The Geography of India

Transcription

1 The Geography of India -India is a peninsula -a peninsula is a landmass with water on three sides -the Indian peninsula juts out into the Indian Ocean -There are two significant geographic areas in India that you need to be aware of 1. Northern Border -it is very mountainous -the Hindu Kush mountains are to the northwest -the Himalaya mountains are to the northeast -the Himalayas are the largest mountain range in the world -it includes Mt. Everest, the tallest peak in the world -the mountain ranges served as a natural barrier, which protected the people in India for a while -the mountains limited India s contact with other people/places allowing India s culture to develop without foreign influences for quite some time 2. The Northern Plain -includes the area where the Indus and Ganges Rivers are located -this is very fertile farming land -The Northern Plain is fertile for a few reasons a. run off from the Himalayas and Hindu Kush mountain ranges feed the Indus and Ganges Rivers b. monsoons -monsoons are seasonal winds -twice a year the monsoons blow through India -in the summer, winds come from the Indian Ocean from the Southwest and bring hot air and heavy rains -this is the period of the greatest rainfall in India -in the winter, winds come from northeast Asia and bring cold, dry air -the monsoons significantly influence life and agriculture in India

2 Impact of the Monsoons on India 1. What are the months of the rainy season? 2. From what direction and location does the monsoon come from during the rainy season? 3. During the rainy season, the west coast of India receives how much rainfall? 4. How much rain does the northeastern portion of India receive during the rainy season? 5. What is the definition of a monsoon according to this author? 6. How do monsoons impact the people of India? Give five examples.

3 Indus River Valley Civilizations: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro -the first civilizations in India developed along the Indus River -the first Indus River Civilizations lasted from 2500 BC BC -there were many cities and towns along the Indus River -BUT, two remarkable cities were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro -each city had a population of approximately 40,000 people Characteristics of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro City Planning -Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were well planned out -streets were in a grid-like pattern -each city had a fortress or temple -structures were all made of the same brick -houses had plumbing systems, baths, drains, toilets -there were underground sewers -public bath houses Government -in order to have such an elaborate plan for Harappa and Mohenjo- Daro there must have been a very strong, centralized government -the leaders of these cities must have been very organized in order to plan these cities in such a logical and strategic manner Social Structure -most people who lived in Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were subsistence farmers -they grew grains, barley, cotton -there were merchants who traded cloth, grain, pearls, copper -traded a little bit with people in Mesopotamia -there were government officials and religious leaders also

4 The Aryans -The Indus River Valley Civilization declined around 2000BC for reasons that are unknown -a new group came into India and took over the Indus River Valley: The Aryans -Who were the Aryans? -they were a nomadic people who wandered around Europe and Asia -they came to India looking for food sources and came through passes in the Hindu Kush mountains. -they settled along the Indus and Ganges Rivers around 1500 BC -How do we know about them? -they left writings in Sanskrit, which is a language that has been deciphered -their main writings are called the Vedas, which are a collection of four books -the Vedas include information about Aryan religious beliefs, rituals, prayers and history -the Vedas indicate that the Aryans were polytheistic, worshipping many gods -Social Structure: THE CASTE SYSTEM -the social structure of the Aryan people influenced the history of ancient India greatly -in this system, individuals were divided into castes -Use the reading on the back to fill out social class pyramid. Include the title of the class AND the jobs included they performed. -What determined the caste a person was in? -What did a person s caste determine during their lives? -Could a person move up and down the caste system? (circle one) YES NO -Why do we need to know about the Aryans? -the Aryan religious beliefs evolve into a major world religion: Hinduism -the texts of the Aryans, the Vedas, are still used in Hinduism today -the caste system is directly tied to Hinduism

