An overview of the major contributions of India in the past.

1. The Aesthetic and Intellectual
Traditions of India
By Crystal Zeng
For Mr. Haskvitz

2. Sanskrit Literature
• Sanskrit language of the rich Sanskrit
literature was influenced by the Aryans
• The earliest written accounts of Hindu
beliefs, including the Rig-Veda, were
written in Sanskrit
• Sanskrit literature can be found in a vast
collection of poetry, drama, stories and
epics
• The Ramaya and Mahabharata are two of
India’s most famous epics

3. Sanskrit Literature cont.
• A few of the greatest Sanskrit poems can
be found in the Mahabharata, including
Kalidasa’s Raghuvamsa and
Kumarasambhava, and Kiratarjuniya of
Bharavi
• Sanskrit literature used to be a primary
source of gaining knowledge and was
used during religious rituals
• Now, Sanskrit is mainly seen as used for
entertainment

4. Bhagavad Gita
• One of India’s greatest epic poems
• Tells the story of five brothers who try to
conquer and Indian kingdom
• The Indian god Krishna encourages one of
the brothers before he leaves for battle
• Krishna talks about important Hindu
beliefs
• Considered one of the most important
Hindu writings in Sanskrit literature

5. Medicine
• During India’s golden ages, Indian doctors
gained advanced knowledge about
medicine
• They learned how to used plants to make
different kinds of medicine
• They knew how to fix broken bones and
heal wounds
• They had general understanding of the
importance of the spinal cord in the human
body

6. Mathematics
• New discoveries in mathematics were
also made in India
• They developed the idea and symbol
of zero
• An Indian mathematician created and
used a number system that consisted
of zero and nine digits

7. Mathematics cont.
• The number system was eventually
passed on to the Europeans
• Today, we call these Indian numbers
Arabic numerals and the Indian
number system the decimal system
• The Indians also developed algebra
and geometry

8. Metallurgy
• Metallurgy is the technique of working with
metals
• Early Indian metallurgists have advanced
in metallurgy
• One of India’s greatest works of art is the
Iron Pillar of Delhi
• Indian chemists used metals to create
different medicines

9. Assessment
• What does Sanskrit literature consist of?
• What was the significance of the
Bhagavad Gita?
• What was one important discovery the
doctors in India made?
• The Indians developed which two areas of
math?
• How does Indian metallurgy relate to
Indian medicine?

10. Assessment Answers
• It consists of poetry, drama, stories, and epics
• It was one of India’s greatest epic poems/it was
considered one of the most important Hindu writings in
Sanskrit literature
• They learned how to used plants to make different kinds
of medicine/they knew how to fix broken bones and heal
wounds/they had general understanding of the
importance of the spinal cord in the human body
• Algebra and geometry
• Indian chemists used metals to create different
medicines