Transcript Ancient India

Ancient India
From Brahma to Bollywood
Aryan Migration
 pastoral  depended on their cattle.
 warriors  horse-drawn chariots.
Aryan Migration
 pastoral  depended on their cattle.
 warriors  horse-drawn chariots.
Sanskrit
writing
The Vedas
 1200 BCE-600 BCE.
 written in SANSKRIT.
 Hindu core of
beliefs:
Rig Veda  oldest work.

hymns and poems.

religious prayers.

magical spells.

lists of the gods
and goddesses.
Varna Brahmins
(Social
Hierarchy)
Kshatriyas
Vaishyas
Shudras
Pariahs [Harijan]  Untouchables
The
Caste
System
Kshatriyas
WHO IS…
Brahmins
 The mouth?
 The arms?
Vaishyas
 The legs?
 The feet?
Shudras
The Vedic Age
The foundations for
Hinduism were
established!
325 BCE: INVASION
 Alexander the Great invaded northwest
India.
 Here's his account: They use parasols as
a screen from the heat! They wore
shoes made of white leather and they
were elaborately trimmed, while the
soles were multicolored, and made of
great thickness, to make the wearer
seem much taller.
321 BCE: Mauryan Empire

Chandragupta has HUGE army

High Taxes/spies

Unites North India
 Grandson Asoka (buddhist) believed in
RELIGIOUS TOLERATION
 Asoka built lots of roads
(who else ?)
Buddhism breaks in TWO
 Mahayana
 Theraveda
 “new doctrine/fresh”
 “old school”
 Yes, you can
 Work towards
worship Buddha
 Can be lots of
Buddhas
 Help others is key
 A MASS religion –
salvation for ALL
individual nirvana
Hindu Rebirth
 More personal, less
ritual
 Focus on 3 gods
Brahma (creator)
Vishnu (preserver)
Shiva (destroyer)
320 AD: Gupta Empire
 Won wars and land
 Increased trade
 Arts and Science
 North: patriarchal
 South: Matriarchal
Gupta Achievements
 Proved Earth was
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ROUND 500’s CE
Value of pi
Length of year
1,000 diseases
500 plants to cure
Review: How did
their GEOGRAPHY
encourage them?
Use of Silk Roads
“middlemen”
Use of Silk Roads
“spread Buddhism”
Use of Silk Roads
“spread Buddhism”