Maintaining Order in India

Harappan Civilization Collapsed around 1500 B.C. Earthquakes and floods??? Indus River changed its course Result: Many deaths, others fled the area

The Aryans Initially nomads from Central Asia Good warriors, expert horse riders and hunters Took over Indus River Valley around 1200 B.C. Cattle were prized possession… even used as money Eventually, cattle were declared sacred and forbidden to be used as food

The Aryans (cont’d) Sanskrit- written language developed by Aryans Aryans organized in to tribes Tribes led by a raja, or prince Aryan groups fought each other often

Caste System Caste: a social group that someone is born into and cannot change A caste determines what job you will have, whom you can marry, and with whom you can socialize Varna: each social class within the caste system

Caste System

“Untouchables”: The Pariahs, or “Untouchables,” did not belong to any varna Performed work that other Indians thought was too dirty, such as collecting trash, skinning animals, or handling dead bodies Forced to live apart from others

1. How does the Caste System maintain order in India? 2. Compare and contrast India’s Caste System to the way of life in the United States.

Indian Life Duty was extremely important in Indian life The 3 important pillars of Indian life: - Caste - Family - Village The caste system ensure ORDER Castes were unequal, but had their own leaders, and the castes depended on each other

Family Extended families lived together - Children, grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, etc. - Most families didn’t achieve this because of deaths Marriages were arranged, based on social status - Brides paid a dowry (payment to the groom)

Hinduism India’s first major religion Hinduism began with the Aryans and Brahmanism Belief in many gods Vedas- collection of sacred Hindu writings, composed in Sanskrit

Brahman: Hindu name for a supreme power that is greater than all other deities (gods) Hindus believe Brahman is constantly creating, destroying, and re-recreating the universe. Cycle of birth, death, and rebirth is known as samsara

Dharma: Law, obligation, and duty To follow one’s dharma means to perform one’s duties and to live as one should

Karma Hindus believe in reincarnation, or rebirth Karma: Hinduism belief that how a person lives will affect their next life In the caste system, those who have good karma are born into higher castes Those with bad karma are born into lower castes or maybe even an animal