5 The Aryan Caste System When the Aryans invaded and then settled in Northern India, they brought with them a social class system. This social class system came to dominate life in India. The class system, or caste system, was very restrictive and rigid. At the top of the caste system were the Brahmins. The Brahmin caste was made up of priests. They were the most important group in the caste system because they claimed to be the only people who could conduct the ceremonies needed to win the favor of the gods. Brahmins conducted religious ceremonies and knew were the privileged few who knew how to recite prayers and hymns from the Vedas. The Brahmins were also religious teachers, instructing the other classes in religious matters. Following the Brahmin class was a group known as the Kshatriyas. Kshatriyas included government leaders and warriors. The third class within the caste system was the Vaisyas. The Vaisyas were the common people in society. They were farmers, artisans and merchants. The fourth group within the caste system in India was the Sudras. This class was made up of laborers and unskilled workers. They mostly served the higher classes, but were considered free men and women. The last group of people in Indian society was the Pariahs, or Untouchables. The Untouchables were the outcasts of society. They performed jobs that were considered unclean and impure. For example, Untouchables were butchers, grave diggers, trash collectors, leather workers, and street cleaners. The Pariahs lived outside of villages and cities and were shunned by other classes in society. In order to warn other people of their approach, Pariahs had to wear bells or sound a wooden clapper. The caste system in India was extremely rigid. People were born into their caste for life. A person could not move into other classes. Caste membership determined what work a person did, whom they could marry, where they could live and what they could do each day. Marriage could only take place within a caste, meaning that one could not marry a person in a different caste. People of the same caste lived in designated parts of villages and cities. Social interaction between castes was forbidden. In What Caste Do I Belong? 1. : My name is Naveen. I live in a simple hut outside of Harappa with other philosophers. I have renounced all worldly pleasures and spend most of my time studying the Vedas. I teach willing pupils who seek religious guidance. 2. : My name is Amit. I spend my days cooking and cleaning for the leaders of Harappa. 3. : My name is Indra. I help my mother and the other women in town clean the public toilets. When we walk down the street it is my job to make a loud noise in order to warn others of my presence. 4. : I am called Sunli. I am a general in the army. I have fought in many battles from the Ganges to the Indus Rivers. 5. : I am Anjali. My mother and father have a small farm near Mohenjo-Daro. We have a cow that provides us with milk. My mother uses the milk to make butter. Our small farm makes enough food for my family to survive. We work in the fields throughout the day to ensure our crops are growing well. 6. : My name is Indira. My father is a government official in Harappa. My mother stays home with her children and tends to our needs. Her father was also a government worker. I have been promised in marriage to an army general. 7. : My name is Vivek. I am a butcher living outside of the city walls. Life is rather difficult for my family. We do not have much and are not accepted by those who live within the city walls. 8. : I am called Janna. I have been hired by a government official in the city to care for his house and four young children. After a long day of work, I return home to my modest home where I complete my own chores and cooking. 9. : I am Rajas. Each day I am responsible for reciting prayers from the Vedas. The people of the city depend on my understanding of our religious traditions.

6 The Nuts and Bolts of Hinduism: The Basics of what you need to know -Hinduism grew out of Indus River Valley and Aryan traditions and beliefs. -there is not a single founder -religious texts: the Vedas -MAJOR POINTS OF HINDUISM: -Hindus believe in Brahman -the belief that the entire universe is part of an unchanging and all-powerful spiritual force called Brahman -Brahman created the world and everything in it -therefore, everything and everyone is connected to and part of Brahman -Brahman is in everything, including all human souls -The goal of Hindus: to achieve Moksha -to realize that Brahman is in everything and within you -humans are born full connected to Brahman, but throughout life selfishness and greed separates humans from the Brahman within themselves -achieving Moksha means that one has overcome greed and selfishness in their life -when a person achieves Moksha they are reunited with the Braham in their soul -when you achieve Moksha, your soul is freed from the difficulties of life on earth you go to heaven -How does one achieve the goal of Moksha? -an individual must free himself/herself from selfish desires and petty distractions that separate them from Brahman -ex: a selfish desire would be wanting more material goods, more money, more attention, more fame or popularity etc. -but, most people cannot get rid of greed and selfishness in one lifetime -it may take many lifetimes for one to achieve Moksha -therefore, people are reincarnated, or reborn, until they reach the goal -in each lifetime, a person can come closer to Moksha by obeying the laws of karma -What is Karma? -it is the belief that a person s actions in this life affect their fate in the next life -people who live virtuously earn good karma and are reborn at a higher level of existence/higher caste (closer to Brahman) -people who are evil earn bad karma and are born into lower levels of existence/lower caste (farther from Brahman) -to Hindus, all existence is ranked: -brahmins -kshatriyas -vaisyas -sudras -pariahs -animals -plants -in order to achieve Moksha, one must be at the highest human existence, the Brahmin caste

