live a good life, they willhave good karma. This will move themcloser to the Brahman in their next life.

How did the belief in reincarnationaffect Indians? For one thing, it made manyof them more accepting of the caste system.People believed they had to be happy withtheir role in life.

A dedicated Hindu believes that thepeople in a higher varna are superior andthat they are supposed to be on top. Thebelief in reincarnation gave hope to manypeople, even servants. If servants did theirduty, they might be reborn into a highercaste in their next life.

Explain How is karmarelated to reincarnation?

Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva are considered thethree main Hindu deities.1. Which deity is known as the “teacher of the

world”? 2. Conclude Why does Hinduism have so

many deities?

(t)SEF/Art Resource, NY, (b)Victoria & Albert Museum, London/Art Resource, NY

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BuddhismA new religion, Buddhism, appealed to

many people in India and other parts of Asia.

Reading Focus What do you think makes a person

free and happy? Find out how the Buddha answered this

important question as you read this section.

By 600 B.C., many Indians began to ques-tion Hindu ideas. The Brahmin priestsseemed to care only about their temple cere-monies and not about the needs of the peo-ple. Ordinary Hindus wanted a simpler,more spiritual religion. Many would findwhat they needed in Buddhism (BOO • DIH •zuhm), a new religion founded by SiddharthaGautama (sih•DAHR• tuh GOW• tuh•muh).

Who Is the Buddha? Prince SiddharthaGautama was born around 563 B.C. in asmall kingdom near the Himalaya. Today,this area is in southern Nepal (nuh•PAWL).

Siddhartha seemed to have it all. He waswealthy and handsome, happily married,and had a fine new son. Then one day hedecided to explore the kingdom beyond thepalace walls. As he traveled, he became veryupset. He saw beggars, people who were ill,and people broken down by age with nohome and nowhere to go. For the first time,he was truly aware of suffering.

Then and there, Siddhartha decided toseek an answer to this great riddle: Why didpeople suffer and how could their sufferingbe cured? He left his family and riches andbegan his search. At first he lived like a her-mit, fasting and sleeping on the hardground. Siddhartha nearly starved, but hestill had no answer to his questions.

Then he decided to meditate for as longas it took to get the answer. Legend tells usthat Siddhartha sat under a tree to meditate,and after 49 days, he finally understood. Itwas as if he had seen a great light.

Siddhartha spent the rest of his life wan-dering the countryside and telling peoplewhat he had discovered. His lessons aboutlife and the nature of suffering becameknown as Buddhism. To his followers, hebecame known as the Buddha, or“Enlightened One.”

What Is Buddhism? To understand theBuddha’s ideas, one first has to see the worldas he did. Like many Hindu, Siddhartha didnot think that the normal, everyday worldwas real. Trees, houses, animals, the sky, andthe oceans were just illusions. So werepoverty and sickness, pain and sorrow.

Siddhartha believed that the only wayto find the truth about the world was togive up all desires. By giving up the desirefor fame, the desire for money, and thedesire for all worldly things, pain and sor-row would vanish.

If a person gave up all desires, he or she would reach nirvana (nihr • VAH • nuh).Nirvana is not a place but a state of wisdom.The word nirvana came from the Sanskritword for blowing out a candle flame.

This shrine in northern India marks the locationwhere it is believed the Buddha delivered hisfirst sermon. With what groups of Indians didthe Buddha’s message become popular?

