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CHAPTER 3 - INDIA
Early India
Main Idea
Early civilization arose in the Indus River Valley, flourished, and
then mysteriously died out. Later India’s Vedic civilization
developed a culture based on old and new beliefs.
Reading Focus
• How did India’s geography affect the development of
civilization there?
• What were the defining features of the Indus Valley
Civilization?
• What do we know about life in India’s Vedic period?
India’s Geography
Indus River flows across northwest edge of Indian subcontinent—
large landmass, part of a continent
 Home of one of ancient world’s great river valley civilizations
 Indian subcontinent includes three major geographic zones
 Far north: Himalaya, Hindu Kush mountain systems, separating India from rest
of Asia
 South: Deccan Plateau, high plateau receiving less rain than other parts of
subcontinent
 Between mountains, plateau are Northern Plains, where society first developed
in India
Floods and Annual Rainfall
Fertile Region
• Flood deposits from Indus,
Ganges, Brahmaputra rivers
enrich soil of Northern Plains,
make it very fertile
• Heavy rains also add to fertility
of plains
• Much of rain brought to India by
seasonal winds, monsoons
Monsoon Winds
• Summer, monsoon winds from
southwest bring warm air,
heavy rains from Indian Ocean;
most of annual rainfall at this
time
• Winter, northeast monsoons
blow cool, dry air from Central
Asia, drier months
Water Critical Factor
The people of India’s first civilizations depended upon the monsoons
to bring the water that their crops needed.
Monsoon Rains
• Monsoon rains flooded rivers;
rivers deposited fertile silt in
which farmers could grow
crops
• With abundance of rainfall
came threat of devastation
Devastating Effects
• Monsoon rains too heavy—
crops, homes, lives could be
lost
• Monsoon rains too late, did not
last long enough—people
could not grow crops; famine
became danger
Describe
What problems could monsoons cause for
early Indians?
Answer: flooding or drought
Indus Valley Civilization
People have lived in the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent for
thousands of years. At first people lived as hunter-gatherers, but
slowly people began to settle down in farming communities.
First Civilization
Cities, Settlements
• Farm communities
gave rise to India’s
first civilization
• 1920s,remains of
two large cities first
ruins found
• Developed in valley
of Indus River
• Began 2500 BC,
when people first
developed writing
system
– Harappa
– Mohenjo Daro
• Civilization called
Harappan
• Other cities, towns
since uncovered
Indus Society
• Settlements well
planned, carefully
laid out
• Streets ran in grid
pattern; major
avenues twice as
wide as minor
streets
Life in Towns and Cities
• Water came from community wells, smaller wells in courtyards of homes
• Public drainage systems carried away wastewater
• Walled, elevated citadel—fortress—enclosed buildings like granaries,
warehouses
• Homes, workshops, shrines built outside citadel
• Uniformity suggests central authority in power
Economy
• Economy likely based on agriculture, trade
• Most probably farmed, herded livestock
• In cities, many specialized in crafts like pottery, metalwork, jewelry
• Indus traded goods with people nearby, distant civilizations
• Traders from Indus Valley brought goods to locations as distant as Central
Asia, Arabian Peninsula, Mesopotamia
Society
Few Details
• Archaeologists, historians not able to learn many details about Indus society
• Had writing system, but historians not able to read it
• Some say Indus civilization single society, rather than collection of city-states
Similarities
• People shared common tool designs, standard set of weights, measures
• Suggest single authority in control
• Civilization thrived from about 2500 BC to 2000 BC, then began to decline
Decline
• No one knows what led to decline, or if single cause
• Environmental damage suspected; flooding, disappearance of Sarasvati river
• Invasion, disease may also have helped end civilization
Analyze
Why do historians know relatively little about
Indus society?
Answer: have not deciphered Indus writing
The Vedic Period
Sometime after 2000 BC, a new people took control of India. Historians
often refer to this group as the Aryans, from a Sanskrit word meaning
“noble.” Eventually the Aryans ruled over most of India, except for the
far south.
