Bellringer

• List three facts about Hinduism

Agenda

1. Hinduism Review2. Indian Empires3. Buddhism worksheet

Objectives

Students will be able to…30. Summarize the major features of

the Mauryan and Gupta Empires.31. Describe the major beliefs and

traditions of Buddhism.

Aryan Kingdoms

• Aryan kingdoms dominated India beginning around 1000 BCE• No single, unified leader• Run over by Alexander the Great

(we’ll talk about him later)

Split GRAPES• Draw a line down the center of the

GRAPES chart to divide it in two–On the left side, write Mauryan Empire–On the right side, write Gupta Empire

• At the bottom–Left: write “321 BCE to 232 BCE”–Right: write “320 CE to 500’s CE”

Objective #30

Mauryan Empire

Geography

What ocean surrounds India?

Geography

What mountain range is shown?

Geography

What river valley was to the east?

Geography

What empire was to the west?

Geography

Geography

• Mauryan Empire united Indian subcontinent–Ganges and Indus Rivers–Up to the Himalaya and Hindu-

Kush Mountains

Religion

• Mainly Hinduism• Ashoka (a king) spread Buddhism

through missionaries

Achievements

• Under Chandragupta–United India for the first time–Strong bureaucracy

• Under Ashoka–Religious tolerance–Built roads, free hospitals, hotels

Political• Chandragupta conquered the empire and

established a dynasty–Bureaucracy helped run the

government• Ashoka–Became a non-violent Buddhist, used

the government to care for his people rather than gain wealth or power

Asoka says:• All men are my children. What I desire

for my own children, and I desire their welfare and happiness both in this world and the next, that I desire for all men. You do not understand to what extent I desire this, and if some of you do understand, you do not understand the full extent of my desire.

More Political

• People liked Ashoka–Good ruler, but weakened the

government–No strong ruler followed him–Empire fell apart

Economic

• Very heavy taxes to pay for the army and public works• Political centralization opens India to

trade with China and Persia

Social

• See Hinduism

A Period of Turmoil

• 500 years without a strong leader• Turmoil, noun–A state or condition of extreme

confusion or commotion• Without any damage or injury, for

30 seconds, demonstrate turmoil

Gupta Empire

Geography

Religion

• Hinduism

Achievements• The Golden Age of India

Gupta = Golden!• Trade by land and sea, east and west• Develop astronomy, advanced math (the

numbers you use), calendar• Develop banking, incredible amounts of

wealth• Helps spread culture, art, literature

Political

• Gupta kings used marriage (and an army) to create an empire• Last strong king declines in 415 CE,

empire starts to collapse• In the 500s CE, invaders “without

settled homes” attack India

Economic

• Very rich empire (but only the kings got rich)• Invented banking• LOTS of trade

Social

• See Hinduism

Buddhism

Objective #31

Hinduism’s Problems

• Some people did not like–Inequality–Inaccessibility (need priests to

interact with gods for you)

The Solution• A new faith, started by a Hindu prince

who meditated on the world’s problems• Siddhartha Gautama grew up sheltered

from the world. When he left his palace, he was shocked by what he saw–Became the founder of Buddhism

Buddha• Siddhartha left his life in a palace to seek

wisdom• No one he met had any• So he meditated under a tree until he

finally discovered the truth about the world–He became known as the Buddha:

awakened or enlightened one

Four Noble Truths

1. To live is to suffer2. Suffering is caused by desire3. To end suffering, you must get rid

of all desires4. To do so, follow the Eightfold Path

to enlightenment

Get on the path!

• Tear a sheet of paper into 8 squares• On four of the squares, write down

things that cause you to suffer• On four of the squares, write down

things that you desire• Crumble each square into a ball

Get on the path!

•Rid yourself of your suffering and desires! •Throw them at the recycling bin!

Nirvana• Buddha and his followers believed he

had achieved enlightenment, what they called nirvana• Enlightenment can be achieved by

acting, thinking, and believing in the proper way• Nirvana ends your soul’s reincarnation

Karma• Buddhists believe in karma, much like

Hindus• Instead of determining caste, karma

provides your reincarnated self with desirable qualities (wealth, beauty, influence, etc.)• Karma is based on your intentions, not

just your actions

Solving Problems• Hinduism has inequality–Buddhism rejects the caste system. All

Buddhists belong to the religious community (sangha)

• Hinduism is inaccessible, requires priests–Buddhism is very personal, individual

meditation and self-improvement–Can reach nirvana in a single lifetime

About Buddha

• Buddha is not a god! “Buddha” is a title granted to Siddhartha Gautama• Fat Buddha, and Buddha worship, is

a later Chinese development

Religious Spread

HW