Intro To IndiaIntro To India

A few points…A few points…

India’s culture was born out of its India’s culture was born out of its geographic locationgeographic location

India was open to influences from the India was open to influences from the Middle East and even the Middle East and even the Mediterranean worldMediterranean world

Alexander the Great invaded India in Alexander the Great invaded India in 327 BCE, combining his Hellenistic 327 BCE, combining his Hellenistic culture with that of Indiaculture with that of India

This mix of cultures is what makes This mix of cultures is what makes India so different from ChinaIndia so different from China

The GeographyThe Geography

The Himalayas in the north create a natural The Himalayas in the north create a natural barrier from the rest of East Asiabarrier from the rest of East Asia

Passages in the northwest linked it to the Passages in the northwest linked it to the middle eastmiddle east

India from the beginning had a greater India from the beginning had a greater division of culture than Chinadivision of culture than China

Mountains in the north made herding Mountains in the north made herding important in that region while the southern important in that region while the southern waters made trading and seafaring the waters made trading and seafaring the major activitiesmajor activities

Climate Affects LifeClimate Affects Life

Monsoons – in summerMonsoons – in summer 120* in the summer120* in the summer If the monsoons come to late, it If the monsoons come to late, it

could result in famine – too early, could result in famine – too early, and bringing too little rainand bringing too little rain

The Formative PeriodThe Formative Period

Lasting several centuries after the Lasting several centuries after the destruction of the original civilizationdestruction of the original civilization

This formal period is categorized in This formal period is categorized in two stages two stages – Vedic (1500-1000BCE) Vedic (1500-1000BCE) – and Epic (1000-600 BCE)and Epic (1000-600 BCE)

In this period, Aryan migrants moved In this period, Aryan migrants moved inin

Vedic AgeVedic Age

What we know we get from early written What we know we get from early written records in Sanskrit – the first literary records in Sanskrit – the first literary language in the New Indialanguage in the New India

These books were called VedasThese books were called Vedas With the Epic age came new literary worksWith the Epic age came new literary works All of the writings of this period – All of the writings of this period –

– Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Upanishads Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Upanishads tended to have a religious flavortended to have a religious flavor

Early Social StructureEarly Social Structure

Village organizationVillage organization Patriarchal familiesPatriarchal families The Indian Caste system began to The Indian Caste system began to

take place during these Vedic and take place during these Vedic and Epic AgesEpic Ages

Originally the caste system was Originally the caste system was created to promote superiority to the created to promote superiority to the Aryan invadersAryan invaders

Brahmins(priests)

Kshatriyas(warriors)

Vaisyas(traders and farmers)

Sudras(common laborers)

Untouchables(taboo)

Who are these people?Who are these people?

AryansAryans – the conquerors who saw – the conquerors who saw themselves as superiorthemselves as superior

KshatriyasKshatriyas – warrior or government – warrior or government leadersleaders

BrahminsBrahmins – priests – priests Vaisyas Vaisyas – traders and farmers– traders and farmers SudrasSudras – common laborers – common laborers UntouchablesUntouchables – trash collectors and – trash collectors and

hauled off dead bodieshauled off dead bodies