Bellringer

• Use the Self-Evaluation Form you picked up at the front door to think about your quarter: What have you done well? What can you improve upon?

• BJOTD: Where do books sleep?

Indo-European Migrations and Indian Empires

Background

• Classical Indian civilization began in the Indus River Valley, and later spread to the Ganges River Valley.

• Indian civilization was not interrupted by invasion in its early history due to its relative isolation by natural barriers such as – the Himalayas – Hindu Kush Mountains– Indian Ocean

• Eventually, invaders entered India through the passes in the Hindu Kush mountains. These invaders were known as the Aryans.

Aryans (Indo-Aryans)

• Semi-nomadic people who crossed the mountains into the Indus Valley around 1500 BCE

• Asserted their dominance in India and over Indian people by creating a rigidly structured society, called the caste system.

Caste System

• Social classes based on skin color– Meant that the classes were not flexible (rigid)

• Castes:– Brahmins: priests and religious scholars on top– Kshtryiyas: lawmakers and warriors– Vaishyas: merchants and traders– Shudras: laborers– Untouchables: butchers, trash collectors

• Your caste influenced all social interactions and occupations

Processing

• What important contributions did the Aryans bring to the Indian civilization?

• How do you think the Nazi idea of “Aryan” compares to this form of “Aryan”?

Mauryan Empire: 305 BCE-230 BCE

• Founded by Chandragupta Maurya

• Expanded by Ashoka, who continued the political unification of India

• Ashoka converted to Buddhism after seeing the devastation that war caused.

• Contributions:– Buddhism– Free hospitals– Veterinary clinics– Improved roads

Gupta Empire: 320 CE-420 CE

• Reigned during the peak of classical Indian culture- “the Golden Age”• Significant contributions:

– Mathematics (zero, modern numbers, decimals)– Medicine (setting bones)– Astronomy (First to think the earth was round)– New textiles – Literature (poems, dramas)