Download Aryan

India’s Great Civilization
1500 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.
Origins of Hindu India
Origins of Hindu India
● The Aryans:
o During the 1500s B.C.E., an Indo-European group of people known as the
Aryans invaded the Indian subcontinent and conquered the civilizations of
the Indus River Valley.
 To invade the Indian subcontinent, the Aryans had to go through
“passes” in the Hindu Kush mountain range.
o First, the Aryans settled along the Indus River Valley and northern India.
o Then they eventually moved into the Ganges Plain of southeast India. From
this point, the Aryans would go on to conquer most of the Indian
subcontinent.
Origins of Hindu India
● Aryan Culture:
o Aryans were organized into tribes; each tribe was led by a rajah
(chief).
o Although the Aryans were originally nomadic herders, they soon
became farmers once they settled along the Indus River Valley.
 Aryans also domesticated livestock: cattle, sheep, and goats.
 Farmed goods: cucumbers, bananas, and barley cakes.
Origins of Hindu India
● Aryan Culture:
o Men, women, and children:
 Men dominated society, women had very few rights.
 In some cases, women did not even have a say in choosing a husband.
 Only children from noble families were educated.
● Languages & Traditions:
o The Aryans did not have a written language. However, they spoke Sanskrit, which
would become one of the major languages of India.
o Epics: During the start of their civilization, Aryans created epics in the form of
oral traditions, which were passed down from generation to generation for
centuries.
o However, the Aryans soon created a written form of Sanskrit, and Priests began
collecting different forms of Aryan literature (poems, hymns, legends, and
religious rituals) into a holy book known as the Vedas (“Books of Knowledge”).
Origins of Hindu India
●
Aryan Social Structure: “The Caste System”
o Aryan social classes were called varnas.
o There were five varnas, or social classes in Aryan society:
 The Brahmans: Priests
● The most honored social class in Aryan society.
● Performed elaborate rituals and studied the Vedas, they were the only group which could
teach people about the Vedas.
 The Kshatriyas: Warriors & Rulers
● Controlled the Aryan government and military.
● Led the Council of Elders
● Studied the Vedas.
 The Vaisyas: Common People; Merchants; Artisans; and Farmers
● Domesticated livestock (cattle); traded goods; farmed the land; and participated in money
lending.
 The Sudras: Unskilled laborers; Servants
● Served the other social classes; unskilled labor; servants; farmers.
 The Pariahs: Slaves
● Slaves: Performed work that was considered “unclean.”
● Known as “outcastes” or “untouchables.”
● Lived outside the Aryan villages and were ignored by most people.
Origins of Hindu India
Origins of Hindu India
● Aryan Social Structure (The Varnas):
o Aryan social classes lived in separate neighborhoods and did not socialize
with each other.
o People in Aryan social classes were always ranked by group.
 Aryans were born into their social group, and could not move into a
different social class. (If you were born an untouchable, you would
remain an untouchable for your entire life).
 People were only allowed to marry someone who was in their social
group.
 Your entire life was based upon your social class.
●
If you were born into the Kshatriya (warrior) class, you could only
become a military leader or government leader. You could not
become a farmer or priest.
Origins of Hindu India
● The Birth of Hinduism:
o The Aryans were a polytheistic people. They believed in gods and goddesses
that had powers of nature (i.e. god of fire (Agni); god of war and thunder
(Indra); goddess of dawn (Usha)).
o However, Aryan religious beliefs soon evolved into a new religion, known as
Hinduism (“the world’s oldest continuous religion”).
● Hinduism:
o Hinduism was not created by one person, nor does it have one holy book.
Rather, it was based on different beliefs and practices, including teachings of
the Vedas and Indian epics.
Origins of Hindu India
● Hinduism:
o A “complex religion of many deities.”
o The three most important gods of Hinduism:
 Brahma: The Creator
 Vishnu: The Preserve
 Siva: The Destroyer
o The holy books of Hinduism:
 The Vedas:
● Aryan hymns; epics; poems; religious rituals; and legends.
 The Upanishads:
● Created over hundreds of years (800 B.C.E. - 400 B.C.E.), a collection of
religious philosophies by Hindu scholars.
● The Upanishads state that there is a universal spirit present in all life
(gods, humans, and animals).
● All souls are part of Brahma, the universal spirit of Hinduism.
Origins of Hindu India
Origins of Hindu India
● The Beliefs of Hinduism:
o The caste system created by the Aryans became the basis of Hinduism.
o Reincarnation: Hindus believe that when a person dies, their soul is reborn
into a new life. The soul passes through many lives until it reaches a union
with the universal spirit (Brahma).

“Cycle of rebirth.”
o Karma: The “cycle of rebirth” is determined by Karma. According to Hindu
beliefs, if you live a good life and fulfill your purpose (dharma), you will be
reborn into a higher caste (i.e. a Kshatriya will become a Brahman.
However, if you live a bad life, and fail to fulfill your purpose (dharma), you
will be reborn into a lower caste.
o The “cycle of rebirth” continues until you reach a state of spiritual perfection
(moksha), your soul is then released from the caste system, and you are
allowed to reach spiritual connectedness with Brahma.
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The Rise of Buddhism
The Rise of Buddhism
● During the 500s B.C.E., a new religion was created in India - Buddhism.
● Buddhism was founded by one man, Siddhartha Gautama, an Indian
priest who was born around 566 B.C.E.
