The Indus Valley

 The Indus Valley is located on the subcontinent of India  The mountains in the north limited contact with other lands and helped India to develop a distinct culture.

 The rivers of India, particularly the Ganges, are considered sacred ◦ Important Rivers: Ganges, Indus and Brahmaputra  The monsoon, or seasonal wind, is a defining feature of Indian life.  Monsoons are welcomed by the people of India because they are desperately needed to water the crops.  India’s great size and diverse languages make it hard to unite.

 The earliest Indian civilization flourished for about 1,000 years, then vanished without a trace.  Archaeologists have not fully uncovered Indus Valley sites.  Major cities: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro ◦ Twin capitals ◦ Large and very carefully planned: Grid Pattern

 Modern plumbing systems  Uniform systems of weights and measures  Well-organized government  Most people were farmers  Trade with Sumer  Polytheistic  Veneration for, or special regard for, cattle.

 Explanations: ◦ Too many trees were cut down ◦ Volcanic eruption caused Indus to flood the city ◦ Devastating earthquake ◦ Aryan invaders overran the city

 The Aryans destroyed and looted the civilization of the Indus Valley and built a new Indian civilization, which reflected the following characteristics:  Nomadic ◦ Built no cities and left no statues ◦ Felt superior to the people they conquered  Polytheistic ◦ Religious teachings from the Vedas ◦ People born into castes, or social groups, which they could not change

Expansion led to change in Aryan civilization because they  mingled with the people they conquered;  gave up their nomadic ways and settled into villages to farm and breed cattle;  learned such skills as ironmaking and developed crafts of their own;  fought to control trade and territory;  moved toward the idea of a single spiritual power;  some rajas, or tribal chiefs, became hereditary rulers;  developed the written language of Sanskrit.

The Mahabharata celebrates battle and reflects important Indian beliefs about the immortality of the soul.  The Ramayana celebrates a daring and adventurous hero and portrays the ideal woman as loyal and obedient to her husband.

 You will be assigned to a caste.  Based on instructions, move to the area of the room that you are supposed to be in.  Members of lower classes can do good deeds during their life time and can be born again, through reincarnation, into a higher caste.  Kharma points will be assigned based on your actions in class to try and move up to another class.

 Brahmins: Give and take away kharma points.  Kshatriya: Read and answer questions when called upon  Vaishya- Pass out and collect papers  Sudras- Give gifts or offerings to the highest classes  Untouchables- Pick up trash and clean up messes that the other classes make  **It takes 5 karma points to move up in class**  Be sure to inform a Brahmin about your action so they can give you kharma points

 Define polytheism in your notes in your own words

 Discuss geography of India- Where is it located?

 Vedas: Started by Aryan invaders of India, possibly the oldest books in the world  Upanishads- Hindu scriptures than contain its teachings and beliefs

 Atman: The individual soul  Brahman: The universal world soul  Karma: Material actions resulting from the consequences of previous actions  Darma: Fulfilling one’s duty in life  Ahimsa: Belief that life is sacred and should not be harmed

 Definition: A rigid class structure based on Hinduism which is found in India. It is believed that if one leads a good life, then they will be rewarded by being reincarnated as a person belonging to the next highest level in the caste system.

 Brahmins: Priests  Kshatriyas: Warriors  Vaishyas: Merchants and landowners  Sudra: Commoners, peasants and servants  Untouchables: Street sweepers and latrine cleaners

 Why do you think that all social classes appreciate and participate in the caste system?