1. ANCIENT INDIA HISTORY AND TIMELINE

2. Where Ancient India is located Continent Asia Present-day countries India Pakistan Bangladesh Major bodies of water Bay of Bengal Arabian Sea Indian Ocean

3. Geographic Features of Ancient India N orth I ndus and Ganges Rivers flow from Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, respectively. S outh D eccan Plateau I solated North from South M ountainous, forested and rocky soil

4. Climate of Ancient India Climate Monsoons (essential for bringing water for farming)

5. Religion of Ancient India P olytheistic S acred Texts T he Vedas T he Upanishads H induism B rahman = Creator V ishnu = Preserver S hiva = Destroyer

6. Philosophy of Ancient India Atman = every person has an essential self. Moksha = People must free themselves from selfish desires to be at union with Brahman.

7. History of Ancient India 3000 – 1500 BCE Civilization began in the Indus River Valley. City-States of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro were well-planned communities that include: Brick buildings Bathrooms Drainage systems Productive farming with canals and domesticated animals

8. History of Ancient India 2 000 – 600 BCE A ryans – Indo-European l anguage, came through northwest mountain passages. C onquered the Dravidians B y 600 BCE taken over Ganges valley and entire Northern Plains region.

9. History of Ancient India 521 – 367 BCE Persian rule in NW India Simulated cultural and commercial contacts between NW India and Eastern Mediterranean

10. History of Ancient India 326 BCE Alexander the Great (Greek) conquers NW India Mastered the Persian Empire and subdued the Indus River Greek influences in trade, culture and government

11. History of Ancient India 321 – 184 BCE Maurya – Indian Family – First Great Empire (322-298 BCE) Chandragupta Maurya Inspired by Alexander Drove out the Greek soldiers Won control of the northern plain and founded the empire Highly centralized government based on Persians

12. History of Ancient India 3 21-184 BCE (cont.) A soka (273 – 232 BCE) M aurya’s grandson C onquered southward until he had 2/3 of India R ejected war and converted to Buddhism E dicts were written on stone pillars and rocks throughout India, Ceylon (Sri Lanka) and Burma; promoting: T ruth, Justice, Charity, Religious tolerance, Non- violence

13. History of Ancient India 320 – 535 Gupta Empire Native Indian family Empire in northern India Restored law and order Revived prosperity to region Region became center for learning and it’s culture spread to eastern Asia Often called India’s “Golden Age”

14. Customs and Traditions Art and Architecture Revolves around the Hindu and Buddhism religious practices Symbols and ornate designs are stressed Human and animal statues Temple wall paintings Temple construction Pointed domes Columns Conical towers

15. Customs and Traditions L iterature V edas = hymns, prayers, religious principles M ahabharta and Ramayana = epic poems A nimal fables showing morals = could be based on Aesop’s fables K alidasa = “India’s Shakespeare” S anskrit = main literary language

16. Contributions Science and Technology Diagnosed major diseases Prescribed medicinal plants Placed the sick in hospitals Had an ethical code (like Hippocratic Oath)

17. Science and Technology (cont.) Applied chemical principles to dyeing cloth, tanning leather, manufacturing soap and glass Refined iron ore (passed to the Arabs and then introduced Medieval Europe)

18. Contributions Mathematics Devised concept of zero Employed a decimal system Developed a rudimentary algebra Created our modern written numbers (translated by Arabs to Medieval Europe misleadingly called Arabic numerals)

19. Artifacts Stamp seal depicting a rhinoceros from Mohenjo-daro Pot shard from Harappa

20. Artifacts Coin with Brahmi script Indus Valley figurine

21. Artifacts Seal with Indus Valley Script

22. Economy Silver coin of Seleucus I / Nicator, who fought Chandragupta Maurya, and later made an alliance with him.

23. Economy Silver coin of Seleucus I / Nicator, who fought Chandragupta Maurya, and later made an alliance with him.

24. Economy Silver punch mark coin of the Mauryan empire, with symbols of wheel and elephant. 3rd century BCE.