Transcript Ch 6a Foundations of Indian Civ - Somerset Academy Silver Palms

Foundations of Indian
Civilization (1500 BCE–300 CE)
A.
The Indian Subcontinent
1. India has three
topographical zones:
(1) northern mountains
(2) the Indus (wheat) &
Ganges Basins (rice)
(3) the peninsula
2. Effect of geographical
diversity?
-difficult to politically
unify all of India
B. The Vedic Age: Hinduism
1. After demise of Indus Valley civilization,
Indo-European warriors migrated into India
-herded cattle in NW
-Aryans migrated into Ganges Valley
-oral tradition tells of light-skinned Arya
tribes fighting dark-skinned Dasas
Brahmins
Kshatriyas
2. struggle led to development of system of
varna (means “color”, but means “class”)
-born into one of four varna:
(1) Brahmin (priests/scholars)
(2) Kshatriya (warriors)
(3) Vaishya (merchants)
(4) Shudra (peasant/laborer)
-dalits (untouchables)
Vaishyas
Shudras
3. four varna subdivided into hereditary work groups
called jati (or caste)
-complex rules of occupation, duties, & rituals
-castes strictly regulated socially
4. System rationalized by belief in reincarnation
-each individual has immortal spirit (atman) that will
be reborn in another body after death
-one’s station in next life depends on one’s actions
(karma) in this and previous lives
5. holy scriptures: Vedas
C. The Rise of Hinduism
1.
Pressure from new religions caused reform of old Vedic religion:
animal sacrifice became less important, while personal devotion
to the gods increased
2.
two deities take central role: Vishnu (preserver) and Shiva
(destroyer)
-Brahma (creator)
-all other deities are manifestations of a single divine force
3. Hindu worship centered on temples & shrines
-includes pilgrimage to Ganges River
4. Hinduism dominant religion of India (over 850,000
followers)
HINDU TEMPLES
D. Karma & Dharma
Karma: actions in this life that affect the next
Dharma: the religious and moral duties of an individual
Sacred texts: Vedas & Upanishads
E. Religions of Salvation:
Jainism & Buddhism
1.
During Vedic period: people against
rigid social hierarchy self-isolated into
forests
-pursued salvation through yoga
(mind & body), special diets, or
meditation
-goal was to achieve moksha
(liberation from cycle reincarnation)
2.
Jainism: practiced nonviolence &
went to extremes in attempts not to
kill any living thing
-some went naked & starved
themselves to death…
Jainists
3. Prince Siddhartha Gautama founded
Buddhism…title “Buddha,” means “Enlightened
One”
4. set forth teaching of Four Noble Truths (life is
suffering; desire causes suffering) and of the
Eightfold Path that would lead to enlightenment
-some took vows of celibacy, nonviolence, and
poverty
bodhi tree where Siddhartha reached
enlightenment…
pagodas– symbolize
peace
Buddha’s Birth
Buddha’s First
Sermon
5. original form of Buddhism: gain enlightenment through
living a moral life, meditation, & moderate living
(Middle Path)
-achieve nirvana (release from reincarnation)
6. After Buddha’s death, followers organized monasteries
-two branches developed:
Mahayana & Theravada (followed original teachings)
Mahayana: social hierarchy, worshipping Buddha, &
Bodhisattvas
The Wheel of Life, otherwise called
the Cycle of Samsara (material
existence) explains the process
of death and rebirth.
In the very center, there is a rooster
chasing a pig chasing a snake
chasing the rooster -- craving,
hatred, and ignorance.
Around that are people ascending
the white semicircle of life, and
others descending the black
semicircle of death.
Spread of Buddhism
Buddhas