Welcome to World History

Today is 9/20/08

Daily kickoff- list five facts you know about the Indus River Valley

Civilization.

• An Interesting Fact• The civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt left behind

many artifacts as well as a written language that could be translated; however historian know less about this region because their language has never been translated

The Geography• Indian Subcontinent

• Refers to the landmass of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh• Means a large area of land that is part of a continent but

is also seperated from the continent

Indus River Valley

India• Rivers, Mountains, and Plains

• The Indus Valley natural barriers helped to shield the lands from invasions• Himalayas and the Arabian sea• Fertile plain is formed by the Indus River (southwest) and the

Ganges• Rivers produce water for irrigation as well as silt for rich land• Lower India occupied by the Thar Desert

• Monsoons• A wind that changes direction can also mean a heavy rain

• Storms bring moisture so much that they cause floods• Can cause droughts in the summer– lack of moisture

• Environmental Challenges• Yearly floods of rich soil

• Unpredictable• Rivers change course

• Civilization Emerges on the Indus• Earliest Arrivals

• Historians do know that farming along the Indus Valley took place by about 3200B.C, because of the discoveries of the Harappan civilization

• Planned cities• About 2500 B.C. the Harappan civilization made strategic grid

maps and mazes of the cities• Engineers also created sophisticated plumbing systems and the

organization suggest that there was a strong central government• Harappan Planning

• Built city on mud brick• To protect from flooding

• Built areas called citadels• Protect the royal family• Served as a temple

India

• Harappan Culture• Language

• They did have a written language, but one that has been impossible to decifer

• It is found on stamps and seals

• Culture• Animals were a major part of culture• Clay and wooden children toys

• Trade• Conducted thriving trade with region

• Gold and silver came from north of Afghanistan• Used the Indus River as a means of transportation for the trade of

goods

• Role of Religion• Theocracy • Some signs of Hinduism

India

• Indus Valley Culture Ends• Gradually fell into decay• Shifts of tectonic plates shift

• Earthquakes and floods

India

Basic Beliefs of Hinduism

Hinduism: Complex Religion• No Founder – always existed

• No SINGLE sacred Text• Vedas• Upanishads:

Brahman• All-powerful, spiritual force

• “God is one, but wise people know it by many names”

• Brahman is not separate from the entire universe and all things within the universe

Polytheistic or Monotheistic?• Hinduism belief in “god” does not fit neatly into the

framework of monotheism or polytheism

• Brahman takes on many forms

• Hindus worship many different “gods” they believe they are all just forms of Brahman.

• Brahman is all existence

3 main forms of Brahman1) Brahma: Creator

2. Vishnu: Preserver

Shiva: Destroyer

Atman• Hindus believe that all people have a soul or Atman.

They believe that this Atman is part of Brahman

Moksha• The ultimate goal is to reach Moksha

• Moksha means salvation or oneness with Brahman

• Union of your soul with Brahman

• Free yourself of selfish desires

• Ends cycle of Reincarnation

Reincarnation• Rebirth of soul in another body

• SAMSARA: the cycle of reincarnation• It is the ultimate goal to be released from Samsara• The only way to be released is to achieve Moksha

A view of Samsara

Dharma• Religious and moral duties of an individual.

• Each individual in society is expected to follow their Dharma

Ashramas• Dharma instructs people about responsibilities in each

stage of life

• These stages are called Ashramas• Student• Householder• Forest Dweller• Renouncer

Karma• Karma is based on the belief that every action has an

effect

• Good deeds leave a positive imprint and bad deeds leave a negative one

• When a person gives off a lot good Karma during life they can be reborn at a higher point and move closer to Moksha.

Welcome to World History• Today is 8/22/08 TGIF

• Take the first 10 minutes to look over your notes

• Agenda• Quiz• Caste System Activity

Quick Quiz• Write down the question and your answer

• What was the first civilization to settle in Mesopotamia?

• Name the two rivers that created a fertile crescent in Mesopotamia.

• Did they have a form of writing? If so what was the name of it?

• Why did Mesopotamia suffer so many invasions?

• What river flows through Egypt?

• Does Egypt have natural barriers?

• Describe Egypt's religion with one word.

• Name two similarities and two differences of Mesopotamia and Egypt.

The Caste System • “Clean Caste”

• Brahmans- priest, holy men• Kshatriyas-kings, warriors, soldiers• Vaishyas- Businessmen, traders, commercial class• Shudras- farmers, producers, peasants

“The Untouchables”-down bad in an life before- have to do dirty work like , like dealing with animals, dead bodies, and trash.