Rajesh Bedi/National Geographic Image Collection

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The heart of the Buddha’s teachings iscontained in the Four Noble Truths. TheFour Noble Truths are:

1. Life is full of suffering.2. People suffer because they desire worldly

things and self-satisfaction.3. The way to end suffering is to stop desir-

ing things.4. The only way to stop desiring things is to

follow the Eightfold Path. The Buddha’s fourth truth says people

should follow eight steps to eliminate suffer-ing. The Buddha’s Eightfold Path was this:

1. Know and understand the Four NobleTruths.

2. Give up worldly things and don’t harmothers.

3. Tell the truth, don’t gossip, and don’tspeak badly of others.

4. Don’t commit evil acts, like killing, steal-ing, or living an unclean life.

5. Do rewarding work.6. Work for good and oppose evil.7. Make sure your mind keeps your senses

under control.8. Practice meditation as a way of under-

standing reality.One reason the Buddha’s ideas became

popular was that he did not defend thecaste system. A person’s place in lifedepended on the person, he thought. TheBuddha did believe in reincarnation, butwith a difference. If people wanted to stopbeing reborn into new lives, the Buddhasaid, they would only have to follow hisEightfold Path.Many people liked the Buddha’s mes-

sage, especially Untouchables and low-casteIndians. For the first time, these groups heardthat they, too, could reach enlightenment.

Buddhism in Southeast Asia For more than40 years, the Buddha preached his ideas.Disciples gathered around him, and after hisdeath, they spread his message all over Asia.

As more and more people practicedBuddhism, disagreements arose about theBuddha’s ideas. Finally, Buddhists split intotwo groups. The first was TheravadaBuddhism. Theravada means “teachings ofthe elders.” It sees the Buddha as a greatteacher, not a god.

Buddhist teachers and merchants spreadthe ideas of Theravada to the south and east.It was adopted in Ceylon in the 200s B.C. Ceylon, an island located near thesouthern tip of India, is now called Sri Lanka.Theravada Buddhism also became popularin Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.

Morality in theEightfold Path

This passage describes the way a personshould act according to the Eightfold Path.“He avoids the killing ofliving beings. . . . He avoidsstealing, and abstains from[avoids] taking what is notgiven to him. Only what isgiven to him he takes,waiting till it is given; andhe lives with a heart honest and pure. . . .He avoids lying. . . . Hespeaks the truth, isdevoted to the truth,reliable, worthy ofconfidence, no deceiver of men.”

—The Word of the Buddha,Nyanatiloka, trans.

According to the passage, what is thecorrect way to accept something?

The Buddha

Borromeo/Art Resource, NY

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THE BUDDHAC. 563–483 B.C.

Siddhartha Gautama—the thinker and teacher who

would later be called the Buddha—was born in what is now

Nepal. According to legend, his mother had a dream shortly

before his birth that was interpreted to mean that her son

would become a great leader.

The Gautama family belonged to the warrior caste.

Siddhartha’s father, Suddhodana, ruled a group called the

Shakyas. His mother, Maya, died shortly after his birth.

Siddhartha was very intelligent. According to legend,

the young man knew 64 languages and mastered all

his studies without needing

instruction. At age 29,

Siddhartha realized

that he wanted to

search for truth,

enlightenment, and a

way to rise above suffering.

He left his wife, Yasodhara,

and son, Rahula, to study

with priests.

At age 35, Siddhartha is

said to have reached full

enlightenment while sitting

beneath a tree. The Buddha began traveling to teach

others about his discoveries and about the nature of

life and suffering.

207

“Our life is shaped byour mind; we becomewhat we think.”

—The Buddha

Sculpture of the Buddha

sitting on a cobra

The Buddha

What types of present-day occupations often

involve traveling to teach others?

(l)Archivo Iconografico, S.A./CORBIS, (r)Christie’s Images, London/Bridgeman Art Library/SuperStock

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Reading SummaryReview the • Hinduism is an old religion with

many gods. Hindus believe inreincarnation and that a person’splace in life is determined by hisor her karma.

• In the 500s B.C., SiddharthaGautama founded the religion of Buddhism in northern India.According to Buddhism, a personwho follows the Four NobleTruths and the Eightfold Path can achieve nirvana.

1. What are the Upanishads?

2. What is reincarnation?

Critical Thinking3. Compare and Contrast

Draw a chart like the onebelow. Then add details tocompare the two mainbranches of Buddhism.

