INDIA

1
INDIA
2
G GEOGRAPHY

• Subcontinent large landmass that is smaller
  than a continent.
• Himalayas Mountains Northern Border separating
  India from the Rest of Asia
• Mt. Everest highest peak of the Himalayas at
  29,000 ft.
• Fertile plains at foot of Himalayas. This is due
  to 3 main Rivers Indus, Ganges, and Bhramaputa
• The Himalayan Mtn. kept India geographically
  isolated
• Why were these rivers important?
• Indias people relied on these rivers for
  farming, transportation and trade.
• Southern 2/3 of India is part of the Deccan
  Plateau
• Plateau an area of relatively level high ground

3
R RELIGION

• HINDUISM
• One of the worlds oldest religions (3rd largest
  religion in the world)
• Developed from the faith of the Aryans over
  time the Aryan faith changed/blended with the
  ideas of other people of India. (eventually
  became Hinduism)
• Vedas sacred text (Holy Book)
• Polythesistic (many gods)
• (Brahma the creator Shiva the Destroyer
• Vishnu the Preserver)
• Karma your status is based on what you did in
  your pass life
• Dharma you must follow your personal duty
• Strictly followed the Caste System (see Social
  Structure)
• Belief in reincarnation rebirth of the soul
  (into a new body)

The 4 Vedas
4
Religion (CONTD)

• BUDDHISM
• No God No Holy Book
• Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha)
• Wealthy Prince who left all wealth behind
• To search for the meaning of life.
• Founder of Buddhism. He came to the
• realize the 4 Noble Truths
• 4 Noble Truths
• 1. Life is full of suffering
• 2. People suffer because they desire worldly
  things
• 3. The way to end suffering is to stop desiring
  things
• 4. They only way to stop desire is to follow the
  8 Fold Path
• When people are finally free from all earthly
  desire they reach full Nirvana (perfect peace and
  happiness)
• Peoples place in life didnt depend on the Varna
  (social class) they were born into.

5
Religion contd

• 8 Fold Path
• The way to reach true enlightenment is to follow
  the 8 Fold Path.
• Know and understand the 4 Noble Truths
• Give up worldly things and do not harm others
• Tell the truth, and do not gossip and do not
  speak badly of others, stealing, or living an
  unclean life.
• Do rewarding work
• Work for good, and oppose people
• Make sure your mind keeps your senses under
  control
• Practice Meditation to see the world in a new way.

6
Achievements

• Literature
• 3 Main Epics
• Mahabharata describes a struggle for control of
  an Indian Empire 1100 B.C.
• Bhagavad Gita best known section of The
  Mahabarata, A Prince and Krishna go together into
  battle.
• The Ramayana Over 25,000 verses, of a Prince
  Rama, and his wife, Sita who is kidnapped.
• Mathematics
• Concept of infinity
• Algebra
• Number 0
• Hindu-Arabic number system

7
Achievements contd

• Science
• Mapped movement of planets and stars
• Made advances in metalworking during Gupta period
  
• Medicine
• Dental work
• Set broken bones
• Even early forms of plastic surgery
• Sew wounds
• Use herbs to help prevent illness
• Sanskrit written language developed
• in India
• Stupas Buddhist shrines Ashoka had
• built throughout India

8
P POLITICS

• Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa 2 earliest Indus
  Valley settlements, almost identical, with many
  paved streets, permanent buildings courtyards and
  market places
• Dyansty ruling line from the same family
• Mauryan and Gupta dynasties formed the first
  great Indian empires.
• Mauryan Empire
• Chandra Gupta first ruler of the Mauryan
  Empire. Under Chandragupta, the Mauryan Empire
  liberated the transindus, and defeated the
  invasion led by a Greek general from Alexander
  the Greats army.
• Ashoka Chandra Guptas grandson ruled most of
  Northern Central India 273-232 B.C.
• After seeing horror of war, followed the peace of
  Buddhist teachings made laws that improved the
  lives of his people
• (hospitals for sick, houses for poor, practiced
  non violence)
• The Mauryan Empire flourished under his
  leadership, grew to the Mediterranean Sea.

9
P POLITICSCONTD

• After Ashokas death the Mauryan Empire declined.
• (heavy taxes, rulers that follower lacked his
  kindness took land from peasants)
• Gupta Empire
• A.D. 320 Chandra Gupta I came into power Samudra
  Gupta (grandson)
• Great military leader
• supported Hindu arts, and scholars.
• (The Gupta rulers benefited much from the
  thriving trade they owned many silver and gold
  mines on their estates.)

10
E - ECONOMY

• Indias good roads help it become the center of a
  large trade network.
• India traded the following
• Spices
• Wheat
• Rice
• Cotton
• Salt
• Silver
• Gold
• note Its location on the Indus and Ganges
  River were great trade routes (as well as Arabian
  Sea and Bay of Bengal)

11
S Social Structure

• Children were born into the Caste (and job) the
  parents were.
• The only hope of moving in your Caste (varna) is
  reincarnation.
• Caste System
• Bhramin (Priests)
• Kshatryia (Warriors)
• Vaishya (Merchents, landowners)
• Sudra (Commoner, Peasants, servants)
• _____
• Untouchable (not aknowledged outcast)