INDIAN FACTS• FORM OF GOV’T – Federal Republic (gained independence from the

UK in 1947)• CAPITAL – New Delhi• POPULATION – 1,095,351995• LAND SIZE – 2,973,190 (slightly more than 1/3 the size of the U.S.)• CLIMATE – Varies from Tropical Monsoon in the south to Temperate in

the north• CURRENCY – Rupee• MILITARY – Voluntary• RELIGION – Hindu (80%)

SUBCONTINENT• a large, relatively self-contained

landmass forming a subdivision of a continent

HIMALAYAS• Large mountain range

between the Indian subcontinent and the Plateau of Tibet

• Includes the highest mountain peaks in the world

• Mt. Everest – 29,000 feet

GANGES RIVER

• Longest river in India

• Located in northern India, flows towards Bangladesh

• Flows from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal

INDUS RIVER• Flows from Tibet into the

Arabian Sea

• Much of the land here would not be arable without this massive source of water

DECCAN PLATEAU

• Located in southern India

• Deccan’s average elevation is about 2,000 feet, sloping generally eastward

• The climate is drier than that on the coasts and is arid in places

MONSOONS• the seasonal wind of the

Indian Ocean and southern Asia, blowing from the southwest in summer and from the northeast in winter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9peDRkO-TLc

MAJOR CITIES

EARLY SOUTH ASIA• Modern India traces its roots back to

the Indus River Valley located in South Asia

• Harappans – earliest civilization found in this area, dates back to about 2,500 b.c., disappeared around 1,500 b.c.

• Ruins demonstrate:

1. urban planning (organized cities)

2. grid pattern streets

3. multi-storied homes

4. bathrooms and sewage systems

ARYANS• Aryans – conquered the Indus River Valley around

1500 b.c. and then moved southeast into the Ganges Plain

• Organized into tribes, each was led by a rajah

• Cattle – basis of their diet and economy, wealth was measured in cattle and they were used as money

• Men dominated society, which was largely agricultural

SOCIAL STRUCTURE

Brahmans

kshatriyas

Vaisyas

Sudras

Pariahs

Social Structure• 1. Brahmans – Priests • 2. Kshatriyas – Warriors/princes • 3. Vaisyas – merchants/farmers

• 4. Sudras – peasants/servants

• 5. Pariahs – so “unclean” not even part of the system, do the toughest and dirtiest jobs

HINDUISM• Aryans believed in a religion that

has evolved into what we know as Hinduism

BELIEFS• Evolved over centuries (no one person began it)• Brahman – universal spirit, god (other gods are manifestations

of Brahman)• Trinity – 3 most important manifestations are:

BRAHMA

SIVAVISHNU

BRAHMA• The Creator

VISHNU• The Preserver

SIVA• The Destroyer

KEY CONCEPTSREINCARNATION

- The rebirth of the soul

KEY CONCEPTS cont.KARMA

- Idea that how a person lives their life will determine what form that person takes in the next life (what comes around goes around)

KEY CONCEPTS cont.DHARMA

- Duties of a particular varna (class)

- If you fulfill your dharma you get have good karma

KEY CONCEPTS cont.MOKSHA

- State in which a person’s soul is freed from the cycle of reincarnation (heaven)

KEY CONCEPTS cont.AHIMSA

- Belief that all life is sacred and needs to be protected

SACRED HINDU WRITINGS: THE VEDAS• Ancient poems, legends,

hymn, rituals… that formed the basis of Aryan religious life

• There are 4, the oldest dating back to about 1000 B.C.

HOLIDAY VIDEOS• Diwali – Festival of Lights

• Holi – Festival of colors, triumph of good over evil, coming of the Spring

• Holi #2

BUDDHISM

THE BUDDHA• Siddhartha Gautama – the founder of

Buddhism, born in India in 566 B.C.

• born into the Kshatriya class, lived a wealthy but sheltered life

• wanted to understand why people suffer and how to minimize it

THE BUDDHA cont.• believed he found the answers

while meditating, believed he received “enlightenment”

• he preached his message and became known as “The Buddha” (enlightened one)

• he rejected the caste system, a person’s position in life should depend on the person, not their birth

4 NOBLE TRUTHS

1. ALL PEOPLE SUFFER

2. PEOPLE SUFFER BECAUSE THEIR DESIRES BIND THEM TO THE CYCLE OF REBIRTH

3. WE CAN END SUFFERING BY ELIMINATING DESIRES

4. ELIMINATE DESIRE BY FOLLOWING THE 8-FOLD PATH

8-FOLD PATHKNOW THE

TRUTH

RESIST EVIL

SAY NOTHING 2 HURT OTHERS

FREE YOUR MIND OF EVIL

WORK 4 THE GOOD OF OTHERS

RESPECT LIFE CONTROL YOUR THOUGHTS

MEDITATE

THE 8-FOLD PATH LEADS TO NIRVANA•Nirvana – state of enlightenment that frees the soul from the cycle of rebirth

BRANCHES OF BUDDHISM• Make sure you are aware of the

following:

1. Mahayana2. Theravada3. Tibetan4. Zen

CONCEPT OF GOD• Buddha is not thought of as a

god

• The concept of god is not central to Buddhism

BUILDING/PLACE OF WORSHIP• Use temples and monasteries

• Worship and meditation can take place anywhere

• Stupa – built to house relics of Buddha (teeth, bones, writings…)

HOLIDAYS/FESTIVALS• See the “Buddhist Festivals and Holidays” worksheet

• Festival of the Tooth (Sri Lanka)

• Obon (Japan)

SYMBOLS• See the “Buddhist Symbols” worksheet

TYPE 2• List 3 similarities and 3

differences between Hinduism and Buddhism

TYPE 3• Discuss 3 similarities and 3

differences between Hinduism and Buddhism

• Focused Correction Areas (FCAs)

FCA #1 – 3 differences

FCA #2 – 3 similarities

FCA #3 - capitalization

DALAI LAMA

TIBET

POTALA PALACE

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Potala.jpg

EMPIRES/ACCOMPLISHMENTS

TYPE 3• Describe 2 accomplishments

made by Indian civilization and discuss how your life would be different without them.

TYPE 3• FCA #1 – describe 2

accomplishments

• FCA #2 – discuss how your life would be different without both

• FCA #3 – no symbols (&,…)