Vocabulary (Pgs 194 - 216)

Himalayas

Monsoons

Sanskrit

Raja

Caste

Guru

Hinduism

Brahman

Reincarnation

Dharma

Karma

Buddhism

Nirvana

Theocracy

Dynasty

Stupa

Pilgrim

The first Indian civilizations started along the Indus and the Ganges Rivers.

- What river did Egypt’s civilization begin?- What about Mesopotamia?- How about China?

- What do we call these places where civilizations begin near a river?

First Civilizations

Caste SystemA caste is something you’re born into and cannot change. This system decided who you would marry, hang out with, and and

what type of job you could have.

1500-400 B.C Aryans Arrived in northern India

Extended family lived together and the oldest male was in charge.

Only sons could inherit property.

Young wealthy boys had a guru (teacher) until they went to school

Could not marry until until you completed 12 years of schools (90% of marriages arranged-still this way today).

Divorce was not allowed but if your wife could not have children you could have 2 wives.

Cattle was a prized possession.

Sanskrit-written form of their language

Aryans groups were divided into tribes and each tribe had it’s own RAJA = prince.

Cremation (burning) was a popular form of burial. When a wealthy man died, the wife was suppose to throw herself into the burning flame with her beloved, and if she did not she would be shamed (ignored) for the rest of her life

1st civilization with indoor plumbing.

Hinduism3rd largest religion in the World

Believed that deities controlled forces of nature

Brahman was their universal spirit.

Believed in reincarnation & that you would have many lives before you were united with Brahman.

Dharma - If you did your duty & you were happy about doing it, then this would help you to be reincarnated into a better caste system.

Karma - If you were good then good things would happen and if you were bad then bad things would happen to you.

Buddhism 600 B.C.

Ordinary Hindus wanted a simpler life. They also felt that Hindu priest were more concerned about their temples /ceremonies then peoples needs

Prince Siddhartha Gautama - had everything (wealth, good looks, beautiful wife, son). One day he left the palace & saw suffering all around him. He wanted to find out how his peoples suffering could be cured. Meditated for 49 days and almost died from starvation.

Siddhartha becomes the Buddha!

Finally, he learned that if you gave up worldly possessions (fame, money) sorrow would vanish.

Spent 40 years traveling and sharing his teachings.

He became known as the Buddha - which means “the enlightened one”.

Dalai Lama - Leader who headed the government, people believed he was Buddha reincarnated.

Empires of India 500 B.C. Persia

327 B.C. Alexander the Great

321 B.C. Maurya Dynasty (empire)

No one specific ruler for 500 years

320 A.D. Gupta Dynasty

Maurya Dynasty Good Government

Good Army

Had spies to avoid rebellion

Set up postal system

Asoka the warrior

The Stupa at Sanchi

King Asoka - Mauryan Dynasty

Asoka was a warrior who hated blood shed. He dedicated his life to peace and to the following of Buddhist beliefs.

Set up hospitals for people and animals.

Built roads with shades area were people could rest.

Built Stupas - shrines.

Sent Buddhist teachers all over India to teach beliefs.

Very prosperous when King Asoka died his empire grew very weak

Gupta DynastyGrew Wealthy from trade. Traded with China and other countries

They were Hindu’s

Golden Age for Arts and Learning

Pilgrims are people who use trade routes to travel to religious shrines

Contributions- Astronomy

- Set bones/performed operations- Invented old coins & metal mirrors

- Math, came up with the concept for infinity and zero.