India After the Indus Valley€¦ · Who Were the Aryans? -Arrived in Indus river Valley around ....
Transcript of India After the Indus Valley€¦ · Who Were the Aryans? -Arrived in Indus river Valley around ....
India After the Indus Valley
From Aryans to Guptas
Reading notes- Chapter 3 page 59
What language did the Aryans Speak? Sanskrit
Who Were the Aryans? - Arrived in Indus river Valley around 1500 B.C.E.- Aryans - Indo European group that migrated from the
middle of Eurasia- Passed thru Khyber Pass about 1500 B.C.E.What is the Khyber Pass?
• A gateway for invasions of the Indian subcontinent, between modern day Afghanistan and Pakistan
What literature left us an idea about Aryan life? Vedas
List two major differences between the Aryans and the early inhabitants of the Indus River ValleyNo written language, taller lighter skins, different language, pastoral people
What are the Vedas? Prayers, Magical Spells, performing rituals
What does Aryan mean in their language? The Nobles
Dasas?The Aryans called the people they found in India because of their dark skin. Later meant slaves
Aryans• Aryans came to India and
found people who were different from them– Aryans were light skinned,
spoke a different language, and had a different religion
– Non-Aryans they called Dasas, which meant dark (due to their skin color)
• Dasas would later come to mean slave
• Differences will create classes quickly
The Caste System is Born• Aryans had 3 classes
– Brahmin (priests) – upper class– Kshatriyas (warriors) – middle class– Vaisyas (merchants & landowners) – lower class
The Four Castes of India
Aryan/ Indian god known as Brahma
Non- Aryans
• Eventually Non-Aryans were a class– Called Sudras – laborers,
servants, and farm workers– They did the jobs Aryans did
not want to do• Varna – related to skin color-
becomes the basis of this system; the classes were called varnas– Later they would be called
“castes”• This starts the caste system
Rituals & Religion of the Caste• Aryans were polytheistic
– Believed in heroic nature gods (ex. Thunder)
What aspects of life did your caste determine?• Castes or classes gave role in society
– People born into caste for LIFE– Affects most aspects of life.
Determines your friends, wife, job, etc.
– Only way to change caste was through reincarnation – couldn’t change your status during your life
Rituals & Religion of the Caste
• Ritual purity a major part of religion– Eating / cleaning habits keep soul clean
UNtouchablesUntouchables - people in society who were seen as less than any caste
• Jobs made them dirty and ‘untouchable’
• Grave diggers, butchers, etc.• If someone from another caste
touched these people, they would automatically be reincarnated as an Untouchable themselves!!!
Aryan Kingdoms Arise
What major kingdom emerges in India around 500 BCE?Magadha-series of ambitious kings taking over the surrounding kingdoms
Why is the Mahabharata Important?Longest poem in the World, Blends the cultures of the Aryan and Non- Aryans.
Go to Hinduism Buddhism
Start notesThe Spread of the Aryans• Dominated the area of India
from 1500B.C.E to 500B.C.EAryans begin spreading? • East & South
– Spread east to Ganges River– Spread south into the rest of India
How do we know about this spread? • Mahabharata- epic poem that told of stories of
Aryan spread– Tells of blending of cultures between the
Aryans & Non-Aryans
The Mauryan Empire EmergesThe Mauryan Empire• Takes power around 320 BCEWho was the leader?• Chaundragupta MauryaWhat did he do that no one had ever done in India before?
• Unified all of Northern India for 1st timeHow did the Mauryan Empire rule over such a large area?• Created a bureaucratic governmentWhat is a bureaucracy? • Divides up the decision making process
by a variety of officials assigned or elected
The Mauryan Empire Emerges• Asoka takes over with the death of his father – he
is the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya.Why is Asoka the greatest ruler?
• Brings India to its greatest heightsIdeas Asoka follows:• Turns away from war; spreads
Buddhism • Practiced religious tolerance - people
choose• Hindu still the main religion
Other achievements:• Built road systems, hospitals, etc.
Mauryan Empire and Asoka:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GHe9mR4Zoc
The Gupta Empire EmergesFounder? Chaundra Gupta • comes to power around 320 ADHow does he differ from Asoka?
• Brings Indian culture to its new peak• Also brings Hindu religion to its peak• Golden Age of India
Indian society is patriarchal?• Eldest male rules the family
Indian civilization prospers?• From both trade and conquest• Create incredible advancements during
this time period
Advantages of India’s geographical location?• Unique location-
Pennisula• Trade, religion,
language, ideas, mathematical advancements…
Gupta Empire AdvancementsMath• Creates the concept of zeroMedicine• Book of over 1000 diseases diagnosed• Surgeries performed, set bonesAstronomy• Proved the earth was roundNew Products• Spices, gems, woods, traded silks
****Used the Silk Roads for trading****Literature• Kalidasa- famous playwright and writer
Watch Mauryan & Gupta Empires: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLLRU_onBGg