4. Describe Explain the conceptof karma.

5. Explain What is the impor-tance of the Four Noble Truthsand the Eightfold Path?

6. Analyze How did the belief inreincarnation both strengthenthe divisions in Indian societyand provide hope for the lowerclasses?

7. Expository Writing Write a short essay describingSiddhartha Gautama’s journey to enlightenment.

What Did You Learn?



Mahayana BuddhismThe second kind ofBuddhism is calledMahayana Buddhism.It teaches that theBuddha is a god whocame to save people.Mahayana Buddhistsbelieve that followingthe Eightfold Path istoo hard for most peo-ple in this world. Theybelieve that by worshiping the Buddhainstead, people will go to a heaven after theydie. There, they can follow the Eightfold Pathand reach nirvana.

Mahayana Buddhists also have specialaffection for the bodhisattvas (BOH • dih •SUHT • vuhz). Bodhisattvas are the enlight-ened people who postpone going to heaven.Instead, bodhisattvas have decided to stayon Earth to help others and do good deeds.

Mahayana Buddhism spread north-ward into China and from there to Koreaand Japan. A special kind of MahayanaBuddhism developed in central Asia in thecountry of Tibet (tuh•BEHT). There it mixedwith Tibet’s traditional religion and withHinduism.

In Tibet, the Buddhist leaders, calledlamas, also led the government. When reli-gious leaders head a government, it iscalled a theocracy (thee •AH •kruh • see). TheDalai Lama (DAH • LY LAH • muh) was thelama who headed the government, and the Panchen Lama was the lama who led thereligion. Both were considered reincarnationsof the Buddha.

Today, many Buddhists live in countrieslike Thailand, Cambodia, and Sri Lanka,but few live in India where the Buddha first preached.

Identify How could a

Buddhist reach nirvana?

TheravadaBuddhism

Branches of BuddhismMahayanaBuddhism

A Tibetan monktoday

Sheldan Collins/CORBIS

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India’s FirstEmpires


Dates

Capital City

Government

Mauryan Empire

What’s the Connection?In the last section, you learned

about Hinduism and Buddhism. Bothreligions developed when India was aland of small kingdoms. These rivalkingdoms would be forced to unite,however, when foreigners invaded.

Focusing on the • The Mauryan dynasty built India’s

first great empire. (page 210)

• The Gupta empire reunited much ofnorthern India and became wealthythrough trade. (page 213)

• The Mauryan and Gupta empires madeimportant contributions in literature,mathematics, and science. (page 214)

Locating PlacesPataliputra

(PAH • tuh • lih • POO • truh)

Meeting PeopleChandragupta Maurya (CHUHN•

druh•GUP•tuh MAH•oor•yuh)Asoka (uh•SOH•kuh) Kalidasa (KAH• lih•DAH•suh)

Building Your Vocabularydynasty (DY• nuh•stee)stupa (STOO• puh)pilgrim (PIHL•gruhm)

Reading StrategyCategorizing Information Completea chart like the one below, identifyingthe important dates, capital city, andgovernment of the Mauryan empire.

321 B.C.Chandragupta Maurya founds Mauryan dynasty

232 B.C.Mauryan ruler Asoka dies

A.D. 320Gupta empire begins

Pataliputra

350 B.C. A.D. 1 A.D. 350350 B.C. A.D. 1 A.D. 350

Dates

Capital City

Government

Mauryan Empire

209-216 Ch6 S3-824133 3/1/04 1:56 AM 9

The Mauryan DynastyThe Mauryan dynasty built India’s first

great empire.

Reading Focus Do you think political leaders should

promote religion? How might religion help a king hold

his country together? Read to learn why one Indian

emperor decided to support Buddhism.

India’s princes fought over their smallkingdoms for centuries. Then two big inva-sions taught the Indians a lesson. First, thePersians invaded the Indus Valley in the

500s B.C. and made it part of the greatPersian Empire. Then, as you have alreadyread, Alexander the Great invaded India in327 B.C.

