Chapter 3Chapter 3Ancient India and ChinaAncient India and China

2600 B.C.- 550 A.D.2600 B.C.- 550 A.D.

Section 1- Early Civilizations of Section 1- Early Civilizations of India and PakistanIndia and Pakistan

GeographyGeography Subcontinent- a large landmass that juts out from a Subcontinent- a large landmass that juts out from a

continentcontinent India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal BhutanIndia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal Bhutan Mountains- Hindu Kush and HimalayasMountains- Hindu Kush and Himalayas Three zones- Gangetic Plain, Deccan plateau and the Three zones- Gangetic Plain, Deccan plateau and the

coastal plainscoastal plains Monsoons- seasonal windsMonsoons- seasonal winds

• October- blow from northeastOctober- blow from northeast• June- blow from southwestJune- blow from southwest

Indus CivilizationIndus Civilization

Harappa and Mohenjo-DaroHarappa and Mohenjo-Daro Well planned citiesWell planned cities 3 miles in circumference3 miles in circumference Well planned plumbing systems Well planned plumbing systems Farmers and tradersFarmers and traders Contact with SumerContact with Sumer Writing is not related to CuneiformWriting is not related to Cuneiform PolytheisticPolytheistic Veneration for buffalo and bullVeneration for buffalo and bull Sacred CowSacred Cow

Decline 1900 B.C.Decline 1900 B.C.

Cities abandonedCities abandoned No more writingNo more writing Crude potteryCrude pottery Flood?Flood? Earthquake?Earthquake? Attack?Attack?

Aryan CivilizationAryan Civilization

2000 B.C.-1500 B.C. the Aryans migrated 2000 B.C.-1500 B.C. the Aryans migrated into India from southern Russiainto India from southern Russia

Most of what we know about them comes Most of what we know about them comes from the from the VedasVedas The The Vedas Vedas are a collection of hymns, chants, are a collection of hymns, chants,

ritual instructions, and other religious ritual instructions, and other religious teachingsteachings

1500-500 B.C. called the Vedic Age1500-500 B.C. called the Vedic Age

From Nomads to FarmingFrom Nomads to Farming

The Aryans mixed with the people they The Aryans mixed with the people they conqueredconquered

Learned how to farm from themLearned how to farm from them Developed iron axes and weaponsDeveloped iron axes and weapons Rulers called RajahsRulers called Rajahs

Depended on a council of eldersDepended on a council of elders Fought with other rajahsFought with other rajahs

Societal StructureSocietal Structure

People divided into groups depending on People divided into groups depending on their occupationtheir occupation 1. Brahmins- priests1. Brahmins- priests 2. Kshatriyas- warriors2. Kshatriyas- warriors 3. Vaisyas- herders, farmers, artisans and 3. Vaisyas- herders, farmers, artisans and

merchantsmerchants 4. Sudras- people with little or no Aryan blood. 4. Sudras- people with little or no Aryan blood.

Included farmers, servants and laborers. Included farmers, servants and laborers. Lowest place in society.Lowest place in society.

Religious BeliefsReligious Beliefs

PolytheisticPolytheistic Gods and goddesses embodied natural forcesGods and goddesses embodied natural forces Chief god was Indra, god of warChief god was Indra, god of war Brahmins offered sacrifices or food and drink to Brahmins offered sacrifices or food and drink to

the gods for their good favorthe gods for their good favor Brahman- a single spiritual power that exists in Brahman- a single spiritual power that exists in

everythingeverything Mystics- people who seek direct communion Mystics- people who seek direct communion

with divine forceswith divine forces

Epic LiteratureEpic Literature

Written in SanskritWritten in Sanskrit MahabharataMahabharata and the and the RamayanaRamayana Inside the Mahabharata is the Inside the Mahabharata is the Bhagavad-Bhagavad-

GitaGita Dharma- devotion to one’s dutyDharma- devotion to one’s duty

HinduismHinduism(quiz material starts here)(quiz material starts here)

Characteristics of HinduismCharacteristics of Hinduism

Very complexVery complex Countless gods and goddessesCountless gods and goddesses ““God is one, but wise people know it by God is one, but wise people know it by

many names.”many names.” All god and goddesses are a part of the All god and goddesses are a part of the

brahman and make it more tangiblebrahman and make it more tangible Brahma- creatorBrahma- creator Vishnu- preserverVishnu- preserver Shiva- destroyerShiva- destroyer

Sacred TextsSacred Texts

VedasVedas Upanishads- one section of the Vedas that Upanishads- one section of the Vedas that

deals with mystical questionsdeals with mystical questions Who is the Knower?Who is the Knower?

