INDIA A Overview of Indian History

Historically, India’s geographic boundaries were bigger than they are today Bangladesh + India + Pakistan = India Bangladesh and Pakistan did not exist as separate countries until after India gained independence from Great Britain in 1947 Ancient Indian cities, such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, are located in what is now Pakistan

Hindu Kush Mountains Himalayan Mountains Deccan Plateau India is considered a “subcontinent” because of its size Part of Asia In the north are high mountains, the Himalayas and Hindu Kush In the center is the Deccan Plateau Geography of India

India’s Geography As large as Europe, minus Russia Population: 1.28 billion (2015 estimate) –Second only to China Himalayan Mountains (northeast) –Separate India from Tibet and western China Northwest –Historic route of land invasions Alexander the Great, Mughals Indian Ocean (route of British conquest) Climate –Hot (except in highlands) –Land – very fertile to semi- desert –Monsoons (strong seasonal winds)

Monsoon- strong seasonal winds

The River System The main river in Ancient India was the Indus River The Indus River deposited fertile soil during annual flooding The source of the Indus River is in the Himalayas

Indus River Civilization 3000 BC – 1500 BC Northern India Archaeologists discovered ruins of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa in the early 1900s Bronze and copper Fired brick Picture writing (undeciphered) Farming, jewelry-making, and woven cloth Engineering – drainage systems/plumbing Civilization ended circa 1900 BCE

Indus Valley Civilization Dull Utopia (perfect society)

Indus River Valley

Mohenjo-daro (circa 2600 BCE)

Aryan Invasion (ca BCE) Aryan invaders came from Europe – Traced through Indo-European language roots Ruled India for hundreds of years Set up small kingdoms ruled by rajahs Conquered native Dravidians (Indians) Created modern Hinduism from Dravidian religious traditions and their own ideas Established India’s caste system

The route of the Aryans into India.

Vedic Age ( BCE) Vedas written in Sanskrit (India’s literary language) Epic Indian poems: Mahabharata Ramayana

Religions of South Asia

Hinduism (circa 2,000 BCE) No one founder- many sacred texts including Vedas Beliefs: One, unifying spirit or god= Brahman Reincarnation (samsara)= after we die, we are born again in another form but soul (atman) stays constant Karma= accumulated good or bad deeds- determines one’s next birth A way to earn good karma is to do one’s dharma (duty)- based on caste, gender, age

Hindus worship other gods that represent aspects of Brahman’s power 1. Brahma- creator 2. Vishnu- preservor (Krishna, Rama, Buddha) 3. Shiva- destoyer

Brahma Vishnu Shiva

Reincarnation Caste system – Process starts in lowest caste (Untouchables) – Soul reincarnated in person of higher caste – Must carry out duties of the caste (Dharma) – Repeated rebirths – Soul ultimately becomes perfect and merges with the soul of Brahma (principal god)

Ultimate Goal of Hinduism Moksha: escape the cycle of reincarnation and unite one’s soul (atman) with Brahman (universal soil)

Castes Original castes – Brahmin (priests) – Kshatriya (warriors) – Vaishyas (farmers and traders) – Sudra (servants) Eventually divided by occupation into thousands of castes – Lowest – the Untouchables Strict purification rituals if others contact them Today – legal protections under Indian law, but prejudice still exists

Caste System Untouchables

Hinduism (Continued) All life is sacred – Animals respected – Cow is sacred – Most Hindus are vegetarians Basic beliefs – World is evil – Reincarnation after death (animal or human) – Soul purified by completion of caste duties – Reverence for animals – Escape world’s evils through prayer

Buddhism  The “middle way of wisdom and compassion”  2,500 year old tradition  The 3 jewels of Buddhism:  Buddha, the teacher  Dharma, the teachings  Sangha, the community

Siddhartha Gautama ( BCE) Ø Founded by Siddhartha Gautama ( BCE) Ø Born in NE India (Nepal) Ø Raised in great luxury to be a king Ø At 29 he rejected his luxurious life to seek enlightenment and the source of suffering Ø Lived a strict life for 6 yrs Ø Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found nirvana Ø Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35

