Chapter Three India and China

Section One Early Civilization in India

The Land of India The Indian subcontinent is located along the southern edge of Asia. Very physically diverse region In the north are the highest mountains in the world, the Himalaya. Just south of the Himalaya is the rich valley of the Ganges River, one of the most important regions of the Indian culture.

The Ganges River

The land of India The Deccan lies south of the two river valleys. – A hilly and a dry plateau extending from the southern Ganges river. The monsoons are the most important feature of the Indian climate. Monsoons are season wind patters. They bring heavy rain on which Indian farmers have depended to grow their crops. If it rains too light or heavy, early or late, crops are destroyed and thousands of Indians likely starve.

India’s First Civilization Early Civilization developed along the Indus River Valley Two sites have the ruins of major cities: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. Each of these civilizations had around 35,000 people and each was planned carefully. The cities had a grid of streets and were divided into walled neighborhoods.

India’s First Civilization Buildings were constructed of mud bricks. Public wells supplied water, and bathrooms used an advanced drainage system. A chute system took household trash to public garbage bins. The careful structure of these cities showed that this civilization had a well organized government.

India’s First Civilization Harappan rulers based their power on a belief in divine assistance. As in all ancient civilizations, religion and political power were closely linked. Priest probably performed rituals to a fertility goddess to guaranteed a good annual harvest. The Harappan economy depended on agriculture. The chief crops were wheat, barley and peas.

The arrival of the Aryans Aryan invaders ended the civilization of the Indus River valley by conquering the Harappans. The Aryans were a nomadic Indo-European people living in central Asia. The Aryans created a new Indian society- the excelled at war and extended their control across most of India.

The arrival of the Aryans In India, these nomadic warriors gave up the pastoral life for regular farming. The introduction of iron helped make this change, especially the introduction of the iron plow, which could be used to clear the dense jungle growth along the Ganges. Irrigation system turned the area into productive farmland.

The arrival of the Aryans As nomads, the Aryans had no written language. They developed their first written language Sanskrit, around 1000 BC. They wrote down the religious rituals, legends, and chants that previously had been passed down orally. *Open your books to page 75 to read Connections Past to Present

Society in Ancient India The Aryan conquest had a lasting effect on India. The meeting of conquered and conqueror created a set of social institutions and class divisions that last to this day. The caste system was one of the most important Indian social creations. It set up a rigid hierarchy of classes that determines a person’s occupation, economic potential, and social status. Part of it was based on color.

The Caste System Ancient India had set up a rigid set of social categories that determined not only a person’s occupation and economic potential, but also their place in society. They were divided up into five different social classes. Jati is the Indian term for caste Varnas = social classes

Brahmans Top of the social scale and in charge of the rest of the social scales.

Kshatriyas They were the warriors and next on the social scale.

Vaisyas They were commoners- usually merchants or farmers.

Sudras They are the peasants- worked for manual labor- they usually had limited rights in society.

Untouchables Not really even considered part of the system- they are given menial tasks that others would not do – Trash collection – Picking up dead bodies Not considered human by members of the other classes Made up of 5% of the population

Dalits = Untouchables

Family Life in Ancient India Their life is centered around family Usually had extended families living under one roof Usually the oldest male held legal authority over the entire family. Only males could inherit property Only males were educated. Upper class males were not allowed to marry until they completed 12 years of school Divorce was not allowed- however a man could marry another woman if their first wife could not produce children. Children were expected to take care of their parents as they grew older. Marriages were arranged.

The Practice of Suttee

Suttee This was the most vivid symbol of women’s dominance by men. Men were set on fire at their burial- the widows were then to throw themselves onto their dead, burning, husbands body as a show of honor. Those that did not were disgraced.

Religions of India Hinduism – Both a religion and way of life – Requires men and women to carry out their dharma-- moral duty – Believe in reincarnation--rebirth as another living being Will occur repeatedly until an individual overcomes personal weakness & earthly desires – Karma--law that states that good deeds move one toward the point of being reunited with the eternal being & bad deeps keep a person in the cycle of reincarnation

Religions of India Honor many gods and goddesses – Different forms of the one eternal being Many Hindus are tolerant of other religions – Different paths to the same goal Yoga—developed by Hindus to achieve unity with god

Religions of India Buddhism – Began around 563 BC with the birth of Siddhartha Gautama – Siddhartha was a man who had grown up in Nepal as a wealthy person but when he became aware of other people’s religious sufferings he abandoned all of his riches Helped him understand what true human existence is Became known as Buddha--the Awakened One

History and Government Buddha traveled to teach people how to abandon material desires in order to achieve spiritual happiness – Encouraged hard work & compassion for all living things Being a good person would lead one to nirvana--state of insight, calm, and joy

History and Government Many women and people of lower classes embraced the teachings of Buddha – He rejected the rigid social system of his day Buddhists believe in simplicity – One god Four Noble Truths Middle Path/Eightfold Path*See pg *