Origin of Aryans
• Historians not sure when Aryans
arrived, where they came from
• Some assume they moved from
area between Caspian, Black seas
• Others argue Aryans developed in
northern India, did not move into
area
Archaeological Evidence
• Little archaeological evidence
remains to document early Aryan
period in India
• Most comes from sacred writings
called the Vedas
• Include many details about Aryan
history, society
This period in Indian history is often called the Vedic period.
Vedic Society
• According to the Vedas, people settled in villages smaller than cities
of Indus Valley
• Later groups of villages banded together under regional leaders
known as rajas
• Raja primarily war leader responsible for protecting people; received
payments of food, money in return
Social Structure
• According to oldest of the Vedas,
the Rigveda, Vedic society divided
into four social classes, varnas
• Each played particular role in
society
• People of four varnas created from
body of single being
Varnas
• Part of body from which each varna
created tied to its duties
• Brahmins came from mouth, source
of speech, wisdom; were priests
• Kshatriyas: warriors, rulers
• Vaisyas: common people, farmers
• Sudras: servants
Jobs and Privileges
Castes
Social Hierarchy
• Over centuries, four varnas of
Vedic period divided into
hundreds of smaller castes
• Social hierarchy developed,
some castes had more
privileges than others
• Membership in caste
determined what jobs one could
hold, whom one could marry
• Not everyone belonged to a
caste
• Untouchables had no protection
of caste law, could perform only
jobs that other castes did not
Vedic Religion
Vedic Religion
Prayer
• Vedas consist mostly of hymns
in praise
• People prayed to many aspects
of single eternal spirit
• We know much about Vedic
religion as result
• One aspect was Indra, who
ruled over heaven
Fire Sacrifices
Complex
• People worshipped gods
through fire sacrifices, chanting
sacred hymns
• Rituals grew more complex
• Priests offered food, drink by
placing on roaring fire
• Brahmin varna gained more
influence in society
• Priests said order in universe
maintained only through rituals
Summarize
How was Vedic society organized?
Answer: into four social classes called varnas
Basic Teachings of Hinduism
One of the world’s oldest religions, Hinduism, is practiced by most people in
India today. Hinduism evolved over thousands of years and was influenced by
the cultures and traditions of many peoples. However a few fundamental
teachings are shared by nearly all Hindus.
Brahman
• Among most basic tenets of
Hinduism, belief in Brahman,
eternal being that created,
preserves world
• Brahman all-encompassing
• Many believe human mind
incapable of understanding
Atman
• Hindus believe each person has
atman, soul, aspect of Brahman
• Atman shapes personality, cannot
be destroyed, even by death
• Devas, manifestations of Brahman,
active in world, helping maintain
order in nature
Three devas- Brahma, Vishnu, Siva -are particularly influential. Some believe in
thousands; others worship only one as the true manifestation of Brahman.
Rebirth and Salvation
Pattern of Life
• Hindus believe universe, everyone in it, part of continual pattern of birth,
death, and rebirth
• After death atman reborn in process called reincarnation, or samsara
New Life
• Nature of person’s new life shaped by karma—sum effect of deeds, actions
• Good karma, reincarnated to better station in life; bad karma, lower station in
life
• Ultimate goal of human existence, moksha, escape from cycle of rebirth
Dharma
• With moksha, atman leaves world, reunites fully with Brahman
• To achieve moksha is to fulfill one’s dharma—spiritual duties, obligations
• By fulfilling dharma, one creates good karma, breaks free from rebirth cycle
Define
What is moksha, and how is it central to
Hindu teachings?
Answer(s): escape from cycle of rebirth, reunion
with Brahman; ultimate goal for Hindus; way to
achieve moksha is to fulfill one's dharma
Sacred Texts and Practices
Much of Hinduism’s evolution stemmed from a number of sacred writings
produced over centuries.
