ANCIENT

INDIA

By: Ms.

Bindrim

HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION

• Existed from around 2500 B.C. until 1700 B.C. (about 800 years)

• Existed at the same time as ancient Egypt

• The population grew in the Indus River Valley as irrigation and farming techniques improved.

• Cities were built as surplus food was produced.

HARAPPAN ACHIEVEMENTS

• Major 2 cities: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro (both were well-designed and acted as fortresses against enemies)

• Made use of ground wells and indoor plumbing

• Known for their pottery, cotton clothing, jewelry

• Created India’s first writing system

Language

Invaders from the West

• When the Harappan civilization dissipated in 1700 BC, Aryans from southern Russia came through the Khyber Pass in the Hindu Kush mountains and began taking over territory.

• Sanskrit is the root of many modern South Asian languages and was used for religious writings.

ARYAN INVASION

New Technology

Culture

• Aryans discovered iron ore and created iron plows that improved agriculture and led Aryans to settle into towns. Also created iron weapons that helped them rule northern India.

ARYAN INVASION• Were nomads and herders who got their clothes and food from the animals they raised. Wealth was measured by the number of cattle a person owned.

ARYAN LIFE CONTINUED…

•Economy: Aryans made use of irrigation in order to farm and used the crops they grew as well as animals raised in order to barter (or trade) for other needs•Brahmins: priests at the top of the social class system that worshipped the Gods•Rajas: leaders of communities, generally not Brahmins

RELIGION IN ANCIENT INDIA: HINDUISM

•Hinduism: a religion based on certain Aryan practices, including the chanting of hymns passed down through oral tradition•Hymns and religious beliefs were written down in the Vedas, or Books of Knowledge•Early gods in the Vedas were drawn from nature

VEDAS CONTINUED….•Many temples were created in the early Vedic religion•The rituals became very complicated and needed to be written down•Developments in southern India were not affected by the same forces as in northern India•Indo-Aryan migrants had the most impact on northern India•Indo-Aryan word for war is translated to mean “a desire for more cows”

HINDUISM CONTINUED…•Karma: a person’s actions determine what will happen after their death

•Reincarnation: after death, a person’s soul is reborn into a different body

•It’s believed a person’s status in life is determined by their behavior in previous lives

•Good people are reborn as a wealthy or wise person, immoral people may be reborn as a poor or sick person.

THE CASTE SYSTEM

•Caste: a social class you are born into for your lifetime•Caste determines a person’s job, marriage partner, and friends•Caste system was strongly influenced by the Aryan social system declaring that all people aren’t equal

CASTE SYSTEM CONTINUED…•Caste system is based on 4 major classes: priests, warriors & princes, merchants & farmers, and laborers.•Another group, known as untouchables, is considered so inferior they are not part of the 4 major castes•Untouchables were shunned by society and often did the dirty jobs that no one else wanted

IMPORTANT DYNASTIES

•Mauryan Empire: The first Indian empire (324-185 B.C.)•Founded by Aryan descendents who moved into the Indus River Valley•Emperor Ashoka created the first unified government here•Known for their fine sculpture and sandstone carvings

IMPORTANT DYNASTIES CONTINUED…

•Gupta Dynasty: 320-500 A.D.•Ruled during India’s golden age in science, art, & literature•Hinduism and Buddhism were practiced throughout the land•Many temples were carved out of solid stone in mountainside cliffs

GUPTA DYNASTY ACCOMPLISHMENTS•Literature: Sanskrit literature blossomed•Kalidasa is considered the greatest poet and playwright of the time•His plays taught moral principles

•Math: Gupta mathematicians developed the concept of zero and numerals we use today•Europeans eventually learned these numerals and called them Arabic, a name still used today.

JOURNAL ENTRIESDirections: you will be writing 2 journal entries from opposite ends of the caste system in ancient India.

Journal entry #1: You will explore the daily life of Brahmin, a priest considered to be the top of the social class system.

Question to consider: What do priests do on a daily basis?

Journal entry #2: You will explore the daily life of untouchables, a group of people considered so low they were shunned by society

Question to consider: What types of jobs would no one else want to complete?