Exploring India's Rich History and Cultural Heritage: From Ancient Civilizations to Modern Society

4. INDIAN FACTS • FORM OF GOV’T – Federal Republic (gained independence from the UK in 1947) • CAPITAL – New Delhi • POPULATION – 1,095,351995 • LAND SIZE – 2,973,190 (slightly more than 1/3 the size of the U.S.) • CLIMATE – Varies from Tropical Monsoon in the south to Temperate in the north • CURRENCY – Rupee • MILITARY – Voluntary • RELIGION – Hindu (80%)

5. SUBCONTINENT • a large, relatively self-contained landmass forming a subdivision of a continent

6. HIMALAYAS • Large mountain range between the Indian subcontinent and the Plateau of Tibet • Includes the highest mountain peaks in the world • Mt. Everest – 29,000 feet

8. GANGES RIVER • Longest river in India • Located in northern India, flows towards Bangladesh • Flows from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal

9. INDUS RIVER • Flows from Tibet into the Arabian Sea • Much of the land here would not be arable without this massive source of water

10. DECCAN PLATEAU • Located in southern India • Deccan’s average elevation is about 2,000 feet, sloping generally eastward • The climate is drier than that on the coasts and is arid in places

11. MONSOONS • the seasonal wind of the Indian Ocean and southern Asia, blowing from the southwest in summer and from the northeast in winter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9peDRkO-TLc

12. MAJOR CITIES

13. EARLY SOUTH ASIA • Modern India traces its roots back to the Indus River Valley located in South Asia • Harappans– earliest civilization found in this area, dates back to about 2,500 b.c., disappeared around 1,500 b.c. • Ruins demonstrate: 1. urban planning (organized cities) 2. grid pattern streets 3. multi-storied homes 4. bathrooms and sewage systems

15. ARYANS • Aryans – conquered the Indus River Valley around 1500 b.c. and then moved southeast into the Ganges Plain • Organized into tribes, each was led by a rajah • Cattle– basis of their diet and economy, wealth was measured in cattle and they were used as money • Men dominated society, which was largely agricultural

16. Brahmans kshatriyas Vaisyas Sudras Pariahs SOCIAL STRUCTURE

17. Social Structure • 1. Brahmans – Priests • 2. Kshatriyas – Warriors/princes • 3. Vaisyas – merchants/farmers • 4. Sudras – peasants/servants • 5. Pariahs – so “unclean” not even part of the system, do the toughest and dirtiest jobs

18. HINDUISM • Aryans believed in a religion that has evolved into what we know as Hinduism

19. BELIEFS • Evolved over centuries (no one person began it) • Brahman – universal spirit, god (other gods are manifestations of Brahman) • Trinity – 3 most important manifestations are:

20. BRAHMA • The Creator

21. VISHNU • The Preserver

22. SIVA • The Destroyer

23. KEY CONCEPTS REINCARNATION - The rebirth of the soul

24. KEY CONCEPTS cont. KARMA - Idea that how a person lives their life will determine what form that person takes in the next life (what comes around goes around)

25. KEY CONCEPTS cont. DHARMA • Duties of a particular varna (class) • If you fulfill your dharma you get have good karma

26. KEY CONCEPTS cont. MOKSHA - State in which a person’s soul is freed from the cycle of reincarnation (heaven)

27. KEY CONCEPTS cont. AHIMSA - Belief that all life is sacred and needs to be protected

28. SACRED HINDU WRITINGS: THE VEDAS • Ancient poems, legends, hymn, rituals… that formed the basis of Aryan religious life • There are 4, the oldest dating back to about 1000 B.C.

29. HOLIDAY VIDEOS • Diwali – Festival of Lights • Holi – Festival of colors, triumph of good over evil, coming of the Spring • Holi #2

30. BUDDHISM

31. THE BUDDHA • Siddhartha Gautama– the founder of Buddhism, born in India in 566 B.C. • born into the Kshatriya class, lived a wealthy but sheltered life • wanted to understand why people suffer andhowto minimize it

32. THE BUDDHA cont. • believed he found the answers while meditating, believed he received “enlightenment” • he preached his message and became known as “The Buddha” (enlightened one) • he rejected the caste system, a person’s position in life should depend on the person, not their birth

33. 4 NOBLE TRUTHS

34. 1. ALL PEOPLE SUFFER

35. 2. PEOPLE SUFFER BECAUSE THEIR DESIRES BIND THEM TO THE CYCLE OF REBIRTH

36. 3. WE CAN END SUFFERING BY ELIMINATING DESIRES

37. 4. ELIMINATE DESIRE BY FOLLOWING THE 8-FOLD PATH

38. 8-FOLD PATH

39. THE 8-FOLD PATH LEADS TO NIRVANA • Nirvana – state of enlightenment that frees the soul from the cycle of rebirth

40. BRANCHES OF BUDDHISM • Make sure you are aware of the following: • Mahayana • Theravada • Tibetan • Zen

41. CONCEPT OF GOD • Buddha is not thought of as a god • The concept of god is not central to Buddhism

42. BUILDING/PLACE OF WORSHIP • Use temples and monasteries • Worship and meditation can take place anywhere • Stupa – built to house relics of Buddha (teeth, bones, writings…)

43. HOLIDAYS/FESTIVALS • See the “Buddhist Festivals and Holidays” worksheet • Festival of the Tooth (Sri Lanka) • Obon (Japan)

44. SYMBOLS • See the “Buddhist Symbols” worksheet

45. TYPE 2 • List 3 similarities and 3 differences between Hinduism and Buddhism

46. TYPE 3 • Discuss 3 similarities and 3 differences between Hinduism and Buddhism • Focused Correction Areas (FCAs) FCA #1 – 3 differences FCA #2 – 3 similarities FCA #3 - capitalization

47. DALAI LAMA

48. TIBET

50. POTALA PALACE