India and China

Early Civilizations in IndiaChapter 3 Section 1

The Impact of Geography

Mountains, Rivers and PlainsHimalaya – Far north mountain range in

India Ganges River – South of the Himalayas Indus River Valley – dry plateau that

forms the backbone of modern day Pakistan

Deccan Plateau – hilly and dry in the interior

Eastern and Western Coasts are lush plains

Monsoons

Seasonal wind pattern June through September winds come

from the South and SouthwestOctober through February winds blow

from the north to the northeast

Indus Valley Civilization Harappa and Mohenjo Daro

Cities were carefully planned Main streets ran in a north south direction Walled neighborhoods with narrow lanes

separated the row of houses Houses formed a grid pattern Public wells Bathrooms featured an advanced drainage

system• Wastewater flowed out to drains located under

the streets then was carried to sewage pits beyond the city walls

Chutes took household trash from houses to street level garbage bins

Migration and Interaction Indus River Valley Civilizations

ending is a mysteryGradual decay, floods, earthquakes,

change in the course of the river Arrival of the Aryans

Lived in tribal groups and had a strong warrior tradition

Gradually moved eastward across India and gradually took over the Indus River Valley people

Migration and Interaction A New Way of Life

North – wheat, barley and riceSouth – grain, vegetables, cotton,

pepper, ginger and cinnamonWriting

Sanskrit – Indo-European language• Vedas – early writings that tell of small

kingdoms throughout India

Migration and Interaction Daily Life in Ancient

Family was the basic unit in society Grandparents, parents, and children lived

under the same roofPatriarchal

Oldest male had legal authority Inherit property

Children Marriages were arranged • Parents would support their daughters until

marriage and then pay a dowry to the family of the man she married

Migration and Interaction Daily Life

Suttee Dead were placed on

heaps of material called pyres which were set on fire

The wife was required to throw herself on her dead husband’s flaming pyre

If she did not she was held in disgrace

Social Class in Ancient India Aryans believed Society was divided into 4

varnasTop Level = Brahmins (priests)2nd Level = Kshatriyas (warriors)3rd Level = Vaisyas (commoners)4th Level = Sudras (peasants or servants)5th Level = Unmentionables

Caste System Born into a caste and it determined what

occupation you could have, who to marry, and what groups they could socialize with Lowest level in Indian society were the

Untouchables who were given menial tasks

Religions of India

Hinduism Believed in the existence of a single force

in the universe = Brahman Yoga

Leave behind earthly life and join Brahman in a kind of dreamless sleep

Most ordinary Indians could not relate to this ideal and came to have a number of human like gods and goddesses Brahma – the creator Vishnu – the preserver Shiva – the destroyer

Religions of India

Principles of HinduismReincarnation

Rebirth Gives hope to people especially those in

the lower castesKarma

“what goes around comes around” Dharma • Requires people to do their duty which

depends on their status in society

Religions of India

BuddhismSiddhartha Gautama – founder of Buddhism

Raised in luxury and at age 16 he married a princess and began to raise a family

At age 20 he noticed people suffering from illness, death and old age • Decided to spend his life seeking the cure for

human suffering Practiced self denial but it took him very

close to death Turned to meditation and met enlightenment

and his teachings became Buddhism

Religion in India

Principles of BuddhismSiddhartha denied the reality of the material world

Believed human sufferings were caused by their attachments to things in this world

Nirvana – ultimate reality Four Noble Truths

Ordinary Life is full of suffering This suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy

ourselves The way to end suffering is to end desire for

selfish goals to see others as extensions of ourselves

The way to end desire is to follow the Middle Path

Religions of India Middle Path

Eightfold Path 1. Right view – know the 4 noble truths2. Right intention – Need to know what we want3. Right Speech – Speak truth and well of each

other4. Right Action – Do not: Kill, steal, like, unchaste,

drugs or alcohol 5. Right Livelihood – Work that uplifts us and others6. Right effort – Do not give up 7. Right Mindfulness – Keep our minds in control of

our senses8. Right Concentration – meditate to see the world

in a new way