1500 BC-400 AD1500 BC-400 AD

What impact did the Aryans have on India? Why was the caste system central to Indian

culture? What were the accomplishments of the

Mauryan and Gupta Empires? What are the beliefs of Hinduism? Buddhism? How did they spread?

Essential Questions:

Originated in Europe and migrated to and invaded India.

Indo-Aryans

Slowly, the Aryans took over India and held the most powerful positions.They introduced the caste system.

Aryans take power

A very rigid social

class structure. A person is born into a

caste and stays in that caste the rest of his/her life.

Your caste decides what jobs you can hold, who you can marry, who your friends are, and more.

Caste system

Caste system con’t

Developed thousands of

years before it was even written down!

Hindus all believe all things are interconnected.

They believe that god lives everywhere in everyone.

Hinduism

Henotheism

Hindus believe that god (called Brahman) exists in many (possibly thousands) of forms

They choose which god to worship. Hindu worship is

usually done in the home at small shrines

Bramhan

The Vedas are a collection of hymns, prayers, and instructions for religious rituals. They were passed down orally by the Aryans.

Around 750 BC, a group of Hindu teachers wrote the Upanishads, written interpretations of the Vedas.

Vedas and Upanishads

Reincarnation- a

soul does not die, nor is there an afterlife. Once a person dies, they are born again as the same soul, but different person.

Reincarnation

Karma- good or bad

deeds. Follows from one incarnation to the next

It was thought that if you had “bad karma” you would be reincarnated in a lower caste or would otherwise pay for it in your next life. In this way, it reinforced

the caste system.

Karma

Moksha= a state of

perfect understanding Once a person

achieves moksha, they are liberated from the cycle of reincarnation

It usually takes several lifetimes to get there.

Moksha

Brahman- the Creator of the World

Vishnu – the Preserver of the

World

Shiva- the Destroyer of the World

Prince Siddhartha

Gautama. Born in Nepal, 563 BC.

He was groomed to be king. But, at age 29, chose to seek religioustruth.

He travelled India for six years seeking truth.

Buddhism

After 49 days of

meditation, he achieved enlightenment, or “nirvana.”

He began to teach that enlightenment is possible for all people.

Changed his name to Buddha, which means “Enlightened One.”

Buddha con’t

First: Everything in life is

suffering and sorrow Second: The reason for

suffering is people’s selfish desire for temporary pleasure

Third: The way to end suffering is to end desire

Fourth: The way to overcome desire is to attain enlightenment

Four Noble Truths

The way to

attain enlightenment is the Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path

Buddhism Video

Missionaries spread the teachings of Buddha Early converts were low caste people

Buddhism spreads

Similarities and Differences

Mauryan Empire

305 BC – 232 BC

Chandragupta Maurya unified North India in 321 BC.

During the Mauryan Empire, roads were built. The emperor even ordered wells and rest houses built every nine miles to ease travelling.

Buddhism also spread during this time

Mauryan Empire

After a war with

neighboring Kalinga, which left 100,000 people dead, Asoka started to rethink the violence used to expand the empire.

He converted to Buddhism and started to advocate non-violence and tolerance.

Asoka- Mauryan Emperor

Asoka video

Gupta Empire

320 AD- 500 AD

The Gupta made incredible advances in mathematics, inventing the concept of zero, modern numerals, and the decimal system.Astronomy- Discovered the Earth is round by observing lunar eclipsesLiterature and the arts flourished

Golden Age of Classical Indian

Culture

Trade and the Silk Road

The Silk Road ran from China all the way to Asia Minor (Turkey). It was a major trade route for thousands of years! •Not only used for trade, but spread technology, ideas, language, and culture.