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Download Notes – Ancient India Harappan Civilization • One of the first
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Notes – Ancient India Harappan Civilization • One of the first civilizations to settle in India/Pakistan – The first urban civilization in the Indian subcontinent • Settled along the Indus River Valley • The KHYBER Pass, which goes through the Hindu Kush, allowed for people to move into and settle this fertile Indus River Valley – Later on these pass would also allow for invaders to get through the mountains and conquer • Khyber Pass Pictures • Mohenjo-Daro • One of the most famous and well planned Harappan cities • This city needed careful planning because it was near the Indus river which flooded. • Mohenjo-Daro: “hill of the dead” • City Planning • – To make travel easier, they organized streets in a square pattern and people built their homes and shops along these squares – At the center of the city was the citadel, or fortress b/c this was where all the important people were so it kept them safe and in the center where they could control more Water Infrastructure – Built city on a high mound of earth to protect it some from the flooding – Clay pipes for a sanitation system, one of the first. Carried waste from homes to outside the city. Less disease=More people= POWER – Canals ran along the Indus which helped control flooding and helped with irrigation • Other Innovations • Pottery • Grainaries • Writing • Aryan Migration • A people from Central Asia called the Aryans traveled through the ______ Pass and invaded India. • Aryan means “noble” or “highborn” • Aryan warriors were fierce and were able to defeat the Harappan civilizations with their advanced weaponry such as – Bows and arrows; axes – Chariots; these were horrifying to the Harappan who saw these chariots drawn by charging horses • Pictures of Aryans • Aryans (contd.) • Leaders were known as “rajas” and they ruled a village and the land around it. • They ruled independently of one another and so they would sometimes join to fight against an enemy and sometimes they would fight each other. • For many centuries, India would be divided up into separate regions and/or kingdoms ruled by independent rajas. • Pictures of Rajas; Divided raja kingdom map • Aryan Religion • Brahmanism– named after the name given to Aryan priests, Brahmans • Aryan religion based on the Vedas. • Oldest Veda is the Rigveda • Over time, Brahmans wrote their thoughts about the Vedas which were compiled into a collection called the Vedic texts. • Ancient Texts: Vedas • Vedas: Most of what we know about the Aryans comes from books called the “Vedas,” a collection of poems, hymns, myths, and rituals that were written by Aryan priests. • Vedas written in “Sanskrit,” the most important language of ancient India • Ancient Texts: Upanishads • Upanishads—the final group of Vedic texts which are reflections on the Vedas by religious students and teachers. – Dialogue between teacher and student – Questions about the nature of both: • Atman—individual soul • Brahman—the collective soul • Pictures of Vedas • Aryan Social Organization • Caste system— strict social divisions, class system where each class has special work and duties to perform • Organized around four social classes (varnas); – (1) Brahmins—Priest, guarded religious tradition, – (2) Kshatriyas—warriors fought, – (3) Vaisyas— ordinary people worked like farmers/craftsman/traders, – (4) Sudras— usually non-Aryans slaves, who did free or cheap labor • Caste System • Over time, caste system became more complicated and was organized around profession, such as the Shopkeepers, farmers, traders etc. – You could not leave your social class, so if your father was a weaver you then became a weaver. • Your class determined your position in society. • Untouchables: a class that was below slaves and no one is to have contact with these people because they were seen as “unclean.” • Hinduism • The Vedas, Upanishads, and the other Vedic texts form the basis of Hinduism • Hinduism was influenced by other religions as well primarily, Jains and Buddhists. – Jains introduced the principle of “non-violence” or ahisma. Belief that everything is alive and part of the cycle of rebirth which is why they are vegetarians. – Hinduism: Important Facts • Polytheistic—belief in many gods • Three major gods: – Brahma—the Creator – Siva—the Destroyer – Vishnu—the Preserver • Brahma, Siva and Vishnu are all parts of Brahman. • Major Beliefs • A universal spirit called Brahman created the universe and everything in it. Everything in the world is just a part of Brahman. • Every person has a soul or atman that will eventually join with Brahman. • Major Beliefs (contd.) • People’s souls are reincarnated many times before they can join with Brahman. – Brahman=reality; world=illusion – In order to join Brahman you have to see through the illusion (world) which may take several times (reincarnation) to get to reality (Brahman) • Major Beliefs (contd.) • A person’s karma affects how he or she will be reincarnated – – When you are reincarnated the type of form you take depends on your karma (actions/behavior/deeds). • Bad = caste will be lowered (i.e. you could come back as a pig or ant). • Good= caste will be higher (i.e. you come back as a ruler or warrior) Your karma is judged based on how well you perform your duties according to your dharma (list of duties for each class) • Part of dharma taught that each person had a duty to accept his or her place in the world without complaint. This helped preserve the caste system. • The spread of Islam and Buddhism limited the spread of Hinduism • British Colonized and introduced Christianity and led to the translation of Hindu texts into English • Swami—Hindu religious leader • 1893 World’s Parliament of Religions in Chicago led to a respected swami, Vivekandanda sharing the teachings of Ramakrishna, a high religious leader in the Hindu faith – Swami Vivekandanda set up a center in New York City to spread Hindu ideas.