India

Hinduism 1500 BC

Beginnings

• Polytheistic religion dating back to the Aryan Invasion

• Cannot be traced back to a single founder.• Vedas: collection of hymns and religious

ceremonies of the Hindus that were passed down orally and eventually written down

• Religion is a way for you to free your soul from the disappointments, illusions, and mistakes of everyday existence.

Beliefs

• The goal is to reach Moksha= perfect understanding

• reincarnation : being reborn after death in a different situation in life

• Karma : a persons actions on earth that will determine how the soul will be reborn

• Have three main gods: • Brahma (creator), Vishnu (protector), Shiva

(destroyer)

Cont.

• Due to Karma there is a Caste System = set social order.

• Where you are in society depends on your behavior in your past life.

• Hinduism is primarily associated with India

Jainism• Believe all things in the

universe have a soul and so you should not be violent.

The Maurya Empire 321 BC

• Chandragupta Maurya: first ruler• Began in the Ganges Valley• Well organized Government with Bureaucracy:

arm of the government (CPS, FEMA, FBI, FDA, etc.), very nice roads

• Secret Police with harsh punishments for broken rules

Asoka 302-232 BC

• Grandson of C.M.• After a successful war he converted to

Buddhism• Renounced violence and led by moral example• Prosperous time with parks and organization• However, the empire fell apart after his death

Buddhism

Beginnings

• Founded by Siddhartha Gautama (530 BC)• He was a noble in the mountains of northern

India

Quest

• At 29 he left and explored the world and decided to explore until he found wisdom or enlightenment.

• He tried fasting and debating religious people but did not achieve enlightenment

• After sitting under a fig tree for 49 days he became enlightened

• He was then called Buddha meaning enlightened one.

Beliefs

• During his enlightenment he decided on 4 Noble Truths:

• 1) Everything in life is suffering and sorrow• 2) Selfish desire causes suffering• 3) The way to end suffering is to end all desires• 4) You must follow the eight fold path to

overcome desires and reach enlightenment.

Cont.

• You also had to follow the Eightfold Path.• This path was like a stairway you had to make your

way up to reach Nirvana (pure enlightenment and release from pain and suffering)

• They follow many Hindu beliefs like reincarnation, non-violence, self-denial, to seek oneness with the “Great Word Soul”

• However, rejects numerous gods and the caste system

The Spread

• Traders would find out about the religion and spread it to their homelands.

• This is how most religions spread.• India remained mostly Hindu but there are

many believers in India.

Golden Age of India 300 AD

• Unified by Chandra Gupta I• Controlled by regional leaders • Came up with Arabic numerals • Concept of zero• Had a vaccine for smallpox 1,000 yrs before

Europe!• Huge Hindu temples built• Advancements in literature, astronomy, medicine,

and mathematics.

Recap of Advancements in India

• Astronomy: Earth is round• Mathematics: modern #s, zero, decimals, value of pi to 4

decimal places (Aryabhata)• Sophisticated medical guides and complex surgery

including plastic surgery

• 3.1415