Although Alexander’s troops conquerednorthern India, he did not stay long. His sol-diers were homesick and tired and threat-ened to rebel unless he turned back. Theinvasion did have one important effect, how-ever. It led to the first great Indian empire.

Who Built India’s First Empire? India’sfirst empire was founded by Chandragupta

Maurya (CHUHN • druh • GUP • tuhMAH • oor • yuh). Chandraguptawas an Indian prince who con-quered a large area in theGanges River valley soon afterAlexander invaded westernIndia. Alexander’s invasionweakened many of India’skingdoms. After Alexander left,Chandragupta seized theopportunity to conquer andunite almost all of northernIndia.

He founded the Mauryandynasty in 321 B.C. A dynasty(DY • nuh • stee) is a series ofrulers from the same family. Torun his empire, Chandraguptaset up a well organized govern-ment. In such a government,rulers run everything from acapital city. To control every-thing from his capital,Pataliputra (PAH • tuh • lih • POO •truh), Chandragupta had tohave a strong army. He alsoneeded a good spy system tomake sure no one was plan-ning to rebel. Communicationswere also important, so he setup a postal system.


70°E

90°E30°N

10°N

INDIANOCEAN

Bayof

Bengal

ArabianSea

Indu

s River

Ga

n

ges River

TopraMirath Nigliva

Rummindi

Lalita Patan(Kathmandu)

PataliputraPrayaga

Sanchi

300 km0Azimuthal Equidistant projection

300 mi.0

N

S

W E

Mauryan Empire c. 250 B.C.

Pillar inscribed withBuddhist teachingsHeight of Mauryanempire under Asoka

KEY

The Mauryan dynasty built the first great Indian empire.1. Where was the Mauryan capital

of Pataliputra located?2. What part of India did the

Mauryans not conquer?

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This stupa from central India is one of the best-preservedshrines from the 200s B.C. What other type of structuredid Indians create to honor the Buddha?

The Buddha

Emperor Asoka’s Reign Chandraguptafounded the Mauryan dynasty, but manyhistorians think the empire’s greatest kingwas Asoka (uh • SOH • kuh). Asoka ruledfrom about 273 B.C. to 232 B.C.

Asoka was an unusual ruler. Like manykings, he was a strong military leader, buthe came to hate bloodshed. After onebloody fight, he walked over the battlefield.When he saw the dead and wounded, hewas horrified and made a vow. He woulddedicate his life to peace and follow theteachings of the Buddha.

Asoka was history’s first greatBuddhist king. He built hospitals for peo-ple and for animals, too. He built newroads so it was easier to trade and putshelters and shade trees along the roadswhere travelers could rest.

Asoka sent many Buddhist teachersthroughout India and the rest of Asia. Theycarried the religion to new believers. In India,laborers carved the Buddha’s teachings onstone pillars for people to read. Asoka also

had laborers build thousands of stupas (STOO • puhs). Stupas are Buddhist shrinesthat have the shape of a dome or mound.Although he was a Buddhist, Asokaallowed his Hindu subjects to practice theirreligion.

With a good road system and a strongruler, the empire prospered. India becamethe center of a huge trade network thatstretched to the Mediterranean Sea.

The Fall of the Mauryan Empire Asokadied in 232 B.C. Unfortunately, the kingswho followed him were not very good lead-ers, and the empire grew weak.

These kings made bad decisions thatturned the people against them. They forcedmerchants to pay heavy taxes and seizedpeasants’ crops for themselves. Things wereso bad that in 183 B.C., the last Mauryan rulerwas killed by one of his own generals.

Summarize Why wasAsoka an important ruler?

(l)Robert Harding Picture Library, (r)Hugh Sitton/Getty Images

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EMPEROR ASOKAReigned c. 273–232 B.C.