Sacred Texts
• Teachings, practices based on
many texts, most sorted into one
of three categories
– The Vedas
– Later writings inspired by the
Vedas
– Sacred epics
• The Vedas, sacred hymns of
praise, among earliest sacred
texts of Hinduism
The Vedas
• Name means “knowledge” in
Sanskrit
• Hindus consider Vedas to contain
eternal knowledge not written by
humans, revealed to them by
Brahman
• Parts of Vedas date back more
than 3,000 years
• Considered core of Hinduism
even today
Upanishads
• Sacred texts that built upon the Vedas appeared
• Some, such as Upanishads, also believed to have been revealed rather than
written by people
• Upanishads philosophical reflections on the Vedas, dealing with nature of
world, meaning of life
Ramayana, Mahabharata
• Other sacred texts based on themes in the Vedas, but composed by sages,
including two epic poems, Ramayana and Mahabharata
• Each tells story, reflects on living according to Vedic teachings
• Included in Mahabharata, most sacred of all Hindu texts, the Bhagavad Gita,
addressing many aspects of Hindu belief, philosophy
Hindu Religious Practices
Worship
Meditation, Pilgrimages
• Hindu beliefs vary widely, religious
practices vary as well; worship can
take place anywhere
• To help meditate, Hindus practice
series of integrated physical,
mental exercises called yoga
• At temples, priests might recite,
read portions of the Vedas; image
of a deva sometimes carried out of
temple to people
• Yoga teaches people how to focus
bodies, minds to aid meditation,
help attain moksha
• At home, food, drink, gifts offered
for deva; meditation, silent
reflection
• Hindus also make pilgrimages to
Ganges River to purify, remove bad
karma
Categorize
What types of sacred texts help shape
Hindu beliefs?
Answer: Vedas, writings inspired by the Vedas,
sacred epics
Jainism
New Religion
• 500 BC, group of Hindus broke away, founded new religion called Jainism
• Led by teacher Mahavira, Jains thought most Hindus put too much emphasis
on ritual
Ritual Unnecessary
• Jains thought ritual unnecessary
• People could achieve moksha by giving up worldly things, carefully
controlling actions
Nonviolence
• Central to Jain teaching, idea of ahimsa, nonviolence
• Most Hindus also practiced ahimsa, but not to same extent
• Jains carefully avoid harming living creatures, are usually vegetarians
Other Traits
• Jains promise to tell only truth
• Avoid stealing
• Strive to eliminate greed, anger, prejudice, gossip from lives
• These things can prevent person from achieving moksha
Lifestyle
• Most devout become monks, nuns,
give up possessions
Principles
• Most Jains not monks, nuns
• Live outdoors, seek shelter only
during rainy months
• Pledge to uphold principles of
ahimsa, have careers that do not
involve harming of animals
• Cover mouths with masks, sweep
ground to avoid accidentally killing
insects
• Jainism calls for periodic fasting,
especially during festivals, on holy
days; limiting worldly possessions
Find the Main Idea
What are the major principles of Jainism?
Answer: practice nonviolence; tell the truth; do not
steal; try to eliminate greed, anger, prejudice, and
gossip
Buddhism
Main Idea
Buddhism, which teaches people that they can escape the
suffering of the world through the Buddha’s teachings, developed
in India and spread to other parts of Asia and the world.
Reading Focus
• How did the early life of the Buddha lead to the beginnings of
Buddhism?
• What are the major teachings of Buddhism?
• What areas were affected by the spread of Buddhism?
The Life of the Buddha
In addition to Hinduism, another of the world’s major religions developed in
ancient India. That religion was Buddhism.
Early Life
• Much of what is known about life
of the Buddha from accounts in
Buddhist literature
• Gautama born 500s BC
• Prince of small kingdom in what is
now Nepal
– Led sheltered life
– Unaware of hardship
– Life changed when learned
people got old, sick, died
Buddha’s Enlightenment
• Gautama resolved to find way to
overcome age, sickness, keep
people from suffering
• Gave up possessions, left palace
• Sought enlightenment, spiritual
understanding for six years
• Studied with gurus, monks but
decided they could not teach way
to enlightenment
The Life of the Buddha
Gautama was determined to find way to end human
suffering
 Sat under tree, no teachers, no companions, determined not
to arise until he found way
 Stories say he meditated all night
 Resolve tested by violent storms, earthly temptations
 At daybreak, had been transformed, found enlightenment, became the Buddha,
Enlightened One
 Temple built where he meditated, Bodh Gaya, one of Buddhism’s most sacred
places
Explain
How did Siddhartha Gautama become the
Buddha?
