Download Chapter 24, Sections 1,2

Chapter 7, Sections 3.
Chapter 8, Section 1.
Early Civilizations of India
And
Religious Traditions
Indus Valley Civilization
• Largest early
civilization in
South Asia.
Sprung up
along Indus
River. Lasted
from 25001500BC.
Aryans
• Spread across
the Northern
Plains from the
Caucasus
Mountains.
Brought the
Vedas and
developed
Sanskrit.
Aryan Varna (Social Classes)
• Brahmans (priests)
• Kshatriyas
(warriors)
• Vaisyas
(landowners,
merchants,
herders)
• Sudras (servants
and peasants)
Sacred Hindu Texts
Vedas contain eternal truth revealed to wise
men. Upanishads explain the Vedas.
Brahman
Thousands of Hindu gods form a single supreme
force called Brahman. Only a few can understand
as it is nameless, formless, and unlimited.
Three main gods of Hinduism are
Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver),
and Shiva/Siva (destroyer).
The Caste System
• Each caste has
separate dharma
(duties and
obligations).
People will
improve caste in
next life by
following
dharma.
The cycle of death and rebirth (reincarnation)
occurs until individual unites with Brahman.
Every deed in this life affects future lives
(karma). The present situation is a result of
past deeds. Good deeds bring happiness and
bad deeds bring sorrow.
Siddhartha Gautama
Reformer born into
Nepal in 560BC. Born
high-caste, he saw
people of lower
castes suffering. He
set out to find the
cause of misery and
enlightenment, and
started Buddhism.
Buddha’s four noble truths.
1. Suffering is
universal.
2. Cause of suffering is
desire.
3. Only way to end
suffering is to crush
desire.
4. End desire by
following the Noble
Eightfold Path.