1. India

2. Geography Geographic barriers allowed Indian civilization to progress with few interruptions from invaders ( Hindu Kush Mountains, Himalayan Mountains, Indian Ocean)

3. The Indus and the Ganges were the most important rivers on the Indian subcontinent

4. Indo-Aryans Nomadic herders who migrated through passes in the Hindu Kush Mountains

5. Khyber Pass Aryan migration route

6. Conquered advanced Indus River Valley cities (Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, etc.) Put native Indians on the bottom of the caste system

7. Moved east and built kingdoms along the Ganges River.

8. Caste System Rigid class system based on occupations (jobs) People were born into their caste for life and could only move up in another life

9. Castes Influenced all social interactions and choice of occupations Job Marriage Dress

10. Untouchables were considered impure and existed outside the caste system.

11. The Caste System

12. Hinduism Many forms of one God (Brahman) Reincarnation Caste system Karma Vedas and Upanishads Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva

13. Brahman Many forms of one major God. The unifying soul in all things.

14. Karma Idea that all thoughts and actions result in future consequences Influences caste, health, wealth, etc. in this life and the next What goes around, comes around

15. Reincarnation Cycles of rebirth based on karma A spirit is born again and again until moksha (perfect understanding) is achieved

16. Vedas Vast collection of ancient Aryan prayers, magical spells and and instructions for performing rituals passed on orally for 1000 + years

17. Upanishads Dialogues between student and teacher Explains such concepts as Brahman, karma and reincarnation

18. Spread of Hinduism Hinduism spread along trade routes from India to Southeast Asia

19. Hinduism

20. Origins of Buddhism Buddhism was founded by Siddhartha Gautama in the part of India that borders present- day Nepal.

21. Siddhartha Guatama Buddha :” The Enlightened One” Enlightenment: wisdom; a state of perfect understanding

22. Beliefs of Buddhism Rejects the Hindu caste system, but keeps the concepts of karma and reincarnation Four Noble Truths Eightfold Path

23. Four Noble Truths Life is full of suffering The cause of suffering is desire The way to end suffering is to end desire To end desire, one must follow the Eightfold Path

24. Eightfold Path The Middle Way between desires and self-denial right intentions, right concentration, right view, right speech, right effort, right action, right livelihood, right mindfulness

25. By following the path one can reach Nirvana (release from selfishness and pain)

26. Buddhism: The Middle Way

27. Spread of Buddhism Mahayana Buddhism spread to China, Korea, and Japan Theravada spread to SE Asia and Sri Lanka

28. Religions of East Asia Colored areas represent predominant religions today Buddhist ideals eventually became absorbed into the Hindu religion in India

29. Mauryan Empire: Asoka Asoka and other Mauryan emperors unified much of India

30. After uniting most of India by force, Asoka became weary of war, converted to Buddhism, and renounced violence.

31. Asoka’s Contributions Asoka’s missionaries and their writings spread Buddhism throughout India and to China and other parts of Asia

32. Free hospitals Veterinary clinics Good roads

33. Asoka’s Elephant Warriors

34. India’s Faithful

35. Gupta Empire Golden age of classical Indian culture

36. Golden Age a period of peace and prosperity and a flourishing of arts, literature and learning

37. Gupta Dynasty Contributions Mathematics - number system that provided the basis for modern numerals (Arabic numerals) - included zero - base 10 - place value and decimals

38. Literature -Kalidasa -Tamil poets

39. Astronomy (concept of the earth as round)

40. Medical Advances (set broken bones) Vaccines

41. Sugarcane

42. Textiles (cotton) Indians were the first to cultivate cotton and weave its fibers into cloth

43. Indo-Europeans Nomadic peoples who migrated across Europe and Asia They spoke forms of the same language