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Ancient India: Origins, Empires, and Religions

Explore the ancient civilization of India, from the mysterious Indus River Valley to the rise and fall of empires, and the profound impact of Hinduism and Buddhism. Discover the rich culture, advancements in science and education, and the struggle for independence from foreign control.

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Ancient India: Origins, Empires, and Religions

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  1. Asia

  2. Ancient India • Geography • Indus River: Where the first civilizations began • Himalayas: Tallest mountain chain in the world • Hindu Kush: Another mountain chain • Harappa’s • First Civilization (2500 BC-1500 BC) • Much is still unknown (religion, communication) • Disappeared around 1500 BC

  3. Ancient India • Indo-Aryans • Invaded around 1500 BC • Vedas: Religious writings • Sanskrit: Indo-Aryan Language • Religion: Based on things of nature • Race: Tended to be of a lighter complexion • Southern India • Remained relatively untouched by invaders • Today • India is still divided North/South

  4. Ancient Indian Empires • Mauryan Empire • Chandragupta Maurya: • Established the empire • United Northern India from the Ganges to Indus Rivers • Did great things for India • Asoka • Grandson of Chandragupta • Dominated almost whole Indian subcontinent • Spread Buddhism • Died in 232 BC, empire collapsed within 150 years • Gupta Empires and Rulers • Began around 300 AD • Decline in Buddhism, spread of Hinduism • Chandra Gupta II • Golden Age of Gupta Empire • Rule ended around 550 AD

  5. Ancient India • Ancient Indian Culture • Farming and trade (more trade to South) • Inequality between men and women • Polygamy: More than one wife • Panchatantra: Ancient stories, 2nd most translated book in history • Nalada: Famous Buddhist University, education was very important • Math, Astronomy, etc • Inoculation: infection someone with a mild form of disease (vaccine). Small pox vaccine 1300 years before Europeans • 4 Class Society: Strict rules to keep people in class • Rulers/Warriors, Priests, Merchants/Farmers, Workers/Peasants

  6. Indian Religion: Hinduism • Foundation • Earliest teaches based off of epics (long poems) dating back to the time of the Vedas (Bhagavad Gita) • Hindu Beliefs: • Belief that every thing in the universe is of the same essence (spirit). Unity of God and People • World we see is an illusion, takes many lifetimes to realize this. • Dharma: Moral duty, helps the soul advance to next life • Karma: Good or bad force created by a persons actions • Nirvana: Perfect peace…what all Hindu’s hope to accomplish

  7. Hinduism • Hindu Beliefs • Reincarnation: Upon death, soul goes to another person or animal…takes many lifetimes to get salvation • General rule: better you are, the higher social status you will be in next life. So only the highest class will reach Nirvana • Hindu Symbols • Yoga: Bring the body and mind together • Cows are protected by the law • Brahman: Main God • Where is it popular • More popular in western and central India

  8. Indian Religion: Buddhism • Foundation • Siddhartha Gautama: Founder, know as Buddha • Wealthy, shocked by how bad ordinary people had it • Eventually he found out why people were suffering • Teachings • Good is rewarded, evil is punished • Salvation comes from following the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path • Live selfless lives (peaceful/moral lives of poverty) • Anyone could reach nirvana

  9. Buddhism • Teachings cont.. • Vedas: Hindu holy books were not sacred writings • Anyone could reach nirvana, was not reliant on reincarnation • Spread of Buddhism • Spread slowly • Buddhism divided over how Buddha is viewed.. • Eventually has spread throughout much of Asia..declined some in India

  10. Modern India • Foreign Control • India was controlled by the Turks during the 1300s • Eventually they were overthrown by the Mongols, led by Babur • Mughal Empire • Akbar: Babur’s grandson was the greatest emperor • Ruled from 1556-1606 • Blend of Persian, Islamic and Hindu cultures • Tolerant of other religions, also increased trade throughout India. • TajMahal: Famous building constructed during this time • Other rulers (Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb) had trouble keeping peace, especially among different religious views. Aurangzeb even used elephants to trample protestors. • A lot of hatred between Muslims and Hindu’s in India!!

  11. British and India • British Involvement • In the mid 1850’s, Great Britain took direct control of India by dividing the land up into over 550 states. • Did very little to ease the religious tension between Hindu’s and Muslims. • By the early 1900s, there were plenty of British living side by side with people of India. • The British viewed themselves as the superior race. • Only good thing was that the British established many Westernized schools that increased education for all people of India. • Many people wanted independence but the British were able to maintain control into the early 1900s.

