Download Unit 2 - River Mill Academy

UNIT 2
Day 13: Ancient India and Hinduism
Geography
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Subcontinent
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Large landmass that is part of a
continent
3 major zones:
North: Himalaya and Hindu Kush
mountains
 South: Deccan Plateau (dry,
arid)
 Middle: Northern Plains (first
society develops)

Heavy rains make soil fertile
 Rain is carried by seasonal winds
(MONSOONS)
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Indus Valley Civilization, 2500 BC
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2 Cities: Harappa and Mohenjo Daro
 Well
planned, streets ran in grid pattern,
wells, drains
 Citadel: walled/elevated building in city
 Held
granaries, warehouses, meeting halls
 Homes/shops/shrines

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built outside citadel
Economy: agriculture and trade
Decline, 2000 BC (Moh.Da.
abandoned)
 Floods?
Ran out of resources? Disease?
Vedic Period, post-2000 BC
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Aryans (nobles) ruled India
 Moved from area btwn Caspian and Black
seas?
 Sacred writing: Vedas
Villages band together
 Regional leaders: Rajas
 War leader, protection, paid in food&$
Social classes: Varnas
1. Brahmins (priests/teachers)
2. Kshatriyas (warriors/rulers)
3. Vaisyas (traders, farmers, etc)
4. Sudras (servants)
Hinduism: History


Practiced by most of India today
Brahman
 Eternal being that created/preserves world
 Each person has atman, or soul
 Atman shapes personality and can not be
destroyed
 Devas: help maintain order in nature (3)
 Brahma: creator
 Vishnu: the preserver
 Siva: the destroyer
Hinduism: Practices
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Reincarnation
 released from body and reborn in another
 Nature of life shaped by karma (effect of deeds)
Moksha
 Ultimate goal of existence
 Escape from cycle of rebirth, releases one from earth
 Dharma
 Set of spiritual duties
 Only way to reach moksha
 Varies based on class/station of life
Text: Vedas, Physical: Yoga, Nonviolence: ahimsa
Crash Course: India
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https://youtu.be/n7ndRwqJYDM?list=PLBDA2E52FB
1EF80C9