INDIA The ancient civilization of India was one that had a huge impact on the rest of the world’s modern cultures, and methods. India was and still is a major contributor to this world’s religions, food, types of government, technology, and even methods of trade. We will take you back to a time of extravagant and history changing events in the land of Ancient India. Tori Saldivia

Geography The geography of Ancient India was an extraordinary one that helped with its trade routes to other countries and continents. Tori Saldivia

Geography Ancient India had many rivers, mountain ranges, plains, plateaus, deserts, and cities that shaped the modern values and lifestyles of India now. Geography impacted India so much, that the Indus- River valley was the first civilization of India. These people lived by the Indus river and dealt with situations, such as the flooding of the river and its unpredictability. They were very civilized, however, because they had plumbers and engineers who created sewage systems and people who built the city on a grid- system. Tori Saldivia

Ancient India had many rivers, mountain ranges, plains, plateaus, deserts, and cities that shaped the modern values and lifestyles of India now.

Geography impacted India so much, that the Indus- River valley was the first civilization of India. These people lived by the Indus river and dealt with situations, such as the flooding of the river and its unpredictability. They were very civilized, however, because they had plumbers and engineers who created sewage systems and people who built the city on a grid- system.

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Geography India is very close to Asia and this geographical feature significantly improved the trade methods of India and Asia. Not only did this bring India to a rise, but the fact that they were right next to the Himalayas also had something to do with it. Because of the protection from the enormously tall mountains, they did not suffer from many invasions a many other civilizations did during this time. Deserts also provided a source of protection from feared invasions. Tori Saldivia

India is very close to Asia and this geographical feature significantly improved the trade methods of India and Asia.

Not only did this bring India to a rise, but the fact that they were right next to the Himalayas also had something to do with it. Because of the protection from the enormously tall mountains, they did not suffer from many invasions a many other civilizations did during this time.

Deserts also provided a source of protection from feared invasions.

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Geography India was looked at as a very lucky and prominent country, with its great source of protection, fertile land, advanced systems and its prosperous cities. Although, they had unpredictable flooding, heavy rainfall, and monsoons- seasonal winds- they will always be a country like none other. Tori Saldivia

Religion Religion had a big involvement in the status of India, now and then. India invented religions and inherited some through the process of Cultural Diffusion, and will always be looked up upon for these memorable contributions to the World. Tori Saldivia

Religion India had many religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. All three of these religions were founded in India and each one holds a special place in Indian culture and morals. Tori Saldivia

India had many religions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

All three of these religions were founded in India and each one holds a special place in Indian culture and morals.

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Religion: Hinduism Hinduism is a collection of religious beliefs that developed slowly over a long period of time. Although, it can not be traced back to a certain founder with a singe set of ideas, it is a way to see religion as a way of liberating the soul from the illusions, disappointments, and mistakes of everyday existence. The sole purpose to Hinduism is to reach Moksha- a state of perfect understanding of all things and when one is released from the burden of life on Earth. To achieve moksha, one must understand the relationship between Atman( the individual soul of a living being) and Brahman( the World soul that contains and unites all atmans). Hindu people also believe in Reincarnation- an individual soul or spirit is born again & again until moksha is achieved. This solely means that they must go through life over and over again until they learn al the life lessons they must to finally reach the pinnacle of understanding and peace. A soul’s karma follows their journeys through reincarnation. The beliefs of Hinduism and its caste structure dominated every aspect of a person’s life. Tori Saldivia

Hinduism is a collection of religious beliefs that developed slowly over a long period of time. Although, it can not be traced back to a certain founder with a singe set of ideas, it is a way to see religion as a way of liberating the soul from the illusions, disappointments, and mistakes of everyday existence.

The sole purpose to Hinduism is to reach Moksha- a state of perfect understanding of all things and when one is released from the burden of life on Earth. To achieve moksha, one must understand the relationship between Atman( the individual soul of a living being) and Brahman( the World soul that contains and unites all atmans).

