2. Indus Valley Civilization
Centered on the Indus River in modern-day Pakistan
One of the known cradles of farming
Also known as the Harappan civilization
Mysterious—language not translated
Scholars must speculate about their society based on archaeology
Surplus food, fortresses
Central government?
Religious symbols—the bull
3.
4. Indo-European (Indo-Aryan)
Migrations
Question: Why are there so many
similarities between the languages
of Europe, Persia, and northern
India?
Theory—There must have been a
group which spoke the mother
language of all these
Must have migrated and settled
across northern India, the Middle
East, and Europe
Based on writing, we also know
that ancient Indians, Persians,
Celts, Greeks, etc. shared certain
cultural and religious features
6. Ancient Indo-Aryan Culture
Based on linguistics, there must
have been some kind of migration
into Northern India
Once thought of as an invasion—
now imagined as a series of
migrations
Encountered an already
advanced civilization—Indus
Valley
Borrowed from Indus Valley and
merged with local population
New group had an influence on
later Indian history
Strong religious and cultural
influence
The Vedas
The Sanskrit language
Social hierarchy
7. Southern India
Indo-European migrations only
affected Northern India
Southern India isolated by Vindhya
Mountains and Deccan Plateau
Culturally distinct
Dravidian languages
Tamil culture
8. Reading on Indo-Aryan Language
As you read through the article,
be sure to highlight words or
sentences that appear unclear.
There is some scholarly vocab –
recognize what you don’t know!
Once you finish we will discuss the
article as a class.
HW for tonight: Chapter 3.2, 1, 2,
and 4.
Anatolia
9. Historical Vedic
religion
The Vedic religion is the belief system
of the Indo-Aryans once they arrive in
the Indus Valley
Predecessor to modern Hinduism
Based on the four vedas, or sacred
texts, of Hinduism.
Texts written in Sanskrit.
We now understand the traditional
Vedic religion as a composite of
Indo-Aryans and Harappan
civilizations.
10. From Vedism to Hinduism
Between 500-200 BCE, Classical
Hinduism begins to emerge as a
synthesis of Buddhism and
traditional Hindu thought.
Religion continues to evolve
through the 19th century until the
arrival of the British, during which
time it undergoes a renaissance,
and becomes the Hinduism we
recognize today.
One of the most important texts
of Hinduism, the Bhagavad Gita,
is only a portion of a much larger
epic, the Mahabharata.
11. Hinduism
Believes in a supreme being – Brahman.
Gods and goddesses are fulfillments of,
or various aspects of Brahman.
Gods
Brahma, the Creator
Vishnu, the Preserver
Shiva, the Destroyer
Ganapati, the Remover of Obstacles
Krishna from the Bhagavad Gita
Lakshmi
12.
13. Buddhism!
Wrap up Michael Woods video
Discuss
“Hinduism/Buddhism” Crash Course
Intro. to Buddhism
14. What is Buddhism?
Based on the “Four Noble Truths.” These are:
The truth of dukkha (suffering and anxiety)
The truth of the origin of dukkha.
The truth of the cessation of dukkha.
The truth of the path leading to cessation of
dukkha.
The basis of Buddhism is the practical
acknowledgement of suffering in everyday life.
Siddhartha Gautama founds Buddhism
sometime between 600 and 450 BCE.
Formerly a prince
Renounces lavish lifestyle for asceticism.
15. Buddhist Principles
Karma: A person’s good actions (or
lack of bad actions) will bring about
happiness in the long run. Everything
one does carries good, bad, or
neutral karma.
Rebirth: One can be reborn in to
one of six realms – three fortunate,
three unfortunate – including that of
gods, men, demigods, animals,
ghosts, and hell. One’s position
following rebirth is determined by
their karma.
16. Intro. to Ashoka
Ashoka the Great was an Indian
emperor who ruled from 269 BCE
to 232 BCE.
After witnessing the death and
destruction of his wars of conquest,
he converts to Buddhism after only
7 years as emperor.
He saw Buddhism as a great
unifying force for the Indian
people.
17. Confucianism
Life of Confucius
Kung Fu-Tzu (Confucius the Westernized version)
Born 551 B.C.: a “gentleman” but not from a wealthy family
Wandered and worked for various lords during the Warring States period
Gathered disciples—only after his death in 479 did his ideas become influential
Confucian Teachings
Interested in the organization of society—like Plato
Strong relationships (jen) will maintain order and prevent chaos
People should have the goal of becoming chun tzu (“gentleman”)
The Five Constant Relationships
Parent and Child
Husband and Wife
Elder Sibling and Younger Sibling
Senior Friend and Younger Friend
Ruler and Subject
People with power should be generous and considerate—people being led should be
obedient and loyal
Common good—obligations, not rights
18. Confucianism (cont.)
Confucian Legacy
Ideas became extremely important in Chinese history
Writings (The Analects) became textbook for Chinese civil service
Ideas affect everyday life in China, Korea, Japan, and SE Asia
Emphasis on order, community, tradition, the family, and the value of
education
19. Taoism
Taoism
If Confucianism is about a person’s public role, Taoism is about the inner,
spiritual life
Based on the idea of the Tao (the Way)—mysterious force connecting
everything in the universe
Based on the teachings of the legendary holy man Lao Tzu (“the Old
Boy”)
Teachings collected in the Tao Te Ching
Humility and harmony with nature
