6th grade ubd - unit 4 - india's rulers and society
TRANSCRIPT
India's Rulers and Society
6th Grade UBD - Unit 4 - India's Rulers and Society
Preview
Aryans in India- The Aryans invaded India from the
northwest around 1500 BCE and had a major cultural
influence on the population already living there.
India’s Caste System- The caste system in India
was introduced by the Aryans and based on ideas
introduced in the Vedas.
The Mauryan and Gupta Empires- Religious
developments and other advances during the
Mauryan and Gupta Empires had a strong impact on
Indian society.
Reach Into Your Background Untouchables are
members of the lowest
class in Indian society
and often suffer
discrimination at the
hands of the higher
classes. Predict how
social class impacted
the lives of the Ancient
Indian people?
(5 minutes)
Partner Activity
Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)
Key Ideas- Aryans in India
The Aryan religion of Brahmanism
developed into Hinduism.
The Aryans introduced the language of
Sanskrit and developed its written
alphabet.
The Aryan caste system was adopted and
used by Indians for many centuries.
Aryan Invasion
For much of its early
history, India was isolated
by natural barriers such as
mountains.
However, at times other
civilizations and groups of
people were able to cross
the mountains and enter
into the territory.
One of these groups was
the Aryans.
Key Term
Natural Barrier-
An obstruction
that occurs
naturally, for
example a
mountain range.
Natural barriers
have been
important factors
in human history,
by obstructing
migration and
invasion.
Aryan Invasion
The Aryan invaders
conquered the people
of the Indus River
civilization in India.
They settled in the
fertile valleys as
farmers, raising cattle
and horses that they
had brought with them.
Aryan Invasion
The Aryan brought
their own religion, or
set of beliefs and
rituals, as well as their
own cultural customs.
These ideas blended
with existing cultures
to shape life in South
Asia.
Aryan Cultural Contributions
One of the most
significant changes was
the establishment of
their religion.
The Aryans worshipped
many gods.
They believed these
gods lived in nature.
The Vedas
The Vedas are written
collections of hymns, prayers,
chants, and other religious
writings that make up the
most important part of the
sacred texts of Hinduism.
They were probably collected
over several centuries and
passed down orally.
Key Term
Vedas- A written
collections of
hymns, prayers,
chants, and
other religious
writings that
make up the
most important
part of the
sacred texts of
Hinduism.
Key Term
Hinduism- The
dominant
religion in India,
is one of the
world’s oldest
religions.
Believed to
originated on the
Indian
subcontinent
around 1500
BCE.
The Vedas
The Vedas are
believed to have first
been written down in
Sanskrit, one of the
ancient languages of
India, between 1500
and 1200 BCE.
Hinduism
Over time Aryan religion
mixed with local Indian
beliefs and practices to
form Hinduism, a new
religion.
Hinduism combined a wide
range of traditions and is
still practiced by more than
800 million people around
the world.
The History of HinduismVideo- The History of Hinduism
Aryan Cultural Contributions
Religion was not
the only change
the Aryans made
to Indian society.
They also
established their
idea of social
classes.
Key Ideas- India’s Caste System
The caste system consisted of give major castes or groups:
the Brahmans, the Kshatriyas, the Vaisyas, the Shudras, and
the Dalits/ Untouchables.
A person's caste ruled his or her life. It determined things like
occupation, who a person could marry, what a person could
eat, and where a person lived
Discrimination based on the caste system was outlawed in
1949, but the caste system continues to create political and
social divisions in India, particularly in rural areas.
Key Term
Caste
System-
Arranges
people into
hereditary
groups within
a society.
Aryan Cultural Contributions
The Aryans used these
ideas to create a
hierarchy in society.
The system they
introduced is called the
caste system and it
remained a dominant
part of Indian culture
until the mid-1900s.
Aryan Cultural Contributions
The caste system
divided people into
groups that dictated
what jobs they could
have, who they
could marry, and
where they could
live.
The Caste System
A person’s status and
role within society was
tied to the group, or
caste, he or she
belonged to.
Different groups in
society were responsible
for different jobs and
responsibilities.
The Caste System
People in one group were
not allowed to marry
people from another group.
A person was born into a
group and was not allowed
to change groups at any
point in life.
The caste system remained
a dominant force in Indian
society for many centuries.
The Caste System
Brahmans (Priests, Judges, and Scholars)
Kshatriyas (Soldiers)
Vaisyas (Merchants and Farmers)
Shudras (Peasants, Servants, and Laborers)
Dalits/Untouchables (Outcasts)
Independent Activity
In the United States, because
of a universal education system
and rights promoting equal
opportunities for everyone.
Explain what it would be like
living in a country where your
social class and opportunities
are set for life, before you are
even born? (5 minutes)
The Caste System Today
As India became
more urbanized in
the 1900s, people of
different castes
began interacting
with one another,
particularly in the
cities.
The Caste System Today
Discrimination based on the
caste system was eventually
made illegal in 1949.
Ever since, the government
has created laws protecting
people from lower castes
against discrimination.
The Caste SystemVideo- The Caste System
Key Ideas- The Mauryan and Gupta Empires
The Mauryan Empire connected most of India under one
territory by conquering other states or local kingdoms.
Emperor Ashoka was one of the most influential
historical figures in ancient India.
Ashoka converted to Buddhism and encouraged the
spread of Buddhism in India.
Gupta mathematicians developed a decimal system of
writing and used zeroes as placeholders.
Ancient Warriors of IndiaVideo- Ancient Warriors of India
The Maurya Elephant ArmyVideo- The Maurya Elephant Army
The Mauryan Empire
India's first empire, the
Mauryan Empire, was
established around 322
BCE.
A great military leader,
Chandragupta Maurya,
was the first true emperor
in India.
His grandson Ashoka is
remembered as one of the
greatest kings in India's
history.
The Mauryan Empire
Ashoka was an
experienced warrior and
extended the lands of the
empire.
Around 256 BCE invaded
the Kalingas another
powerful kingdom and
defeat them. However, he
was overcome by the
death and destruction he
witnessed.
The Mauryan Empire
After the battle
Ashoka converted to
Buddhism and
instituted new
policies throughout
the empire.
He promoted peace,
opened universities,
and established new
trade routes for his
people.
The Mauryan Empire
Ashoka had stone
pillars erected
throughout India.
These pillars were
covered in engravings
and markings that
told his story and
shared his religious
philosophies with his
people.
Key Term
Buddhism- Is
both a religion
and a
philosophy.
Today
Buddhism is the
fourth largest
religion on
Earth, with
about 360
million
followers.
Gupta Empire
Around 320 CE, the Gupta Empire
came into being. The Gupta
dynasty ruled India for about 215
years.
During this time, the dynasty
built roads throughout the
empire, reestablished Hinduism
as the main religion in India, and
made many scientific,
mathematical, and cultural
advances.
Gupta Empire
The creation of the numeric
system upon which our
modern system is based
and the introduction of the
number zero as a
placeholder are among the
important developments
that occurred during the
Gupta period.
Numerals and the Origin of ZeroVideo- Numerals and the Origin of Zero
Independent Activity
What has been the
“muddiest” point so
far in this lesson? That
is, what topic remains
the least clear to you?
(4 minutes)
Partner Activity
Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)