● Siddhartha Gautama was born into a sheltered life of luxury, for most of
his young life, he did not know the suffering and poverty that existed
throughout India.
● However, one day Gautama left his palace and toured his estates in
India. There, he saw the suffering and poverty experienced by the poor
on a day to day basis. Gautama was horrified, and wanted to find a way
to end human suffering.
● At the age of 29, Gautama left his palace and possessions behind, and
wandered through India looking for an answer to his question.
The Rise of Buddhism
The Rise of Buddhism
● For seven years, Siddhartha Gautama wandered through India as a
hermit, trying to find out a way to end human suffering.
● Then, one day, while meditating, he became enlightened.
● Gautama began teaching his new beliefs to the people of India, and he
soon became known as the Buddha (The Enlightened One).
The Rise of Buddhism
The Rise of Buddhism
● Buddhism: What was Buddha’s enlightenment?
o The Four Noble Truths:
1. All people suffer
2. The cause of suffering is desire
3. People can end their suffering by eliminating their desires
4. You can eliminate your desires by following the Eightfold Path.
The Rise of Buddhism
● Buddhism:
o The Eightfold Path:
1) Right View (know the truth)
2) Right Intention (resist evil)
3) Right Speech (say nothing to hurt others)
4) Right Action (respect life)
5) Right Livelihood (work for the good of others)
6) Right Effort (free their minds of evil)
7) Right Mindfulness (control their thoughts)
8) Right Concentration (practice meditation)
● By following the Eightfold Path, you can reach nirvana, a state that
releases you from the caste system (cycle of rebirth).
● In nirvana, a person is “in a state of oneness with the universe.”
The Rise of Buddhism
● Buddha’s beliefs:
o The Buddha did not believe in the caste system. Instead, he
believed a person’s place in life depended on the individual, not their
birth.
o Buddha did not believe in Hindu gods and goddesses (not
polytheistic).
o Buddha did believe in reincarnation, however, he believed all
individuals could escape the “cycle of rebirth” by following the
Eightfold Path and reaching nirvana.
The Rise of Buddhism
● The spread of Buddhism:
o Buddha spent forty years of his life teaching the Four Noble Truths
and the Eightfold Path. By doing so, he gained thousands of
disciples.
o After his death, these disciples spread the teachings of Buddhism
throughout Asia, including: China, Japan, Korea, and the Middle East.
● Buddhist art & architecture:
o Stupas: Large stone mounds built over the bones of Buddhist holy
people. These mounds included beautifully carved stone gateways,
paintings, and statues of the Buddha.
The Rise of Buddhism
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The Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire
● The first major Indian Empire that unified all Indian kingdoms was the
Mauryan Empire, which began in 321 B.C.E., and lasted until 184 B.C.E.
● The most famous ruler of this empire was a man named Asoka, who ruled
India from 274 B.C.E. to 232 B.C.E.
● Asoka was known as an enlightened ruler.
o He followed the teachings of Buddha, and became a man of peace.
o Under his reign, Asoka
 Created the Rock Edicts, laws created to ensure that all human
beings were treated with justice.
 Asoka also created free hospitals and veterinary clinics, and
public works projects, including roads and rest houses.
 Asoka did not force all Indians to convert to Buddhism, in his
empire, Hindus were allowed to practice their religion.
The Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire
● However, after Asoka’s death, his empire fell apart and collapsed in 184
B.C.E.
● India was not united again as one empire until 310 C.E.
● IN 310 C.E., the Gupta dynasty was started by a man named
Chandragupta I.
● The Gupta dynasty would ruled India for 200 years, a time period that
would soon become known as the Indian Golden Age.
The Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire
● Gupta Religion:
o Under the Gupta dynasty, Hinduism was made the official religion of
the Gupta Empire.
o Under the rule of the Guptas, vast Hindu temples were built
throughout India.
● Life in the Gupta Empire:
o In the Gupta Empire, people did pay less taxes, allowing them
greater freedoms.
o Under Gupta rule, academic subjects flourished, including grammar,
drama, and politics.
The Gupta Empire
● Life in the Gupta Empire:
o However, life did not improve for women in the Gupta Empire.
 Women did not get to choose their spouses, rather, their
husbands were chosen by their parents in arranged marriages.
● Gupta Achievements:
o Learning: The Gupta Dynasty invited poets, playwrights,
philosophers, and scientists to develop academic ideas and increase
education throughout the empire.
 The most famous literary achievement was the Panchatantra, a
collection of Indian folk tales that provided moral lessons to
Indian children.
The Gupta Empire
● Gupta Achievements:
o Mathematics: During the reign of the Gupta Empire, major
achievements were made in the area of mathematics.
 Gupta mathematicians developed many algebraic principles,
including,
● the concept of zero; the concept of infinity; the symbols for
numbers 1-9 (Arabic numerals).
o Astronomy: Many major achievements were also made in the area of
astronomy.
 Gupta scientists discovered that the earth was round; and also
developed elementary principles of gravity.
o Medicine: Gupta doctors learned how to set bones, perform
operations, and invent medical instruments.
The Gupta Empire
● The Fall of the Gupta Empire:
o From 415 C.E. - 600 C.E., the Gupta Empire began to weaken and
eventually crumble.
o After 600 C.E., India was divided into a collection of small states.
o However, Gupta culture has continued to influence world history and
civilization to this very day in the areas of social structure, religion,
arts, and science.
Summary
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What: ____________________________________________________________
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When: ____________________________________________________________
Why/How: ________________________________________________________
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