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Classical India

Classical India. Aryans ~ Maurya ~ Gupta. Indian Geography. Himalayas – tallest mountains in the world Ganges River – sacred river fed by the snow of the Himalayas Indus River – drier than Ganges Deccan Plateau – relatively dry Coasts – historically the most populated. Monsoons.

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Classical India

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  1. Classical India Aryans ~ Maurya ~ Gupta

  2. Indian Geography • Himalayas – tallest mountains in the world • Ganges River – sacred river fed by the snow of the Himalayas • Indus River – drier than Ganges • Deccan Plateau – relatively dry • Coasts – historically the most populated

  3. Monsoons Summer – warm moist wind from the southwest Winter – cold, dry wind from the northeast

  4. Aryans • War-like people from southern Russia invaded the Indus Valley around 1500BCE. • Superior technology: horses, chariots, bronze weapons. • Brought herds of cattle, goats, and sheep. • There is a vague reference to the conquest of city dwellers in Aryan oral tradition.

  5. Indo-European Languages

  6. Vedic Age 1500-500BCE • Aryans created a new civilization along the forested Ganges River. • Abandoned nomadic life to become farmers. • Mingled with Dravidians (Indus Valley people they conquered). • Knowledge of Aryans came from Vedas – a collection of prayers, hymns, and religious teachings that were first memorized and recited by Aryan priests.

  7. Aryan Society • Lived in tribes (groups of related families) led by rajahs (warrior chiefs). • Advised by council of elders (heads of families). • Warfare continued as different tribes battled for control.

  8. Aryan Culture • Loved feasting, music, chariot races, dice games, and cattle. • Wealth was measured in cows and bulls. • Word for war meant “more cattle.” • Later, the slaughter of cattle was forbidden, but they were used for milk, plowing, and transportation. • Polytheistic • Developed the Sanskrit language.

  9. Caste System aka Varna • Four Castes • Brahmins – priests • Kshatriyas – warriors • Vaisyas – herders, farmers, artisans, and merchants • Sudras – farmworkers, servants, laborers • They were Dravidians. • Outcastes (Untouchables or Pariahs) had unclean occupations . Began as children of upper castes with Sudras or non-Hindus.

  10. Brahmins = mouth Kshatriyas = arms Vaisyas = thighs Sudras = feet

  11. Maurya Empire • 321-183BCE • Well-administered government • Governors supervised tax collecting, road repair, justice, and defense. • Brutal, yet efficient, secret police ensured honesty of governors. • Pataliputra had schools, libraries, parks, temples, and palaces.

  12. Asoka (ruled 269-232BCE) • Expanded Maurya Empire to its greatest size. • After 100,000 were slaughtered in a battle, he converted to Buddhism and ruled by moral example. • Promoted peace and religious tolerance. • Sent out missionaries.

  13. Bollywood Version

  14. Gupta Empire • Golden Age of peace and prosperity • Great advances in the arts and sciences • Concept of zero • Decimal System • Hindu-Arabic Numerals replaced Roman numerals in the 700s • Medicine included plastic surgery and bone setting.

  15. Indian Culture • Rajah – local ruler who controlled many villages • Headman – wealthy farmer ran the village • Extended (joint) family – dominated by eldest male included several generations in the same home • Patriarchal

  16. Status of Women • In early Aryan society women had decent status – declined later. • At marriage, women joined husband’s family – dowry was expected. • Widows encouraged to commit suttee –suicide by throwing themselves on their husband’s funeral fire. • Polygamy common in higher castes.

  17. India Today • Even today, three-fourths of Indians in villages ranging from several hundred to a couple thousand families separated by caste. • Many homes are one-story mud huts of one or several rooms. • One quarter of the population lives in urban areas. • Many live in slums. • One of every six people on the planet lives in India.

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