Four Noble Truths 1. There is suffering in the world- to live is to suffer 2. The cause of suffering is self-centered desire and attachments 3. The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments (Nirvana = “extinction”) 4. To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path Nirvana Escape from the cycle of rebirth- you no longer exist

Types of Buddhism  Theravada Buddhism  Mahayana Buddhism  Tibetan Buddhism  Zen Buddhism  Theravada Buddhism  Mahayana Buddhism  Tibetan Buddhism  Zen Buddhism

The Spread of Buddhism

Maurya Empire ( BCE) Dynasty started by Chandragupta Maurya  Unified northern India  Indus River to Ganges River  First unified centralized government in India  Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law enforcement  He feared assassination  Used spies, food tasters, slept in different rooms, etc.  301 BCE  gave up his throne & became a Jainist Monk  some say he starved himself to death

Maurya Empire under Asoka (Ashoka) Asoka (grandson), BCE – Ruled all of India – Set up a central treasury to oversee collection of taxes – Stable government led to growing economy and expansion of agriculture – Utilized tightly organized bureaucracy – War and disunity after his death

Ashoka – Converted to Buddhism  Spread Buddhism – Built system of roads that connected major cities– used by missionaries to spread Buddhism – Rock and Pillar Edicts – imperial laws based on Buddhist values – Religious tolerance, generosity, wisdom, and kindness

Asoka’s Empire The empire was divided after the death of Asoka.

Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 647 CE

Gupta Dynasty “The Golden Age” ( CE) Golden Age= time of peace and wealth Founder: Chandra Gupta I Northern India reunited Trade flourished – With West – With Burma, Indochina, Java, Sumatra Buddhism and Hinduism spread – Cultural diffusion – Hindu revivial Art, math, & science flourished Strong central government

International Trade Routes during the Gupta

Extensive Trade Land Route = Silk Road Extensive Trade Land Route = Silk Road Water Route = Indian Ocean Extensive Trade Land Route = Silk Road Extensive Trade Land Route = Silk Road Water Route = Indian Ocean spices spices gold & ivory rice & wheat horses cotton goods silks Pearls

  Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the Silk Road and visited India in the 5th century  He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and charity Fa-Hsien (Faxian): Life in Gupta India

Military conquest  long period of peace Established universities Wealthy upper class supported art, science, and learning 2 long famous poems: Ramayana & Mahabharata (Sanskrit)

Gupta Art

Depict the stories of Buddhism spanning from the period 200bce to 650ce Buddhist monasteries and prayer halls, 29 caves Elaborate paintings and sculptures

Invented decimal system based on ten and concept of zero Calculated pi “Arabic” numerals (Europe got them from Arab traders, who got them from India) Contributed to arithmetic and algebra Realized the earth is a sphere, rotates on axis, a year is days, and understood lunar eclipses Developed theories about gravity Doctors excelled in medicine, caesarean section, bone setting, skin grafting, plastic surgery, and smallpox vaccines

Medicine Literature Mathematics Astronomy Printed medicinal guides 1000 diseases classified Plastic Surgery C-sections performed Inoculations 500 healing plants identified Decimal System Concept of Zero PI = Kalidasa Solar Calendar The earth is round Gupta India Gupta Achievements Mahabbarata Ramayana

Hinduism became main religion Rulers supported building Hindu temples Promoted revival of writings Buddhism began to lose influence during this period

Problems disrupted trade Military efforts to defend empire drained treasury Some parts of empire broke away Central Asian nomads, Huns, began invading India India divided into small, regional kingdoms  not unified again until the coming of the Muslims (Mughal Empire) in the 17th century

Mughal Empire ( ) 12 th century – Muslim invasion of India 1500 – Central Asians, led by Mughals (Moguls), established a kingdom in northern India Akbar the Great ( ) – Conquest of central India – Efficient and strong government – Religious tolerance – Business and commerce encouraged Architecture: Forts, mosques, palaces, tombs – Taj Mahal – Tomb for a Mogul emperor’s favorite wife