Post on 02-Jan-2016
2. Tibetain Platueu Himalayan Mts. “Place of the Snow” Mt. Everest 29,035 ft. high Chomolungma *Tibetan name “Goddess Mother of the World” Sir George Everest 1865
4. Deccan (Southland) triangle shaped plateau 5. Costal Rim agriculture & fishing Bay of Bengal - East Arabian Sea - West
E. Monsoon *seasonal winds Summer Monsoon June - Sept torrential rain sign of goodness of heaven
Winter Monsoon Nov. - May drought
View from Stupa towards Great Bath, Mohenjo-daro
Ancient Indus Valley City Well, Mohenjo-daro, Sindh
C. Theocracy (Priest – Kings) controlled each city Unicorn *sacred mythical creature Animism spirits inhabit things of nature (trees & animals )
III. Aryans 1500 BC - 1000 BC A. Indo-European nomads Invaded India 1500 BC Khyber Pass (Hindu Kush) sheep & cattle herders War *desire for more cattle
E. Religion Vedic Age 1500 BC - 1000 BC Rig Vedas (Knowledge) *AryanSacred books *oldest religious document in the world
Gods represented forces of nature Sky / Father Earth / Mother That One - Supreme God *created universe Indra - Warrior god Brahmins - Priests
Indra
F. Literature Sanskrit *Aryan written language 1000 BC India’s Historical Epics: 1. Ramayana *the duties & ideals of Aryan Warrior Rama - Ideal king Sita - faithful wife
2. Mahabharata 100 BC *World’ s longest poem 90,000 stanzas War between Arjuna & Cousin
G. Society in Ancient India 1. Social Classes: Caste System *social group based on birth strict set of rules prohibited marriages between members of different castes Priests: Brahmans Warriors: Kshatriyas Landowners, merchants, herders: Vaisyas Servants & peasants: Sudras Untouchables *lowest Caste
3000 sub castes
The Brahmins, or priests: the highest varna, believed to have emerged from Brahma's mouth.The Kshatriyas: the warrior or ruling class who were made from Brahma's arms.The Vaishyas: merchants or artisans who came from Brahma's thighs.The Shudras: the unskilled labourers and servants who emerged from Brahma's feet. These were the lowest class, or varna. The Untouchables: those too lowly to be within the varna system.
The Brahmins, or priests: the highest varna, believed to have emerged from Brahma's mouth.The Kshatriyas: the warrior or ruling class who were made from Brahma's arms.The Vaishyas: merchants or artisans who came from Brahma's thighs.The Shudras: the unskilled labourers and servants who emerged from Brahma's feet. These were the lowest class, or varna. The Untouchables: those too lowly to be within the varna system.
The Brahmins, or priests: the highest varna, believed to have emerged from Brahma's mouth.The Kshatriyas: the warrior or ruling class who were made from Brahma's arms.The Vaishyas: merchants or artisans who came from Brahma's thighs.The Shudras: the unskilled labourers and servants who emerged from Brahma's feet. These were the lowest class, or varna. The Untouchables: those too lowly to be within the varna system.
The Brahmins, or priests: the highest varna, believed to have emerged from Brahma's mouth.The Kshatriyas: the warrior or ruling class who were made from Brahma's arms.The Vaishyas: merchants or artisans who came from Brahma's thighs.The Shudras: the unskilled labourers and servants who emerged from Brahma's feet. These were the lowest class, or varna. The Untouchables: those too lowly to be within the varna system.
2. Extended Family *3 generations lived together grandparents, parents, & children
Dowry - gift of money or goods for daughters marriage
IV. Two Major Religions of India A. Hinduism *Major Religion of India ** worlds oldest religion dev. from Aryan beliefs & Vedas
Concepts of Hinduism:1. Brahman *single supreme force uniting everything in universe
2. Atman (Soul)
3. Karma all actions in this life affect rebirth in next life Law of Karma Evil *punished souls reborn lower caste Good *born higher caste
4. Dharma (divine law) laws regulating actions of caste members ex. Brahmins can’t eat meat *Untouchables must tap 2 sticks **Caste system reinforces Hinduism
6. Trimuti **3 main gods of Hinduism: a. Brahma - Creator of World Drum symbol of creation
33,000 different Hindu Gods
B. Buddhism: 2nd major religion of India Siddhartha Gautama 563 BC - 483 BC Buddha “Enlightened One”
1. Great Renunciation (Age of 29) Old Man, Sick Man, & Dead man “Would that sickness, age, and death be forever bound!” Buddha: search for truth & cure of human suffering
Maha Bodhi (Pipal) Tree The Buddha attained His Enlightenment under this Bodhi Tree on the full-moon day of Vaisatha (Wesak), 623 B.C. -Bodhi Pallanka-
Four Noble Truths: a. Life is full of suffering & sorrow b. Suffering caused by desire c. Renounce desire attain Nirvana (Perfect Peace) d. Follow the Middle Way Middle Way (Eightfold Path) Right View Right Intention Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood Right Effort Right Mindfulness Right Concentration
The Dharma wheel (Skt. chakra; Tib. 'khor lo) evolved as a symbol of the Buddha's teachings. The Buddha was the one who "turned the wheel of the dharma" and thus the wheel symbol is the Dharmachakra, or "wheel of law." The Tibetan term for Dharmachakra, chos kyi'khor lo, literally means "the wheel of transformation."
“Work out your own salvation with diligence.” Buddha’s last words
Kushinagar is the location of the Buddha's death at the ripe age of 80.
4. Two Schools of Buddhism Theravada *Lesser Vehicle *Buddha is a teacher India & South East Asia
Mahayana *Greater Vehicle *Buddha seen as a god savior of humanity China, Korea, Japan
V. Empires in India A. Darius 500 BC *Persian King conquered Indus Valley
C. Mauryan Dynasty Chandragupta Maurya 324 BC *1st Indian Emperor Autocratic - rule with absolute power Pataliputa capital city on Ganges river Homing Pigeons - messages to capital
D. Gupta Empire 310 AD - 412 AD “Golden Age” Math: concept of zero decimal system Medicine: scalpel setting broken bones plastic surgery