In the early years of his reign, Asoka was a powerful

military ruler. He used his armies to conquer and unify

almost all of India under one leader. After watching a

very bloody battle that left many people dead,

however, he decided to stop fighting and follow

Buddhism.

Emperor Asoka vowed to relieve suffering

wherever he found it. He discovered that Buddhism

reflected his new beliefs, so he became a Buddhist.

Emperor Asoka had a strong, energetic

personality. He began preaching the Buddhist ideas

that people should be honest, truthful, and

nonviolent. He preached that people should live with

compassion toward all humans and animals. Asoka

taught by example and tried to live his life with “little

sin and many good

deeds.” He ordered his

government officials to adopt

those virtues for their own lives.

Emperor Asoka regularly visited people

in the rural areas of his kingdom and found practical ways to

improve their lives. He founded hospitals and supplied

medicine. He ordered wells to be dug and trees to be planted

along the roads. He also ordered his officials to keep him

informed of the needs of the people in his empire.

Asoka

Carving from top of pillar

created under Asoka

Asoka closely linked religion and government.

Do you think that the two should be combined

or kept separate? Explain, providing examples

to support your answer.

(l)Ancient Art & Architecture Collection, (r)Hulton Archive/Getty Images News Services

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The Gupta EmpireThe Gupta empire reunited much of

northern India and became wealthy through trade.

Reading Focus What types of products does the

United States trade with other countries? Read to learn

how the Gupta empire built its wealth on trade.

For 500 years, India was not united.Once again, small kingdoms fought withone another and made life miserable fortheir subjects. Then, in A.D. 320, one princein the Ganges River valley grew morepowerful than the others. Like an earlierruler, his name was Chandragupta. ThisChandragupta chose to rule from the oldcapital of the Mauryan empire—Pataliputra.

Chandragupta founded the Gupta dy-nasty. When he died, his son, Samudragupta,took over the throne and expanded theGupta empire in northern India. Soon, thenew kingdom dominated almost all of north-ern India. The Guptas ruled for about 200years. Gupta rulers had one advantage overthe earlier Mauryan kings. The empire wassmaller and that made it easier to manage.

The Gupta empire grew wealthy fromtrade. Salt, cloth, and iron were commongoods traded in India. Indian merchants alsotraded with China and with kingdoms insoutheast Asia and the Mediterranean. TheGupta rulers controlled much of the tradeand became very wealthy. They owned silverand gold mines and large estates.

Trade created jobs for people in India andmade many people and cities prosperous.Cities grew up along the trade routes, andmany people traveled. Some people, calledpilgrims (PIHL •gruhms), often used the traderoutes to travel to a religious shrine or site.Just as cities today make money fromtourism, Indian cities that were famous fortheir temples became wealthy from visitingpilgrims.

Asoka had converted to Buddhism, butthe Guptas were Hindus like many of theirsubjects. They gave their full support toHinduism and gave money to supportHindu scholars and Hindu shrines. Theshrines they built to Hindu deities inspiredHindus. They often had brightly paintedsculptures of images from the Upanishadsand other sacred writings.

During the Gupta empire, art and sciencealso began to develop. Earlier, you learnedthat Greece had a golden age of art and learn-ing. India also had a golden age of art andlearning during the Gupta empire.

Explain How did the Guptaempire become wealthy?


500 mi.0

N

S

W E

INDIANOCEAN

Bayof

BengalArabian

Sea

Indu

s R.G

anges R.

HIN

DUKUSH H

IM

AL A Y A

G u p t a E m p i r e

I N D I A

70°E 90°E

30°N

10°N

Gupta Empire c. A.D. 600

The Guptas controlled much of northernIndia.1. What river valleys were found within the

borders of the Gupta empire?2. How does the area of the Gupta empire

compare to that of the Mauryan empire as shown on the map on page 210?

209-216 Ch6 S3-875047 9/22/06 10:16 AM Page 213

Indian Literature and Science The Mauryan and Gupta empires made

important contributions in literature, mathematics,and science.

