Chapter 12: Civilizations of Early India - PowerPoint Presentation

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Chapter 12: Civilizations of Early IndiaSlide2

Section 1: Indus Valley Civilization

Picture depicting what a city in the Indus Valley may have looked like. Image taken from:

crystalinks.comSlide3

Indian Subcontinent

India is called a subcontinent, because it is a large landmass that separates itself from the rest of the continent.

The

monsoons

left behind rich fertile soil.

The climate is a very important factor in the Hindu people’s lives, as without the monsoons, the people may burn from the heat and in the winter they might freeze. The monsoons are also a welcome factor, as they generally bring rain, which translates to water for crops. Slide4

Advances

The Indus Valley

cities had thick walls, raised mounds, sewer systems, and streets arranged in a grid pattern.

They had

an agricultural economy. Farmers grew wheat, barley, and cotton and raised sheep, cattle, chickens, and goats. They also domesticated animals for transportation. The economy was also based on trade. Slide5

Government and Religion of Indus Valley

The text states that even after in depth research, scientist and historians cannot find any artifacts that would lead them to believe that the Indus valley people had a king or queen. They do realize though, that they were a very well organized group of people. This assumption was made based on the level of planning in making their city.

Historians believe they practiced some form of Hinduism, as Hindu-like statues were found.Slide6

Citadel and Disappearance

The purpose of the citadel was to be a fortified area of protection from floods or attackers. It had a wall around it. Scholars are not sure, but there is a possibility that it might have been the center of the government.

Some explanations for the disappearance of the Indus Valley civilization are disease, floods, overgrazing of the land leading to starvation, climate change, drought, and foreign invasion. Slide7

Section 2: India’s Vedic Age

Picture depicting the wealth of the Vedic Age. Image taken from:

media.radiosai.orgSlide8

The Origins of the Indo-Aryans

There are several theories as to where the Aryans came from. Here are the three that historians believe.

The first theory states that the Aryans were warriors who rode on horseback and defeated the local Indians, then they settled into the Indus Valley. The second theory states that the Aryans were the original inhabitants of the Indus Valley, but this questions the civilization that supposedly existed that was mentioned in section one. Finally, the third theory states that the Aryans were migrants who simply migrated to the Indus Valley and started living with the people. Eventually the people adopted their way of life and religion. Slide9

Vedas

The purpose of the Veda was to put religious and society’s viewpoint of life into song or hymns. Each Veda consisted of hundreds of hymns. The Vedas called upon people to make offering to their Gods. The Vedas were originally passed down through word of mouth, but eventually they were written down in a language called Sanskrit. Slide10

Aryan Life

The Aryans were initially nomadic, but when they settled into the Indus Valley, they quickly changed their lifestyle. They learned to farm and graze cattle on pastures. Initially the Aryans were judged by how much cattle they had. If they had a lot of cattle, then they were seen as wealthy people. To entertain themselves, they danced, played music, had chariot races, and gambled. Slide11

Growth of Vedic Civilization

Growth came very quickly for the Vedic civilization, as they eventually created clans and tribes. Later on, they were joined together to form republics, although they were not democratic in nature. Finally, they were able to form kingdoms, after several republic leaders went to war and conquered other republics. Slide12

The Caste System

The purpose of the Caste System is to separate India’s society in social classes. In India’s Caste System people are born into a caste and stay there for the rest of their lives. They do not marry or socialize outside their caste system.

The Indians

were grouped by occupation and religious status.

The Caste System had four

varnas

and the

Dalits

, which is not really considered to be part of the social class because they are so low in the social class pyramid. Slide13

Caste System

Brahmins were the priests of the country. The Kshatriyas were the rulers and warriors. The

Vaishyas

were landowners, bankers, and merchants. The

Sudras

were the farmers, laborers, and servants. Finally, the

Dalits

were people who performed dirty jobs, such as butchering and preparing the dead for burial.

Now the Indian Caste system does not dignify what kind of job you have. In fact India has had a Dalit president in K.R. Narayanan. Times have changed, but Indian culture is still ingrained in its society. Slide14

Hinduism

Symbol of the Hindu religion. Image taken from: sacred-

texts.comSlide15

Roots of Hinduism

The religion of the people of

India

is the meaning of the word Hinduism.

The Hindu religion was initially called Brahmanism because it was based on the priests and rituals, particularly sacrifices to the Gods.

Hinduism originated from Brahmanism. Hinduism was created, because the people did not believe that the rituals that the priests said were necessary were in fact needed to reach heaven. They started asking questions, such as: Why are we born? How should we live? What happened to us when we die? These questions led to the change of the people’s religious thoughts and the start of Hinduism. Slide16

Evolution of Hinduism

The teachers (gurus) and their students who went to the forest to ponder the questions about life and the ending of life.

The Upanishads are writings that were the ideas of the initial gurus and their students. The Upanishads deal with questions of life and death or right and wrong that concern all people. Slide17

Epic Poems

The purpose of the epic poems was to explain to the Indian people how they should live their lives as Hindus. Slide18

Beliefs about God

There are two main aspects of the Hindu religion.

The first is that there is one supreme cosmic consciousness, spiritual force, or God known as Brahman. The second is that every person is born with a soul.

Brahman is viewed as a source of all things; all of the Hindu Gods are forms of Brahman. Slide19

Beliefs about Life

Hindus believe that if one lives a good life and has good karma then they will be reborn or reincarnated into a higher

varna

or social class. If they live a bad life and have bad karma, then they will be reborn into a lower

varna

or social class.

The four goals of Hinduism as doing what is right, meaning following your caste rules without complain. Striving for well being, or earning a livelihood with dignity. Attaining pleasure, such as eating good food or taking a bath. Finally, attaining moksha, or liberation from reincarnation

.Slide20

Paths to Moksha

The first path is the way of knowledge.

The

second is the way of works.

The

third is the way of devotion. Slide21

Hinduism’s Impact

Hinduism was able to spread throughout India, because people did not have to worship a single God, because Hinduism views all Gods as forms of a single, supreme God.

Also

, Hinduism does not call for people to attend regular religious services. In fact they can pray or make offerings in their own home. Slide22

Section 4: Buddhism

Picture of the Buddha. Image taken from:

globalone.tvSlide23

The Buddha’s Life

Siddhartha’s mom had a dream that a white elephant came down to her from heaven and a prophet predicted that Siddhartha would grow to become a wandering holy man. Siddhartha’s father didn’t want this for his son, as he wanted him to become a ruler. To ensure that he would become a ruler, Siddhartha’s father shielded him from the ill of the world. Slide24

Search for Enlightenment

Siddhartha reached enlightenment when he meditated under a fig tree for 49 days. Through those days he found that he had finally reached a place where he thought he found the perfect state of wisdom. Slide25

After Enlightenment

He chose to go back into the world and teach others what he had learned. He traveled across India for the next 45 years, preaching a message of truth and hope. Slide26

The Middle Way

The Middle Way is a life of neither total luxury nor poverty, but the path between the two extremes. Slide27

Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path

The Four Noble Truths are that all life involves suffering. Selfish desires cause suffering. Giving up selfish desires ends suffering. People overcome selfish desires by following the Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path leads to wisdom, morality, or right action, and meditation. Slide28

Two Schools of Thoughts

The two schools of Buddhism are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism.

Theravada

Buddhist believes that the Buddha’s greatest achievement is his enlightenment and entry into nirvana

.

Mahayana

Buddhist believes that the

Buddha’s

greatest achievement was his compassion.