Transcript Ancient India 2015

Chapter 3
Ancient India
Harappan Civilization
Harappan Civilization
 2500 BCE-1500 BCE (maybe as far back as 3300
BCE
 Cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa ( 2 major
excavation sites)
(Harappa today)
What is known about the
Harappan Civilization
 Impressive city planning
 Graineries and storehouses
(surplus food)
 City of Harappa had a
population of at least 35,000
 Fine jewelry, fine cloth,
pottery
 Written language
Questions that still must be
answered:
 Their language has not
been deciphered
 Their religion may have
centered around sacred
trees (no temples)
 The shifting of rivers and/or
large earthquakes may
have brought an end to
their civilization.
Indus Civilization Mohenjo Daro
Sacred Tree?
Mysterious Symbols
Indo-Aryan Immigration
 Nomadic tribes that crossed the
Hindu Kush (Khyber Pass)around
1750 BCE
 Herdsmen (sheep and cattle)
 Warlike- used chariots and
archers
Language
 Sanskrit
 Works of literature- “The Vedas” –
these are so important historians
designate the time period by their
writing…
 “The Vedic Age”: 1500 to 1000 BCE
 (Read Rig Veda selection)
Sanskrit (language of the Indo Aryans)
 Aha-vak-Amya (aha-vak-ah-me-ah)… (their word
for war= “desire for more cows”)
 Himalayas…(a place of snow)
 English/Sanskrit Connection…
 Mater, pitar,bhratar,svaser
 Duhitar,sunus
Works of Literature in the Vedic
Age:1500 to 1000 BCE
.
 Epic poems:
 Mahabharata
(last 18 chapters
are the
Bhagavad Gita) ,
 Ramayana
 Upanishadscommentary
and explanations
of the Vedas
What does the “Hymn to Dawn” tell about the Aryans?
In the Ramayana & in the “Song of the Lord” (selection from
Bhagavad Gita)What are the values being taught?
Aryan Religion
 The gods mentioned in the Vedas
represent elements of nature
 Concept of a supreme god
 Varuna-cosmic order
 Indra--storms and war
 Nature based beliefs- early on there
were no temples
 Brahmins- the priests who conducted
religious ceremonies
Aryans continued… Social Classes
 Rajas- rulers
 Warriors then priests originally had highest
status.
 Merchants,traders, farmers,servants were the
other classes
 Elaborate marriage ceremonies and rules-
(maintained division of social structures)
 Eventually social structure became very rigid
and racial purity was emphasized. … the
caste system developed…
 Caste system (placed Brahmins (priests)
at the top) pariahs at the bottom
Development of Hinduism
 Caste system (placed Brahmins (priests) at the top)
pariahs at the bottom
 But a change occurred- the rise of the gurus (more
emphasis on these teachers instead of the priests)
 Brahman (Brahma)- Universal Soul
 Monism- atman (human soul) and Brahman are the
same
 Maya-the visible world is illusion
 Reincarnation (samsara) (transmigration)
 Dharma and Kharma
Cattle Worship
 The five products (panca gavya) of the cow —
 Milk, curds, ghee butter, Urine dung —
 are all used in puja (worship) as well as in rites of
extreme penance. The milk of the family cow
nourishes children as they grow up, and cow dung
(gobar) is a major source of cooking fuel for
households throughout India. Cow dung is sometimes
among the materials used for a tilak - a ritual mark on
the forehead. Most Indians do not share the western
revulsion at cow excrement, but instead consider it
an earthy and useful natural product.
Hinduism Review Terms
 Samasara
 Dharma
 Kharma
 Monism
 Pariahs
India’s Faithful
The sacred River Ganges
Development
of Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama (563
BCE-483 BCE)
4 Noble Truths-What are
they?
Eightfold Path
Theraveda
Buddhism(Buddha is a
spiritual teacher)
Mahayana Buddhism
(Buddha is a god and savior)
Buddhism: The Middle Way of
Compassion
Ancient Indian Dynasties
 Mauryan Empire -320 BCE to 232 BCE
 Chandragupta Maurya –established the empire
 Asoka- grandson of Chandragupta-converted to
Buddhism
Asoka- Emperor of the Mauryans
Ancient Indian Dynasties: The
Guptas
 Gupta Empire 320 BCE to 550 CE
 Chandra Gupta I and II – 2 great
leaders-expand the empire
 They supported Hinduism and it
eventually regains dominance
but Buddhism continued
Gupta Golden Age:
Art/Literature/Science
 Panchatantra-by Vishnu
Sharma(The Five Books)
animal fables that
influenced “1001
Arabian Nights”,
Sinbad the Sailor stories
 “Arabic” numbers
developed
 Medicine: inoculation,
bone setting, plastic
surgery, function of the
spinal cord, disinfection
Creation of India’s Number
Systerm
Ajanta Caves
Ajanta Caves 2nd and 1st
Century BC (abandoned
by 480 BC)
Nalanda University
Stupas