Reading Focus What do you think modern movies,

books, and television reveal about our values? As you

read, try to see if Indian poetry tells a story about val-

ues during the Gupta period.

Artists, builders, scientists, and writersproduced many works while the Mauryanand Gupta kings ruled.

India’s Sacred Texts The Vedas of India arean ancient collection of sacred verses, hymns,prayers and teachings. No one is certain howold they are because for a long time theywere only recited, not written down. AfterAryan people developed Sanskrit, then theVedas could be recorded.

Later, other kinds of literature were alsowritten down. Two sacred texts are veryfamous in India, and Indians today still loveto read them. One is the Mahabharata (muh •HAH • BAH • ruh • tuh), and the other is theRamayana (rah•mah•YAH•nah). Both of thesesacred texts tell about brave warriors andtheir heroic deeds.

The Mahabharata is a long sacred text—about 88,000 verses. Historians think severaldifferent authors wrote it and that it waswritten down around 100 B.C. It describes agreat war for control of an Indian kingdomabout 1,000 years earlier.

The best-known section is the BhagavadGita (BAH • guh • VAHD GEE • tuh), or “Song ofthe Lord.” It is very important in Hindu writ-ings. In it, the deity Krishna preaches a ser-mon before a battle. He tells his listeners hownoble it is to do one’s duty even when it isdifficult and painful.


The Bhagavad GitaIn the Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna prepares to go into battle. He asks the deity Krishnaquestions about war and death. The following passage is part of Krishna’s answer.“Thou grievest where no grief should be! . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

All, that doth live, lives always! . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The soul that with a strong and constant calm

Takes sorrow and takes joy indifferently,

Lives in the life undying!—Bhagavadgita, Sir Edwin Arnold, trans.

What does Krishna believe about life afterdeath?

Painting titled Krishna and Maidens

The British Library, London/Bridgeman Art Library

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The teachings in the Mahabharata, espe-cially the Bhagavad Gita, contain many ofthe central beliefs in Hinduism. They pro-vide important religious and moral lessons.For this reason, they have had a greatimpact on Hinduism and continue to influ-ence Indian philosophy in modern times.

An important writer from the Guptaperiod is Kalidasa (KAH • lih • DAH • suh). Hewrote plays, poems, love stories, and come-dies. One popular poem, The CloudMessenger, contains beautiful descrip-tions of northern India’s mountains,forests, and rivers.

Another work is the Panchantantra.Similar to Aesop’s fables, these talesinclude animal characters presentinglessons about life.

Music, Art, and Architecture Musicplayed an important part in the reli-gious and social lives of people in India.Many of the early sacred texts like theBhagavad Gita were probably sung ingroup settings. At annual festivals peopledanced and sang. They also used music inplays. Musical instruments included tam-bourines, flutes, drums, and lutes.

Much of early Indian art was made ofmaterials that have not survived. Whatexists today is mostly religious art made instone. There are many sculptures of theBuddha, for example. These statues teachdifferent Buddhist messages based on thefigure’s pose. Buddhist temples alsoincluded carvings of local scenes.

Hindu architecture typically had carv-ings of people in different poses that repre-sented different aspects of eternity. Imagesof deities with many hands were created toshow that the deities had many abilities.

Indian Math and Science Indian mathe-maticians, especially in the Gupta period,made important contributions. Aryabhata

(AHR•yuh•BUHT•uh) was the leading mathe-matician of the Gupta empire. He was one of the first scientists known to have usedalgebra. Indian mathematicians developedthe idea of zero and a symbol to represent it.They also explained the concept of infinity—something without an end.

Gupta mathematicians created the sym-bols for the numbers 1 to 9 that we use today.These number symbols, or numerals, wereadopted by Arab traders in the A.D. 700s. European traders borrowed themfrom the Arabs. Use of these numbers


The Invention of Zero c. A.D. 500

Early humansunderstood the idea of nothing, but theydid not have a symbolto represent that idea.During the Guptadynasty, Indianmathematiciansinvented the symbol“0” and connected itwith the idea ofnothing. The Indians’invention of zero hada great impact on the

study of mathematics and science—thenand now.Without the concept of zero,modern technology, such as computers,would not be possible.