  12. Indian Independence • GB/India • GB promised some independence in return for India helping them out during WWI • Much disagreement on how much independence, etc • Mohandas Gandhi • Leader of Indian Nationalism • Passive Resistance: Urged people to nonviolently refuse to cooperate with GB control. • Began boycotts and quit paying taxes. GB responded with violence, which made more people mad • By 1935, India had some self government but not total control. • Gandhi was assassinated in 1948

  13. End of British Rule • WWII • GB demanded that India help them during WWII • India began to demand independence • Muslims vs Hindu’s • Gandhi (Hindu) demanded complete separation from India. • Muhammad Ali Jinnah (Muslim) demanded a separate Muslim state within India (Pakistan) • Violence was crazy between the two sides, millions killed in fighting • Independence • August 15 1947: India and Pakistan were both created

  14. Independent India • Early government • Jawaharlal Nehru: First Prime Minister of India • Nonalignment: Did not ally with either USA or USSR • Daughter became prime minister in 1966 (Indira Gandhi) • Political Unrest • Indira Gandhi fought with Shikh’s (different religion) in northern India. Eventually she was assassinated by them. • Political instability followed for the next 20 years. • Pakistan (Muslim) and India (Hindu) do not like each other and have each threatened nuclear weapons on the other one.

  15. Independent India • Economy • Mixed Economy: Mix between private and government ownership of industries. • Problem was that the population was (and is) growing too fast. This has led to massive problems with overcrowding, unemployed, etc. • By 2000, India had over a billion people (1.237)…will catch China by 2050. • Manmohan Singh: Prime Minister today • Foreign Relations • India and China had problems because India offered refuge for the Dalai Lama (Tibetan Monk) • Kashmir: Area of Northern India that has been fought over with Pakistan still to today.

  16. Pakistan • Division • East Pakistan and West Pakistan became the countries of Pakistan and Bangladesh • Pakistan • Formed a government led by military leaders and Islamic Nationalists • Benazir Bhutto: Became the first women to serve as Prime Minister of a Muslim country • Nawaz Sharif: Prime Minister today • Problems: Pakistan is home to Al-Queda • Bangladesh • Floods, famine, storms, and poor leaders have made this country very poor

  17. China • Geography • Large country, many geographic features • Made up of many different regions • 3 Great Rivers: Huang (Yellow), Chang, Xi • Chinese were the first to use dikes to prevent flooding • Parts under China’s control at different times • Mongolia, Manchuria, Tibet, Northern Korea • Mountains • Himalaya's • Deserts • Gobi • All these things led to China being very isolated in its development

  18. Chinese Dynasties • Shang • First dynasty to invade into area (1750 BC) • Bureaucracy: Government organized into different levels and tasks. • Strong military and technology made the Dynasty expand • Science: Calendars based on sun and moon • Religion: Worshiped nature • Early system of writing • Zhou (JOH) formed an alliance with invaders, overthrew the Shang Dynasty….said they were not fit to rule

  19. Other Chinese Dynasties • Zhou (JOH) Dynasty • 1050 BC-250 BC • Mandate of Heaven: Supreme Ruler had chosen them to rule the people of China • Qin Dynasty • Cheng: First leader of Qin Dynasty • Autocracy: Government where emperor has total power • Great Wall of China: Began by the Qins to help protect them from invaders. • Empire made people mad, overthrew the Qins • Han Dynasty • More moderate, kept the rule for 400 years (200 BC-200 AD) • Ruled over an area larger than the Romans, Liu Ch’e (most powerful ruler) • Civil Service Government: Leaders were examined, most qualified got positions of power. Style lasted until the 1900s. • Silk Road: Road from China to Mediterranean…traded goods with Romans/Greeks

  20. Chinese Philosophy • Yin and Yang • Yang (male) and yin (female) represented the balance of forces of nature. • Balance was the key to success • Confucius • Main Chinese Philosopher • Importance: family, respect of elders, reverence for ancestors • Wanted to figure out how people could better rule themselves. Everyone should accept their roles in life and work to be the best they could be

  21. Chinese Philosophy • Mencius • Follower of Confucius • People’s characters should benefit others • Rulers who were ethical should receive support from people; weak or unjust rulers should be overthrown • Laozi (Lowd-ZOO) • Founded Daoism • Dao: Indescribable force that ruled nature. • People should live peaceful lives and not strive for material wealth. • Both Daoism and Confucianism provided a balance that people of China followed for centuries (Yin and Yang) • Buddhism • Mahayana Buddhism became very popular in China because it agreed with many of the teachings of Chinese Philosophers

  22. Middle Age Chinese Dynasties • Sui Dynasty • Ruled during the 500’s AD • Created the Grand Canal (linked N and S China) • Defeated by the Turks • Tang Dynasty (600-900s) • Defeated the Turks, extended China to India and Middle East. • Xi’an: Capital, over 2 million people lived there • Began the golden age of China • Confucianism and Daoism were very important ideas. Stress of ethics would remain the main religion until the 1900s. • Built temples to Confucius and made people study his teachings • Buddhism became very popular during this time.

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