ANCIENT INDIA

SECTION 1 – VOCABULARY�The Indus & Ganges River Valley

• 1) subcontinent – a large landmass connected to a continent
• 2) monsoon – strong wind that blows across East Asia at certain times of the year – India’s climate is dominated by monsoons
• 3) citadel – a fortress in a city
• 4) caste – a social class of people

THE INDUS & GANGES RIVER VALLEY

• India is separated from the rest of the world by the Himalayas (highest mountain range in the world) and the Hindu Kush mts.

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• The Indian Subcontinent juts into the Indian Ocean – the Indian Ocean, along with the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, serve as barriers helping to separate India from the rest of the world.

• Major rivers in India: Indus & Ganges
• Farming communities developed into impressive cities between 2500-1500BC
• Major cities: Harappa and

Mohenjo Daro

-both located in modern day Pakistan

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• MOHENJO DARO – city build ahead of its time – very advanced
• Built above ground level to avoid floods
• Public buildings
• Citadel
• Drainage system – pipes under the streets
• Indoor plumbing

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Mohenjo-Daro�*Writing system – still unknown�*government system – unknown�*evidence suggests a belief in many gods

• Aryan Culture

*migrated from Central Asia & conquered Mohenjo-Daro

*horse-drawn chariots were a key factor in their conquest

*strong tools made of iron

• Aryan Culture

* Much of what we know about the Aryans come from an ancient series of religious poems call the Rig Veda or Vedas (meaning knowledge)

• Society was organized into strict classes with the priests called Brahmans on top
• This system formed the basis for the Caste System in Europe

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SECTION 2 VOCAB

• Brahman – single spiritual power that Hindus believe lives in everything
• Avatar – representation of a Hindu god or goddess in human or animal form
• Reincarnation – the rebirth of a soul in the body of another living being
• Dharma – the religious and moral duties of Hindus
• Ahimsa – the Hindu idea of non-violence – many Hindus don’t eat meat because of this

HINDUISM

• Aryan beliefs India’s beliefs

Hinduism

*Belief – since people are different – they need many different ways of approaching their god

• Hinduism

*over 850 million people in the world today are Hindu

*they worship many gods and goddesses but believe in one spiritual universal being called the Brahman

*they believe the Brahman lives in everything

*they believe there is more than one path to the truth because people are different

• Hindu gods/goddess stand for different parts of the Brahman

*Brahma – universal being (the creator) –believed to be born from a golden egg- created Earth & everything on it

*Vishnu – (the preserver) –kindly god – guides humans and protects from disaster

*Shiva – (the destroyer) –not concerned with human matters – responsible for creative & destructive forces in nature

Upanishads – Hindu religious text in the form of questions

• Teaching – main idea of the Upanishads is reincarnation
• The actions of one’s 1^st life affects the fate of the next –can move up & down in class
• When a person lives a near “perfect” life –they are freed from the cycle of reincarnation & become one with Brahman
• A person must obey their dharma to become one with Brahman
• Duties depend on class, age, job & gender

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The Practice of Hinduism

• Yogas – Hindus believe yoga exercises free the soul of the cares of the world in order to unite with the Brahman
• Types of Yoga
• Physical activity
• Selfless deeds
• Learning sacred writings
• Honoring a personal god (prayer, offerings)

Section 3 Vocabulary

• 1) meditation – developed by the ancient Hindus – focusing the mind inward in order to find spiritual awareness or relaxation
• 2) nirvana- the lasting peace that Buddhists seek by giving up selfish desires - this is the goal of Buddhism
• 3) missionary- a person who spreads his or her religious beliefs to others

The Beginnings of Buddhism

*founded by a Hindu prince – Siddhartha Gautama – called the Buddha (meaning enlightened one)

*The Buddha was grew up in a life of luxury – once he left the palace walls – he saw terrible suffering

*he left the palace and gave up all his possessions – after 49 days of fasting & suffering – he believed he finally understood the root of suffering

• He taught people to follow the Eightfold Path –also called the Middle Way-

*believed that selfish desires for power, wealth, & pleasures cause humans to suffer – give up these desires and you’ll be free from suffering & reach lasting peace (nirvana)

*to overcome selfish desires: learn to be wise, behave correctly, develop your mind, always tell the truth, & avoid violence

• Once nirvana (lasting peace) is reached- people are freed from the cycle of reincarnation

Buddhist teachings:

*people were encouraged to become missionaries

*people are all equal regardless of social class

Buddhism Inside & Outside India

*missionaries & traders carried Buddhism throughout Asia

*1^st went to China – millions of people in China are Buddhists today

*also spread to Korea, Japan, Tibet & Vietnam

* today, over 400 million people in the world practice Buddhism

Shared Beliefs of Hinduism & Buddhism

• Both had their beginnings in India
• Both believe in ahimsa (nonviolence) –wrong to harm living creatures
• Both believe in dharma
• Both believe in reincarnation