The middle dotis the firstsymbol for zero.

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Reading SummaryReview the • The Mauryan empire, under lead-

ers such as Chandragupta Mauryaand Asoka, united most of Indiafor over a hundred years.

• The Gupta dynasty reunitednorthern India and grew wealthyfrom trade.

• During the Mauryan and Guptaempires, the arts and sciencesflourished in India. Several greatsacred texts, including theMahabharata and the Ramayana,came from this period.


1. Describe trade during theGupta empire.

2. What is the message of theBhagavad Gita?

Critical Thinking3. Organizing Information

Draw a diagram to show thecontributions of Indian mathe-maticians during the Mauryanand Gupta empires.

4. Analyze How were Asoka’sBuddhist beliefs reflected in hisaccomplishments as king?

5. Expository Writing Which ofthe Indian emperors describedin this section do you thinkwas the greatest ruler? Write ashort essay explaining yourchoice.

6. Math Link Why would thedevelopment of a number sys-tem be important in a civiliza-tion that depended on trade?

7. VocabularyExplain how you could usecontext to determine themeaning of the word prospered in this sentence.

“With a good road system and a strong ruler, the empireprospered.”

What Did You Learn?

Contributions

spread through Europe in the A.D. 1200s,replacing Roman numerals. Today, thissystem of number symbols is known as the Hindu-Arabic numerical system.

Early Indians also invented mathemati-cal algorithms. An algorithm (AHL •gohr • ih •thuhm) is a series of steps that solve a prob-lem. If you follow the steps, you get theright answer. Computer programmerstoday often use algorithms to tell comput-ers what to do.

Ancient Indians made important con-tributions in other scientific fields, espe-cially astronomy. They followed andmapped movements of planets and stars.They understood that the Earth was roundand revolved around the sun. They alsoseem to have understood gravity.

Particularly under the Gupta, Indianscientists made advances in metallurgy, or

metal technology. In addition to iron toolsand weapons, they made steel tools. Aniron pillar in Delhi, dating from around A.D. 400, was so well made that it has hardlyrusted. The Gupta also made sophisticatedgold coins and metal mirrors.

In the field of medicine, Gupta doctorswere advanced for their time. They couldset broken bones and perform operations.They also invented many medical tools.

An Indian doctor named Shushruta(shoosh•ROO•tah) carried out an early formof plastic surgery. He worked to restoredamaged noses. Indian doctors used herbsin treating illnesses.They also believed itwas important to remove the causes of adisease and not just cure the disease itself.

Summarize In what areasof science did ancient Indians make advances?

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India’s First Empires

Hinduism and Buddhism

India’s Early Civilizations

Section

Section

Section

VocabularysubcontinentmonsoonSanskritrajacasteguru

VocabularyHinduism Brahman reincarnationdharmakarmaBuddhismnirvanatheocracy

Vocabularydynasty stupapilgrim

Focusing on the • Climate and geography influenced the rise of India’s first civilization.

(page 195)

• New ideas and technology influenced the development of India.(page 198)

• The Aryans created a caste system that separated Indians into groups. (page 199)

Focusing on the • Hinduism grew out of the ancient beliefs

of the Aryans. (page 203)

• A new religion, Buddhism, appealed to many people in India and other parts of Asia. (page 205)

Focusing on the • The Mauryan dynasty built India’s first great empire. (page 210)

• The Gupta empire reunited much of northern India and became wealthythrough trade. (page 213)

• The Mauryan and Gupta empires made important contributions in literature, mathematics, and science. (page 214)


Ganesha

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Vocabulary Building Your Vocabulary16. Read the following excerpt from page

205. Then explain how context cluescan help you determine the meaning of the word hermit.

He left his family and riches and beganhis search. At first he lived like a hermit, fasting and sleeping on thehard ground. Siddhartha nearlystarved, but he still had no answer to his questions.