What makes my mind think?What makes my mind think?Does life have a purpose, or is it governed by Does life have a purpose, or is it governed by chance?chance?What is the cause of the Cosmos?What is the cause of the Cosmos?

– – UpanishadsUpanishads

Bhagavad-GitaBhagavad-Gita

““song of the divine one”song of the divine one” Told by Krishna- and avatar of VishnuTold by Krishna- and avatar of Vishnu Concise guide to Hindu philosophy and a Concise guide to Hindu philosophy and a

guide to lifeguide to life

Achieving MokshaAchieving Moksha Atman- essential selfAtman- essential self Moksha- uniting with brahmanMoksha- uniting with brahman Reincarnation- rebirth of the soul into another Reincarnation- rebirth of the soul into another

bodily formbodily form Karma- actions in this life that affect your fate in Karma- actions in this life that affect your fate in

the next lifethe next life All existence is ranked, humans are closest to All existence is ranked, humans are closest to

brahmanbrahman Live a good life, create good karma, reborn into a Live a good life, create good karma, reborn into a

higher existencehigher existence Live a bad life, create bad karma, suffer at a lower Live a bad life, create bad karma, suffer at a lower

level of existencelevel of existence

Achieving Moksha Achieving Moksha continued…continued…

Dharma- religious and moral duty of an Dharma- religious and moral duty of an individualindividual

Ahimsa- non-violenceAhimsa- non-violence

JainismJainism

Mahavira develops Jainism around 500 Mahavira develops Jainism around 500 B.C.B.C.

Rejected the authority of Brahmin priestsRejected the authority of Brahmin priests Emphasized meditation, self-denial, and Emphasized meditation, self-denial, and

extreme forms of ahimsaextreme forms of ahimsa

BuddhismBuddhism

Buddhism Spreads Beyond IndiaBuddhism Spreads Beyond India

Buddhist monasteries become centers of Buddhist monasteries become centers of learninglearning

Spreads to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Spreads to Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Korea, JapanBhutan, Korea, Japan

Dalai LamaDalai Lama

Tibetan BuddhismTibetan Buddhism Called Gelug BuddhismCalled Gelug Buddhism

TripitakaTripitaka

““Three Baskets of Wisdom”Three Baskets of Wisdom” Basket of Discipline- rules for monastic lifeBasket of Discipline- rules for monastic life Basket of Discourse- contains sermons and Basket of Discourse- contains sermons and

discussion of ethics and doctrine attributed to the discussion of ethics and doctrine attributed to the Buddha or his disciplesBuddha or his disciples

Basket of Special Doctrine- additional doctrineBasket of Special Doctrine- additional doctrine All contain legends and other narratives as wellAll contain legends and other narratives as well

Total canon of Theravada BuddhismTotal canon of Theravada Buddhism Preliminary body of teachings for Mahayana Preliminary body of teachings for Mahayana

BuddhismBuddhism

Mahayana BuddhismMahayana Buddhism

Easier for ordinary people to followEasier for ordinary people to follow Picture the Buddha and other holy beings Picture the Buddha and other holy beings

as compassionate godsas compassionate gods Afterlife filled with many heavens and hellsAfterlife filled with many heavens and hells Spread to China, Tibet, Korea, and JapanSpread to China, Tibet, Korea, and Japan

Theravada BuddhismTheravada Buddhism

Follows Buddha’s original teachingsFollows Buddha’s original teachings Life devoted to hard spiritual workLife devoted to hard spiritual work Only monks and nuns could hope to Only monks and nuns could hope to

achieve nirvanaachieve nirvana Spread to Sri Lanka and Southeast AsiaSpread to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia