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 • 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 BEGINNING OF HINDUISM The Indian Subcontinent

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=Y9yWwFWpbRo

Basic Beliefs of Hinduism 1. Brahman is the supreme and eternal

spirit of the universe1. 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 dharma1. 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 BEGINNING OF BUDDHISM

The Indian Subcontinent

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