Answer: meditated under a tree, determined not
to arise until he found solution to human suffering;
was enlightened and transformed
The Teachings of Buddhism
Buddhist Beliefs
• After enlightenment achieved,
Buddha meditated at Bodh Gaya
seven weeks
• Set out to spread to others what he
had learned
• Lessons became basic teachings
of Buddhism
• Among ideas learned in meditation,
central truths, called Four Noble
Truths
Four Noble Truths
• Suffering part of human life
• Suffering from people’s desires for
pleasure, material goods
• Overcoming desires during life
eventually brings end to suffering
• Desires can be overcome by
following Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path
Series of Steps Leading to Enlightenment, Salvation
• Right view, or accepting the reality of the Four Noble Truths
• Right attitude, or striving for moderation in all things
• Right speech, avoiding lies, boasts, and hurtful words
• Right action, or treating others fairly
• Right livelihood, avoiding jobs that could bring harm to others
• Right effort, or constantly trying to improve oneself
• Right mindfulness, or remaining aware of world around one
• Right concentration, or ignoring temptation and discomfort while
meditating
Nirvana
The Buddha taught that those who followed Eightfold Path could attain
nirvana
 State of perfect peace in which soul freed from suffering forever
 Those not attaining nirvana reborn to live through cycle of suffering
again
 Basic teachings of Eightfold Path, Middle Way—living in moderation,
avoiding extremes of comfort, discomfort in search for nirvana
Divisions of Buddhism
After the Buddha’s death, differing opinions arose concerning the correct
teachings and practices of Buddhism. Eventually three main Buddhist
traditions formed—Theravada, Mahayana, and Tibetan.
Theravada
• “Way of the Elders”
• Oldest tradition
• Best way to attain
nirvana: be monk,
nun, meditate
• Find one path to
enlightenment; very
much an individual
religion
Mahayana
• Teaches people can
help each other find
enlightenment
• Not necessary to be
monk, nun
• Bodhisattvas,
enlightened people
not yet passed to
nirvana, help others
Tibetan
• Shares many
Mahayana teachings
• Also believes special
techniques can
harness spiritual
energy, lead to
nirvana in single
lifetime
Summarize
What are the fundamental teachings of
Buddhism?
Answer: suffering comes from selfish desires;
overcoming desire ends suffering; follow Eightfold
Path to overcome desire
The Spread of Buddhism
Unlike Hinduism, which largely remained an Indian religion, Buddhism spread
into other parts of the world. Today, more than 350 million people are
Buddhists, most of them concentrated in Asia. Relatively few people in India
are Buddhists today.
Buddhism in India
• Buddhist community in India grew
throughout Buddha’s life
• Followers spread teachings after
Buddha’s death
• Teachings not written down until
first century BC; helped preserve,
spread teachings throughout India
Ashoka
• 200s BC, Buddhism reached peak
in India during reign of emperor
Ashoka
• Ashoka became Buddhist, helped
spread Buddhism into all parts of
India
Ashoka also encouraged missionaries to carry the Buddha’s message to lands
outside of India.
Buddhism Beyond India
• Ashoka sent missionaries to Sri Lanka, large island off India’s southern
coast, and north to lands along Himalayas, east into lands of Southeast Asia
• Buddhism took firm hold in kingdoms that eventually became Myanmar,
Thailand, Vietnam, islands of Indonesia
Traders
• Trade also helped spread Buddhism beyond India
• 200s BC, merchants traveling routes from India to Central Asia introduced
Buddhist teachings
• Traders from Central, Southeast Asia took Buddhist teachings into China,
slowly spreading, blending with native Chinese philosophies
Leading Asian Religion
Korea and Japan
• From China, Buddhism eventually
diffused into Korea, Japan
Change, Development
• As Buddhism encountered other
religious traditions outside India, it
changed, developed
• AD 300s, first introduced to Korea
• Korean travelers took religion to
Japan 200 years later
• By this time, Buddhism had
become leading religion in East,
Southeast Asia
• Blending caused smaller traditions
within Theravada, Mahayana
• Zen, branch of Mahayana,
emphasized self-discipline,
meditation
• Today Buddhism very diverse
Sequence
How did Buddhism spread through Asia?
Answer: through missionary work and trade