To review this skill, see pages 192–193.

Section 2 • Hinduism and Buddhism8. From what did Hinduism form? 9. Which religion appealed to people in India

and other parts of Asia?

Section 3 • India’s First Empires10. Which dynasty built India’s first great

empire? 11. Why was the Gupta empire

important?

Critical Thinking12. Compare How do you think the Eightfold

Path is similar to the Ten Commandmentsof Judaism?

13. Analyze How does the Mahabharata reflectthe ideals of ancient India?

14. Explain How did the monsoons affect the development of India’s first civilizations?

15. Predict What do you think might havehappened if Asoka had approved of theslaughter on the battlefield during hiswars of conquest?

Review Vocabulary1. Write a paragraph about the basic beliefs

of Hinduism using the following words.reincarnation karma dharma

Write the vocabulary word that bestcompletes each sentence. Then write asentence for each term not chosen.a. stupa e. pilgrimb. guru f. theocracyc. varna g. monsoond. raja h. dynasty

2. Each Aryan tribe was led by a ___.3. In a ___, government is led by religious

leaders.4. A ___ is a line of rulers who belong to the

same family.5. A ___ travels to religious places.

Review Main IdeasSection 1 • India’s Early Civilizations

6. What influenced the rise of India’s earlycivilizations?

7. What was the purpose of the varna system?


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500 mi.0

N

S

W E

ArabianSea

Indu

s R.

Ganges R.

HINDU

KUSH

HI M

AL A Y A

I N D I A

THAR

DESER

T

70°E

30°N

Mohenjo-Daro

Harappa

Geography SkillsStudy the map below and answer the follow-ing questions.17. Human/Environment Interaction Why

did Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro developso near the Indus River?

18. Place The winter monsoon winds comefrom the northeast. What makes the windsfrom that monsoon cold?

19. Location Name at least two naturalfeatures that protected Harappa andMohenjo-Daro from invaders.

Read to Write20. Persuasive Writing In the Mahabharata,

the deity Krishna advises Arjuna, “Getready for battle without thought of . . .gain and loss, victory and defeat.” Write aparagraph in which you agree or disagreewith that advice.

21. Using Your Use the informationyou recorded in your foldable to create afill-in-the-blank quiz for a classmate. Writea paragraph about one of the sections,leaving blanks for your classmates to fillin. Also write an answer key.

Using Technology22. Researching Use the Internet and your

local library to find information about thevarnas and jati in India today. You maywish to investigate where the systems arestill practiced and how they affect modernsociety. You may also wish to researchattempts at reforming the system and howthe system is affected by national law.Prepare a report to share with the class.

Building Citizenship Skills23. Analyzing Information Dharma is the

Hindu idea of duty. Is it important forpeople in a society to do their duty? Makea list of duties Americans have today.Then write a paragraph explaining whythose duties are important.

Self-Check Quiz To help you prepare forthe Chapter Test, visit jat.glencoe.com

AnalyzeRead the excerpt from the Buddha’sFarewell Address. Then answer thequestions.

“‘Hold fast to the truth as a lamp. Seek sal-vation alone in the truth. Do not look forassistance to anyone besides yourselves. . . .

Those who, either now or after I am dead,shall be lamps unto themselves . . . holdingfast to the truth as their lamp, and seekingtheir salvation in the truth alone . . . it isthey . . . who shall reach the very topmostheight! But they must be anxious to learn.’”

—The Teachings of Buddha, The Buddha’sFarewell Address, compiled by Paul Carus

24. Why does the Buddha compare thetruth to a lamp?

25. What quality must people have if theywant to reach the topmost height?

Early India


Indus civilization,c. 1500 B.C.

KEY

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