Indus River
-One of the two Major Rivers in Ancient India
-India's first civilizations develop along these rivers
-West
Ganges River
-One of the two Major Rivers in Ancient India
-East
-India's first civilizations develop along these rivers
Khyber Pass
-Only place invaders could come through, Hindu Kush Mts
-Mountains provide protection from invasions as they are difficult to pass over.
Deccan Plateau
-On the Deccan Plateau temperatures can reach 120�F
-High Temperatures in the Interior
Arabian Sea
-Ancient India extensive trade happen in this sea. Materials like Gold & Ivory, Cotton goods, Horses, and Spices.
Monsoon
-Seasonal winds that bring wet and dry seasons
-Major wind system that seasonally reverses its direction
-Monsoons greatly effect the production of food in India
Harappan Civilization
-One of the earliest to form in the Indus River Valley (Between 2600 and 2500 BCE)
-Often referred to as the Harappa Civilization
Harappa
-One of the two major cities in the Harappan Civilization
-Streets at right angles (forms blocks)
-Water systems (public bathrooms and brick sewers)
-Citadels
Archaeological Site
-A place that contains artifacts and fossils found by Archaeologists
Mohenjo Daro
-Mound of the Dead
-One of the two major cities in the Harappan Civilization
-Streets at right angles (forms blocks)
-Water systems (public bathrooms and brick sewers)
Harappan Language
-India's first written language was developed in this civilization
-Still have not deciphered the language
Harappan Religion
-No temples, shrines, or religious writings have been found
-Evidence suggests worship of a mother goddess and great god
Harappan Decline
-Civilization disappeared (could be from invaders or natural disasters
-Civilization ended in the 1700's BCE
Indo-Aryans/Indo-Europeans
-Nomads
-Sheep and cattle herder
-Skilled warriors with advanced weapons and skills they were able to conquer northern India
Caste System
-A strict social class system that consist of Brahmins(Priests), Kshatriyas(Rulers and Warriors), Vaisyas(Farmers, craftsmen, and traders), Sudras(Laborers and non-Aryans), Pariahs or untouchables(Outcasts of society, considered unclean)
-Classes were cal
Varna/Caste
-Classes in the caste system
Jati
-A Hindu caste or distinctive social group of which there are thousands throughout India; a special characteristic is often the exclusive occupation of its male members
Hinduism
-1 founder or religious leader
-1 scripture
-Commonly agreed set of teachings
-Have roots in the Indo-Aryan religion that was brought to India in the 2000's BCE
Monism
-They worship ONE God, that has many form
-Seems like Polytheism..... it is not.
Brahma
-The Creator
Vishnu
-The Preserver
Krishna
-The eighth and principal avatar of Vishnu, often depicted as a handsome young man playing a flute. He appears as a charioteer and advisor of Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita
Reincarnation
-People are reborn again and again.
Dharma
-Doing one's natural duty in this life.
Karma
-Good or bad force created by a person's actions
Moksha
-Enlightenment, to stop the cycle of rebirth
Sanskrit
-The Aryan religious books called Vedas were written in Sanskrit
-The language that Indo-Aryans wrote and spoke.
Bhagavad Gita
-Hinduism Religious Epics
Buddhism
-Started by Siddhartha Gautama (4th to 5th century BC)
-Born a prince
-Left royal life to seek enlightenment and the source of suffering
Siddhartha Gautama/Buddha
-Happen during the 4th to 5th century BC
- Became known as the Buddha, "The Enlightened One", when he reached enlightenment (found his answer)
Four Noble Truths
-People experience suffering and sorrow
-Suffering and sorrow are caused by peoples greed, hatred, and ignorance.
-We can be freed from suffering by overcoming its cause
-People overcome their greed, hatred, and ignorance by practicing the Eight-fold path
Eight Fold Path
-Right View (understanding)
-Right Thought (good/ kind thoughts)
-Right Speech (kind words, no lies)
-Right Action (looking after others)
-Right Livelihood (job does not harm others)
-Right Effort (work hard to do good things)
-Right Mindfulness (think be
Nirvana
-Those who reach nirvana are not born again. For them, all suffering is ended.
Enlightenment
When the Buddha found his answer
Mauryan Empire
-Founded by Chandragupta Mauryan
-Conquered northern Indian around 320 BCE
Asoka
-Grandson of Chandragupta
-Became king in 270 BCE
-Extended Mauryan Rule over most of India.
Edict
-An announcement of law.
-Edicts were carved into stone pillars and spread throughout India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
-Edicts upheld Buddhist ideals, such as, nonviolence and moderation
Missionary
-Someone who is sent to spread the word about a religion
-Developed from Asoka when he sent out Buddhist missionaries to spread the religion.
Gupta Empire
-Gupta lasts from about 320 CE to 550 CE
-Gupta came to power like the Mauryan, through war and conquest
-Under the Gupta, Hinduism became the dominant religion in India
Golden Age
-The Gupta Empire is considered to be the Golden Age of India
-Civilization flourished
-Society prospered
-Progress made in the arts
-Extensive trade networks connected India to merchants from as far away as the Mediterranean.
Contributions
Medicine:
-Inoculations: infecting a person with a mild form of a disease so that one will not become ill with the more serious form
-Plastic Surgery, C-Sections, Printed medical guides (herbs and diseases identified)
Astronomy:
-Solar Calendar (based on