Hindu people also believe in Reincarnation- an individual soul or spirit is born again & again until moksha is achieved. This solely means that they must go through life over and over again until they learn al the life lessons they must to finally reach the pinnacle of understanding and peace. A soul’s karma follows their journeys through reincarnation.

The beliefs of Hinduism and its caste structure dominated every aspect of a person’s life.

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Religion: Jainism Mahavira was the founder of Jainism and he believed that everything in the universe has a soul and should not be harmed. Jain monks carry this religious law with everything they do; they sweep ants of their path and wear masks over their mouths to prevent inhaling any small insects. Many work in trade and commerce, to be in the clear of not harming any living thing. Unlike many other religions, Jains practice religious tolerance. Tori Saldivia

Mahavira was the founder of Jainism and he believed that everything in the universe has a soul and should not be harmed.

Jain monks carry this religious law with everything they do; they sweep ants of their path and wear masks over their mouths to prevent inhaling any small insects.

Many work in trade and commerce, to be in the clear of not harming any living thing.

Unlike many other religions, Jains practice religious tolerance.

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Religion: Buddhism Siddhartha Guatama was the founder of Buddhism. A prophecy stated that if he stayed a home, he would be a world ruler, but if he left he would become a universal spiritual leader, therefore his father isolated him to make sure he became a king. He left the palace and saw a course of events that led him to understand them to mean that every living thing experiences old age, sickness, & death and that only a religious life offers a refuge from this suffering. He decided to dedicate his life to searching for religious truth and an end to suffering. He soon achieved his goal and was then known as the Buddha- the enlightened one. He laid out 4 main ideas called “The 4 Noble Truths” and in it depicted the way to end a life of suffering, sorrow, and temptation, which was to follow the Eightfold Path( the middle way between desires and self-denial). By following the Eightfold Path, one would reach Nirvana- Release from selfishness ad pain. (Nirvana is much like Moksha in the Hindu religion). However, Buddhism rejected the caste system, unlike Hinduism. Buddhism became such a popular religion that it made its way to Asia through Cultural Diffusion. Tori Saldivia

Siddhartha Guatama was the founder of Buddhism. A prophecy stated that if he stayed a home, he would be a world ruler, but if he left he would become a universal spiritual leader, therefore his father isolated him to make sure he became a king.

He left the palace and saw a course of events that led him to understand them to mean that every living thing experiences old age, sickness, & death and that only a religious life offers a refuge from this suffering.

He decided to dedicate his life to searching for religious truth and an end to suffering. He soon achieved his goal and was then known as the Buddha- the enlightened one. He laid out 4 main ideas called “The 4 Noble Truths” and in it depicted the way to end a life of suffering, sorrow, and temptation, which was to follow the Eightfold Path( the middle way between desires and self-denial).

By following the Eightfold Path, one would reach Nirvana- Release from selfishness ad pain. (Nirvana is much like Moksha in the Hindu religion). However, Buddhism rejected the caste system, unlike Hinduism.

Buddhism became such a popular religion that it made its way to Asia through Cultural Diffusion.

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Religion Religion had an enormous impact on Indian culture and the huge success of the country and its ancient civilizations. Tori Saldivia

Government/ Military/ Leaders India would not have had much of its success or order without its powerful government and military. Although, there were many leaders who hurt some of the ancient Indian civilizations, many brought it up to the level it is at today in society. Tori Saldivia

Government/ Military/ Leaders India had many empires and kingdoms that were led by Kings who seized thrones or inherited them. The Mauryan empire and The Gupta empire are two of the many empires of Ancient India. Tori Saldivia

India had many empires and kingdoms that were led by Kings who seized thrones or inherited them.

The Mauryan empire and The Gupta empire are two of the many empires of Ancient India.