7 -How does one gain good karma? -following their dharma -dharma is the religious and moral duties that are expected of each person -duties vary according to what caste a person is in OR what non-human form one is in -ex: if you are a Brahmin, your job is to be a priest -ex: if you are a sudra, your job is to be a servant -ex: if you are a dog, your job is to be loyal to your owner and obey commands -ex: if you are a leaf, your job is to provide oxygen in the atmosphere -obeying one s duty to the best of their ability will bring good karma -good karma means you will be reincarnated into a higher level of existence and, therefore, closer to the goal of Moksha -another way to earn good karma is by the practice of ahimsa, or non-violence -if all things are unified by Brahman, them everything needs to be respected -one must refrain from injuring any creature physically, emotionally and mentally -this is the reason why many Hindus are vegetarian *side note: Hindus see the cow as the most important animal on earth -the cow is seen as a symbol of life and selflessness -it eats only grain, grass and water yet, gives milk to sustain human life -cows are NOT worshipped, yet are treated with respect -WORSHIP PRACTICES OF HINDUS -In order to help guide to the goal of Moksha, Hindus worship many gods and goddesses -each god and goddess is seen as a part of Brahman -there are hundreds of gods and goddesses that Hindus can choose to worship -examples of gods and goddesses: 1. Brahma: God of Creation 2. Vishnu: Preserver/Protector of Creation and Life 3. Krishna: God of Love and Joy; he destroys pain and sin 4. Shiva: The Destroyer of Egos, Selfishness 5. Ganesha: The God of Success; he removes obstacles in one s life -Hindus pray, make offerings of food and drink, and go to temples to worship the gods -Hindus create shrines in their homes to specific gods in order Ganesha to honor them IMPORTANCE OF THE GANGES RIVER IN HINDUISM Brahman Vishnu - Hindus believe that the Ganges River is sacred and holy. Hindus believe that rituals performed by the river Ganges multiply their blessings. The water of Ganges is held so sacred that holding this water in hand no Hindu dares to lie or be deceitful. The sight, the name, and the touch of Ganges cleanses one of all sins and taking a dip in the holy Ganga bestows heavenly blessings. They worship the river by bathing in it, drinking its waters, praying to it, invoking it in oaths, and chanting its name. Of all these actions, sacred bathing is arguably the most important and the most widespread. Its water is bottled by pilgrims and given to the sick, to the dying, or to participants in weddings. Many Hindus even believe that the act of viewing the river alone can cleanse devotees of their sins, bringing them one step closer to release from the Indian cycle of reincarnation. Shiva Krishna

8 Buddhism -Buddhism is another major world religion that originated in India -Founder: Siddhartha Gautama -he lived in India around 500 BC -he was a wealthy prince -he lived a very sheltered life; he never encountered violence, sickness or death -around age 30, he ventured outside of his palace for the first time in his life -on the streets of the city, Siddhartha saw human suffering for the first time -he wanted to know why people suffered and he wanted to know how to end suffering -he left his royal status, all luxuries, and his family to find the answer to his question -he lived as a beggar for many years; never owning any possessions -after years of searching for an answer as to why people suffer, he became enlightened -When Siddhartha found the answers to his questions, he became known as Buddha, or the Enlightened One -Enlightenment means a deep, spiritual understanding -He began to teach his findings, which included: -The Four Noble Truths: 1. All life is suffering -no one can escape suffering on earth -birth leads to suffering, death is suffering, illness is suffering, aging is suffering, not getting what you want is suffering 2. The cause of suffering comes from peoples selfish desires for pleasure and material goods 3. The only way to end suffering is by getting rid of all selfish desires and greediness -you cannot want anything -you cannot be greedy 4. To overcome selfish desires and end suffering, one must follow the Eightfold Path -The Eightfold Path -this is a moral code developed by the Buddha to help others end their suffering and gain enlightenment 1. Right View: accepting the Four Noble Truths 2. Right Attitude: being moderate in all that you do 3. Right Speech: do not lie, brag, curse or say hurtful things 4. Right Action: be fair and kind to all living beings 5. Right Livelihood: choose a job/career that brings good to the world 6. Right Effort: always try to improve yourself everyday 7. Right Mindfulness: being aware of everything around you and how you act 8. Right Concentration: meditation is necessary and one must be serious in their meditation

