Download The Indian Subcontinent

The Indian Subcontinent
Geography of the Indian
Subcontinent
• Indian subcontinent is part of the
continent of ASIA
• Mountains,
Plains, Deccan
Plateau, Arabian Sea, Bay of
Bengal, Indian Ocean
The First Civilization
• Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
– Lifestyles of Ancient Civilizations
• Twin Capitals that were carefully planned
• Cities were laid out in a grid pattern
– Wide street ran north and south and smaller streets ran
east and west
• All houses had running water and indoor plumbing
that drained in a citywide sewage system
• Farmers lived in the village but worked outside of
the village and stored crops in warehouses
The First Civilization
• Economy of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
– Agriculture based economy
– Farmers used the rich soil left behind after the
Indus River flooded
– Cotton cloth became on of the important trade
goods of Indus merchants
The Impact of Aryan Invaders
• Aryans from Central Asia invaded the
Indus Valley and took over
• Vedas
– Collection of books containing prayers,
songs and writings of the Aryans
• Brought their own language, religious
beliefs, and social system
The Impact of Aryan Invaders
• Lasting impact of the Aryans was the
introduction of the caste system
– Four Main Castes that were divided into
thousands of sub-castes
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Top: Brahmins: Priests, teachers
Next: Kshatriyas: Warriors, police
Next: Vaisyas: merchants, farmers
Lowest: Sudras/Untouchables: peasants, servants
– Castes determined people’s occupation and
social class
– Untouchables – the lowest of all people
You are in a Caste!
• Caste system: Random drawing of names.
• Caste you are in: Meet in groups
• Discuss what/how your lives are like.
– What do you do for a living?
– Are you a valued member of society?
– What are some of the benefits, if any, of your
caste?
– Would you want to be a member of this caste
forever?
– How, or would you, change the caste system?
The Indian Subcontinent
THE BEGINNING OF HINDUISM
The Beginning of Hinduism
• One of the two major world religions that
began on the Indian Subcontinent
• Blended Aryan religious beliefs with those
of native people
• No one person is responsible for
beginning Hinduhism
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9yWw
FWpbRo
Basic Beliefs of Hinduism
1. Brahman is the supreme and eternal spirit
of the universe
1. People find it easier to worship deities that are
shown as humans or animals
2. The goal of every soul is to become part
of the Brahman
1. Souls must free themselves from earthly desires,
such as wanting to be wealthy or popular
2. To achieve this they participate in Yoga. The goal of
Yoga is to leave behind Earthly life and join
Brahman in a dreamless sleep.
Basic Beliefs of Hinduism
3. Karma determines a soul’s next life
1. Sum of a person’s actions in life
2. A person’s actions in life determines how they will
be reborn in their next life.
4. Karma is determined dharma
1. Divine law and a person’s obedience toward divine law
2. All people must do their duty; varies depending on a
person’s status in their society
3. Disobey one’s dharma and move backwards on
the cycle of reincarnation
1. Promise of reincarnation gave hope to the poor
The Indian Subcontinent
THE BEGINNING OF
BUDDHISM
The Beginnings of Buddhism
• Siddhartha Gautama founded Buddhism
– His father was a ruler of a small kingdom
– He was out riding and came upon a sick
person, an old person, and a dead body
– Wanted to know why people suffered and
died
– Spent six years wandering and meditating in
India looking for an answer
The Four Noble Truths and the
Eightfold Path
• Eightfold Path is also called the Middle Path
• Four Noble Truths:
1. Ordinary life is full of suffering
2. This suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy
ourselves
3. The way to end suffering is to end our desire for
selfish goals and to see others as an extension
of ourselves.
4. The way to end desire is to follow the Middle
Path.
Nirvana
• Buddha accepted reincarnation but he
rejected the Hindu division of humans into
defined castes.
– Taught that a person could achieve nirvana
as a result of their behavior in this life.
• Nirvana, or ultimate reality, is the release from the
cycle of reincarnation.
• Wisdom is a key step in achieving nirvana.
Eightfold Path
• 1. Right View: We need to know the four noble truths
• 2. Right Intention: Decide what we really want
• 3. Right Speech: Speak well of each other and speak the
truth
• 4. Right Action: Do not steal, lie, don’t take drugs, drink
• 5. Right Livelihood: Do work that uplifts you
• 6. Right Effort: Put effort into whatever you do
• 7. Right Mindfulness: Keep our minds in control over our
senses
• 8. Right Concentration: Must meditate in order to see the
world in the right way.
The death of Buddha
• Buddha died in 480 B.C.
– Forbade his followers from worshipping his
image after his death.
– For that reason many people see Buddhism
not as a religion but as a philosophy.
– After his death many of his followers traveled
throughout India spreading his teachings
– Temples sprang up and Buddhist monastries
were established in order to promote his
teachings.
Buddhism and the Mauryan Empire
• Candragupta Maurya: founded a new Indian state.
– ruled from 324-301 B.C.
• Asoka – grandson; became Ruler of India
• Considered to be the greatest ruler in India’s history
– Converted to Buddhism and after a bloody battle
– Used Buddhist values to improve the nation
• Set up hospitals
• Built roads and rest houses along the roads
• Laws were carved on stone pillars for everyone to see
• India became a major crossroad in a trade network