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Government/ Military/ Leaders Chandragupta Maurya began the Mauryan Empire . Using his vast army of 600,000 soldiers on foot, 30,000 on horseback and 9,000 elephants, he conquered many civilizations/ empires an expanded the empire vastly. After his years of ruling, Chandragupta’s grandson, Asoka took his place and brought the empire to its greatest heights. Asoka soon followed the religion of Buddhism and decided to enforce his laws based on his belief in this religion. This brought some people against him, because they wanted him to use religious toleration rather than forcing his Buddhist beliefs upon those in the empire. After enforcing the noble laws of toleration and nonviolence, his peacefulness was not enough to hold the empire together. This shows that many empires did not last very long or last at all, mostly because they were ‘too nice’ and not more military- based. Tori Saldivia

Chandragupta Maurya began the Mauryan Empire . Using his vast army of 600,000 soldiers on foot, 30,000 on horseback and 9,000 elephants, he conquered many civilizations/ empires an expanded the empire vastly.

After his years of ruling, Chandragupta’s grandson, Asoka took his place and brought the empire to its greatest heights.

Asoka soon followed the religion of Buddhism and decided to enforce his laws based on his belief in this religion. This brought some people against him, because they wanted him to use religious toleration rather than forcing his Buddhist beliefs upon those in the empire.

After enforcing the noble laws of toleration and nonviolence, his peacefulness was not enough to hold the empire together.

This shows that many empires did not last very long or last at all, mostly because they were ‘too nice’ and not more military- based.

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Government/ Military/ Leaders Chandra Gupta founded The Gupta Empire. He became an emperor by simply marrying the daughter of an old, influential royal family. Chandra Gupta’s son, Samudra expanded the empire with 40 years of war and conquest, which gave him control over most lands immediately surrounding his father’s. When the third an final emperor, Chandra Gupta II came into power, he took over the Gupta’s enemy’s territory and his subjects were very happy with his reign and power. During the period of time that he was emperor, India experienced a growth in great literature, art, religious thought, science, and mathematics. Sadly, after the death of Chandra Gupta II, invaders took over the former Gupta Empire. Tori Saldivia

Chandra Gupta founded The Gupta Empire. He became an emperor by simply marrying the daughter of an old, influential royal family.

Chandra Gupta’s son, Samudra expanded the empire with 40 years of war and conquest, which gave him control over most lands immediately surrounding his father’s.

When the third an final emperor, Chandra Gupta II came into power, he took over the Gupta’s enemy’s territory and his subjects were very happy with his reign and power. During the period of time that he was emperor, India experienced a growth in great literature, art, religious thought, science, and mathematics.

Sadly, after the death of Chandra Gupta II, invaders took over the former Gupta Empire.

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Government/ Military/ Leaders Ancient Indian government an military leaders were highly influenced by their path of religion and their ancestor’s choices when it came to running their empires. These strong and fierce leaders did, however contribute to the modern- day India we now know and love. Tori Saldivia

Bibliography Beck, Roger B. World History . Illinois, Boston, Dallas: McDougal Littell, 1987 “ India [Shaded Relief Map] 1996 (383k).” Photo. 1uptravel.com 25 Nov.2008 <http://www.1uptravel.com/worldmaps/india2.html> Creativespark. “Buddhism in India, China & Southeast Asia.” Photo. Mohhong.org 03 Nov. 2007. 25 Nov. 2008 http://www.mohhong.org/2007/11/03/buddhism-in-india-china-southeast-asia/ “ Andhra Pradesh.” Photo. Nriol.com 25 Nov.2008 <http://www.nriol.com/indiantourism/andhrapradesh.asp/> Tori Saldivia

Beck, Roger B. World History . Illinois, Boston, Dallas: McDougal Littell, 1987

“ India [Shaded Relief Map] 1996 (383k).” Photo. 1uptravel.com 25 Nov.2008 <http://www.1uptravel.com/worldmaps/india2.html>

Creativespark. “Buddhism in India, China & Southeast Asia.” Photo. Mohhong.org 03 Nov. 2007. 25 Nov. 2008 http://www.mohhong.org/2007/11/03/buddhism-in-india-china-southeast-asia/

“ Andhra Pradesh.” Photo. Nriol.com 25 Nov.2008 <http://www.nriol.com/indiantourism/andhrapradesh.asp/>

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