1. Spread of civilizations in east asia
Unit SIX

2. hINDUism
Section ONE

3. Setting the stage
In Ancient India, the Aryans and non-Aryans followed their own forms of religion at first. But, as the groups mixed, the gods and forms of their religions also blended together, and resulted in the worship of thousands of gods. Over time, these religious ideas began to influence people and continue to influence millions of people today.

4. Origins of hinduism
Hinduism is a collection of religious beliefs that developed slowly over a long period of time
There is no one founder of Hinduism
Hindu teachers worked to interpret the Vedas
VEDAS: sacred literature of the Aryans
UPANISHADS: collection of comments about the Vedas

5. Beliefs of hinduism
Hindus believe that a person can become free from desires and suffering, known as moksha
MOKSHA: enlightenment
Hindus believe that a person is reincarnated until he or she reaches moksha and that a soul’s karma follows from one reincarnation to another
A person’s karma is also believed to be connected to their darma
REINCARNATION: rebirth of the soul
KARMA: deeds that follow the soul in reincarnation
DARMA: divine order and balance of things in one’s life

6. Hindu deities Hindus consider Brahman to be the world soul
Brahman is often seen as three different gods in one:
Brahma – the creator
Vishnu – the protector
Shiva – the destroyer

7. Hinduism and society
Hindu ideas about karma, darma and reincarnation strengthened the caste system
Beliefs of Hinduism and caste structure dominated every aspect of life

8. Buddhism
Section Two

9. Setting the stage
By the 6th century BC, Hinduism and the caste system had become a way of life in India. For Hindus, the only way to gain salvation was by obeying caste rules and following complex rituals performed by Brahmin priests. These rules and rituals, however, did not meet the needs of the common people. As a result, some Hindus began to listen to the message of a rising religious teacher.

10. Siddharta gautama New religion was called Buddhism
Founded by Siddharta Gautama
SIDDHARTA GAUTAMA: Indian prince born in 563 BC; later known as Buddha
One day, when he was almost 30, Gautama saw first a dying old man, then a sick man in great pain, then a dead man, and finally a wandering religious beggar. These encounters came as a shock to the prince. Why, he asked, was there such sorrow in the world? Gautama decided to give up his life of luxury to seek understanding.
For several years Gautama followed the Hindu way of self-denial and meditation. Still he felt troubled. Finally, at the age of 35, he sat down under a sacred fig tree and vowed never to leave the spot until he found answers. On the forty-ninth day, he suddenly saw the reason for life’s sufferings and a way to overcome them. From that time on, he was known as the Buddha, the “Enlightened One.”

11. Buddha’s teachings Four Noble Truths:
Sorrow and suffering are part of life
People suffer because they constantly try to get things they can’t have
The way to escape suffering is to overcome these desires and reach a state of “not wanting”
To reach nirvana people should follow a “middle way”
NIRVANA: state of enlightenment
MIDDLE WAY: having neither too much nor too little pleasure

12. Challenge to hinduism Many of Buddha’s teachings came from Hinduism
Three main differences exist between Buddhism and Hinduism:
Buddhists focus more on how a life is lived, not what caste they are born into;
Buddhists did not find value in complex rituals; and,
Buddhists do believe in reincarnation, but that it is not necessary for becoming pure.

13. Growth of buddhism Buddha and followers traveled doing missionary work
Monasteries became centers of teaching and learning
Buddhism split into two different sects:
THERAVADA BUDDHISM: Buddhists who remained close to original teachings
MAHAYANA BUDDHISM: Buddhists who developed a complex religion with temples, saints and statues of the Buddha

15. Golden age for india
Section three

16. Rise of the mauryan empire
By the 6th century BC, several kingdoms existed in northeast India, on the great plain of the Ganges River. One of those kingdoms, the Magadha Kingdom, ruled the entire plain of the Ganges, and much of northern India.
Around 300 BC, Chandragupta Maurya seized power
Empire included all of northern India and part of present day Afghanistan
Mauryan Empire had a strong central government

17. Reign of asoka
Around 269 BC, the empire passed to Chandragupta’s grandson, Asoka
Asoka was influenced by Buddhism
Proclamations were written in stone and carried throughout his empire and known as Rock Edicts

18. Rise of the gupta empire
Asoka died in 232 BC and the empire splintered
Around 320 AD, the Gupta Empire was established
First emperor took the name Chandra Gupta
Last great Hindu empire
Often referred to as India’s Classical Age

19. Gupta Empire achievements
Literature showed importance of Hinduism in daily life
SANSKRIT: Indian language of literature
Astronomers, scientists and mathematicians were far ahead of the rest of the world

20. Fall of the gupta empire
Lasted for almost 200 years
In the middle of the 5th century, Huns began to raid the borders
By 500 AD, the northern India was once again broken into many kingdoms

21. Muslim rule in india
Section four

22. Setting the stage
Soon after the rise of Islam, the followers of this new religion set about conquering neighboring peoples. From the 700’s to the 1500’s, four different groups of Muslims invaded India. Eventually most of the Indian peninsula was united under Muslim rule. Although the majority of Indian people remained Hindu, Muslim rulers left a lasting mark on Indian society and culture.

23. Conflict between hinduism and islam
Hinduism and Islam differed in two basic principles – number of Gods and equality of people
Two faiths could not mix

24. Muslim invasions of india
In early 700’s, Muslim invaders claimed northern India for Muslim empire
In the 11th and 12th centuries, Muslims moved in and occupied all of India north of the Deccan Plateau
Indian territories became separate Muslim kingdom – a sultanate
SULTANATE: area ruled by a sultan

25. Delhi sultanate Lasted for over 300 years
Lived in great luxury – taxed non-Muslims
Government was never stable
Delhi Sultanate fell in 1526

26. Mongol rule in india
Section five

27. Setting the stage
In the early 1500’s, Babur, a descendant of Genghis Khan, led his army into India. In 1526, the Delhi Sultanate fell. Though Babur died shortly after the conquest, he succeeded in establishing a new empire in India. This empire was called the Mogul Empire, coming from the Persian word for Mongol.

28. Reign of akbar
Babur’s grandson, Akbar, ruled for 49 years and controlled most of India
Well respected and supported
Allowed religious freedoms
Lessened conflict between Hindus and Muslims

29. Akbar’s Successors
Akbar’s son and grandson continued policies of fairness, efficiency and compromise
His grandson took the title of shah in 1628
SHAH: king
Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal
TAJ MAHAL: architectural wonder of the world, built for Shah Jahan’s wife

30. End of mongol rule Shah Jahan’s son seized the throne in 1658
By his death in 1707, Mongol empire had gained territory, but lost its power