1. India Today

2. Five Fast Facts
India has the second largest population in the world, with over 1.2 billion people.
The major religions of India include Hinduism 80.5%, Islam 13.4%, Christianity 2.3%, Sikhism 1.9%
The highest mountain in India—and the 3rd highest in the world-- is Kanchenjunga, standing at 28,209 ft).
Many different languages are spoken in India. The main ones are Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, and Urdu. English is spoken widely because India was a British colony
The most populated city is Mumbai—20.5 million people in metropolitan area-3 times the population of Washington State

3. Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY
Early
Civilizations of
Ancient India
Ms. Susan M. Pojer Horace Greeley HS Chappaqua, NY

4. The Harappan Civilization
3300 BCE BCE

5. Citadel Of
Mohenjo- Daro

6. Aerial View: Mohenjo-Daro

7. Wide View: Mohenjo-Daro

8. Mahenjo-Daro’s advanced plumbing

9. Harappa Sewer Drain

10. The foundations for Hinduism were established
The Vedic Age
1500 BCE BCE
The foundations for Hinduism were established

11. Aryan Migration pastoral  depended on their cattle.
warriors  horse-drawn chariots.

12. Sanskrit writing

13. The Vedas 1200 BCE-600 BCE. written in SANSKRIT.
Hindu core of beliefs:
hymns and poems.
religious prayers.
magical spells.
lists of the gods and goddesses.
Rig Veda  oldest work.

14. Varna (Social Hierarchy)
Brahmins
(priests)
Kshatriyas (warriors)
Vaishyas
(Landowners and merchants)
Shudras
(laborers)

15. Pariahs [Harijan]
 also called “Untouchables”, people considered impure because of their work (gravediggers, trash collectors, butchers)
They were called untouchables since even their touch was impure

16. The Caste System WHO IS… The mouth? The arms? The legs? The feet?
Brahmins
WHO IS…
Kshatriyas
The mouth?
The arms?
The legs?
The feet?
Vaishyas
Shudras
JATI?

17. Chandragupta: 321 BCE-298 BCE
Unified northern India.
Defeated the Persian general Seleucus.
Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law enforcement.
He feared assassination [like Saddam Hussein]  food tasters, slept in different rooms, etc.
301 BCE  gave up his throne & became a Jain.

18. The Maurya Empire
321 BCE – 185 BCE

19. Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)
Religious conversion after the gruesome battle of Kalinga in BCE.
Dedicated his life to Buddhism.
Built extensive roads.
Conflict  how to balance Kautilya’s methods of keeping power and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless person?

20. Asoka’s Empire

21. Asoka’s law code
Edicts scattered in more than 30 places in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
Written mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic.
10 rock edicts.
Each pillar [stupa] is 40’-50’ high.
Buddhist principles dominate his laws.

22. One of Asoka’s Stupas

23. Turmoil & a power Vacuum: 220 BCE – 320 CE
Tamils
The Maurya Empire is divided into many kingdoms.

24. Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 647 CE

25. International Trade Routes during the Guptas

26. Extensive Trade: 4c spices silks cotton goods rice & wheat spices
horses
gold & ivory
gold & ivory
cotton goods

27. 500 healing plants identified Printed medicinal guides
Gupta Achievements
1000 diseases classified
500 healing plants identified
Printed medicinal guides
Kalidasa
Literature
Plastic Surgery
Medicine
Inoculations
Gupta India
C-sections performed
Solar Calendar
Astronomy
Mathematics
Decimal System
The earth is round
PI =
Concept of Zero

28. The Decline of the Guptas
Invasion of the White Huns in the 4th century CE signaled the end of the Gupta Golden Age.
After the decline of the Gupta empire, north India broke into a number of separate Hindu kingdoms and was not really unified again until the coming of the Muslims in the 7 century CE.