Ancient IndiaIndus River Civilization

2500 B.C. 1st cities = Harappa & Mahenjo-

DaroFar apart, but alike:

Streets in grid (N-S/E-W) Bath houses, shops, walls of

oven-fired bricks Evidence of careful

centralized planning

Oct-May = DRYMonsoon air

Spring = WETMonsoon air

1500 B.C. Aryans (“the nobles”) invade through the Khyber Pass

Characteristics: Nomadic herders No writing system

(priests preserved culture by memorization)

1500 B.C. to 500 B.C.: Hinduism

New culture (blending of Indus Valley Civilization & Aryan) Hinduism

Vedas = 4 collections of religious hymns Upanishads = Hindu teachers who

interpreted & explained the Vedas Brahman = mighty spirit that creates

& destroys Self/soul = “Atman;” it is everywhere Reincarnation = passing of inner self

from body to body Moksha = state of perfect understanding;

won’t suffer any more reincarnations because Atman merges with Brahman

Hindu God, Vishnu

1500 B.C. to 500 B.C.: Castes

Castes = 100s of groups “created” from the body of a Hindu GodPassed on…from parent to child

(occupation)Untouchables = lower than servants; outcastsKarma = ethical law; if you are moral, you will be

born into a higher caste next time around; if you are immoral, you will be born into a lower caste

Dharma = duty of each caste (ex. Warrior is to fight, kill, be killed)

1500 B.C. to 500 B.C.: Buddhism Buddhism = idea that even a lowborn person can escape the

cycle of death/rebirth (founded by Siddhartha Gautama) Four Noble Truths:

1. Everything in life is suffering & sorrow2. Cause of all pain is people’s self-centered desires3. Way to end all pain is to end all desires4. People can overcome desires & attain enlightenment by

following the eightfold path… Eightfold Path = attain enlightenment & reach nirvana by…

1. Right knowledge 5. Right living2. Right purpose 6. Right effort3. Right speech 7. Right mindfulness4. Right action 8. Right meditation