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Hinduism in Ancient India
0 Epic Age: a period of time from 1000 to 500
BCE
0 Aryans: A group of people from Central Asia
who migrated into North India around 1200
BCE. They were responsible for the Vedas.
0 Caste System: A form of social organization.
0 Monism: The belief that God and human
beings are one.
Hinduism in Ancient India
0 Reincarnation: From the Sanskrit word samsura,
meaning cycle of births and deaths. One’s next birth
is determined by the karma of previous births.
0 Dharma: The fulfillment of one’s moral duty in this
life so that the soul can make progress toward
deliverance from punishment in the next life.
0 Upanishads: Body of sacred literature composed
between 800 and 400 BCE. Several of the most
important, influential, and subtle concepts for
Hinduism.
Hinduism in Ancient India
0 Karma: Deed or action. The law of Hinduism which
states that whatever action one does, those actions
will bear fruits either in this life or in some future
life.
0 Hinduism: Religion of the Hindus based originally
on the Vedas.
0 Vedas: Large body of oral literature, preserved
orally and in texts, sacred to the Hindus. Contains
prayers, chants, and sacrificial details, etc.
The Caste System
0 Upper Class:
0 Brahman: priests and scholars
0 Kshatriyas: rulers and warriors
0 Middle Class:
0 Vaisyas: merchants, traders, and farmers
0 Lower Class:
0 Sudras: peasants bound to the land
0 Outcastes: also known as the Untouchables
The Caste System
0 The Caste System began in India after the Aryans
invaded and established their own rules for
governing society. They prohibited marriages
between their own people and people of the
cultures they conquered.
0 During the Epic Age four classes emerged. They
included the top four on the previous slide. The
Untouchables were so low that they were never
mentioned or acknowledged in society.
The Caste System
0 Each caste had a specific place in society. They
socialized, ate, married, worked, and worshipped
within their own caste. They would never consider
doing those things outside their caste.
0 They believed they could attain a higher caste
position by leading a good life. The belief was
derived from the Hindu religious teachings of
reincarnation. They also believed they could be
reincarnated into the body of an insect if they did
not lead a good life in their current position.
Group Activity
0 Each person will be assigned a caste.
0 The Brahman is the most important person.
Agree with anything they say. This is the
wisest person.
0 The Kshatriya is an important person. The
Kshatriya will protect you from other groups
who may try to steal answers and will keep
Untouchables at bay.
Group Activity
0 The Vaisyas is important but not as important
as the other two. They record answers. They
may try to give answer, however, they will be
wrong, so laugh off anything they say.
0 The Sudras have little importance. Ignore
what they say. They will turn in the
assignment when done; otherwise pretend
they don’t exist.
Group Activity
0 The Untouchables should be completely
ignored. Do not talk to them nor should you
acknowledge their presence. If they come near
you, move away quickly so that you are not
contaminated.
0 You will be given a group assignment. You will
receive a grade based on completion and
adherence to proper castes.