9 -The Buddha also taught that the following ideas would help a person achieve Enlightenment: -The Middle Way -the Middle Way means that one lives their life in moderation -this means that you avoid the extremes in life; not too little, but yet not too much -The Five Precepts 1. Do no harm any living being (this is concept of non-violence) 2. Do not steal. Take only what is give to you. 3. Avoid over stimulation (do not get too excited or nervous) 4. Do not say unkind things. 5. Do not use alcohol or drugs. -The goal of Buddhism is to reach Nirvana -Nirvana is a state of perfect peace in which the soul is freed from suffering and pain on this earth -BUT, it may take several lifetimes for a person to reach nirvana -one can be reincarnated, or reborn, many times until they reach the goal of Nirvana -in order to reach Nirvana, or the escape from the cycle of death and rebirth, one must follow their Dharma, or duty in life -the Dharma of the Buddhist is to follow the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, the Middle Way and the Five Precepts -Just like in Hinduism, how you fulfill your dharma impacts your karma -your karma impacts whether or not you will be reincarnated into another life -if you collect good karma in your lifetime, you can reach nirvana and escape rebirth -if you collect bad karma, you will be reincarnated and will suffer in another lifetime -Unlike Hinduism, however, Buddhists reject the caste system of India -Buddha believed that anyone, at any time could reach nirvana -It was not necessary to be at the top of the caste system (a Brahmin/priest) to reach nirvana -Buddha thought the caste system was unfair -the Buddha offered hope and freedom from suffering to all people, regardless of their social status -Buddha also believed that priests and fancy rituals were unnecessary to reach Nirvana -worshipping gods and goddesses was seen as unnecessary -Buddha did NOT want to be worshipped as a god by his followers -Instead, he believed that personal meditation and reflection was the way to Nirvana -however, many see Buddha as a god-like figure regardless of his wish not to be seen in this light -the Buddha s teachings were written down in the religious text of Buddhism called The Three Baskets of Wisdom

10 *Please read this information and answer the questions that follow. This information will be on your test this Friday! The Gupta Empire In AD320 the majority of the Indian subcontinent was united under one central power: The Gupta Empire. An empire is an extensive territory under the rule of a single authority. The Gupta Empire was ruled by leaders who practiced Hinduism and they made Hinduism the official religion of their territory. The Gupta emperors ruled India until AD550. For a little over two hundred years India experienced a time of peace and stability. The government was powerful and stable, there were few wars or conflicts, and many people in India had significant wealth. This stability, peace and wealth allowed for great cultural development and growth. During the time of the Gupta Empire there was a Golden Age in India. A Golden Age is a time of great cultural and scientific achievements. Achievements were made in the areas of medicine, math, art, science, architecture, literature and education. Mathematical Achievements: By Gupta times, practical mathematical concepts were more highly developed in India than in any other ancient land. Transmitted to other parts of Asia as well as to the Western world, these concepts revolutionized mathematics. One practical tool credited to Indian scholars is the invention of numerals (ex: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9). The idea of zero, one of the most important concepts in mathematics, is another Indian contribution. The idea of infinity ( ) is yet another significant idea developed by Indian mathematicians. Achievements in Astronomy: Learned scholars in India were greatly interested in the physical and natural world as well. Scholars during the Gupta Empire studied the movements of the sun, the moon, planets and stars. Indian astronomers learned that the earth revolved around the sun and rotated on its axis. These concepts were discovered centuries before Europeans realized these ideas. Also, scholars in the Gupta Empire were able to create an extremely accurate calendar based on the movement of the earth around the sun. It was calculated that a year was days, which is the figure that we use today. Lastly, Gupta astronomers discovered that lunar eclipses are caused by the earth moving between the sun and the moon and casting a shadow on the moon. Achievements in Medicine: By the end of the Gupta Golden Age, Indians had acquired considerable medical knowledge. They had learned to diagnose and treat many ailments. During the Gupta Golden Age, surgeons set broken bones and used plastic surgery to repair mutilations to the body. For such work, the surgeons developed more than 100 specialized surgical instruments, including forceps, scalpels and syringes. Indian physicians knew how to stitch up wounds, perform tonsillectomies, and amputations. They also performed eye surgery. Also, Indian doctors understood that keeping wounds clean and sterile prevented infection. This important fact was not understood by European doctors until modern times. Doctors in India developed a wide range of medications. As a result of constant experimentation with plants and herbs, many drugs were used for the treatment of diseases. In India s hospitals, doctors gave the first injections to vaccinate people against smallpox. This vaccination was used in India 1000 years before Europeans learned to vaccinate against diseases. India's hospitals were funded by donations from wealthy citizens, as well as by religious institutions who found it important to help the sick. These hospitals provided free medical care. Medical education was provided in great universities found throughout India. Doctors attended universities to learn surgical techniques, what medications to give and other important medical practices. These universities and medical schools were very advanced for their time. After medical school was completed, doctors had to receive permission from the emperor to practice medicine. The doctor had to prove his training to the emperor, thus creating the first system in which medical doctors had to receive a license (of sorts) in order to work with patients. Licensure procedures are a part of our medical system today.

11 Achievements in Architecture: The high points of this cultural creativity are magnificent and creative architecture, sculpture, and painting. The wallpaintings of Ajanta Cave in the central Deccan are considered among the greatest and most powerful works of Indian art. The paintings in the cave represent the various lives of the Buddha, but also are the best source we have of the daily life in India at the time. There are forty-eight caves making up Ajanta, most of which were carved out of the rock between 460 and 480, and they are filled with Buddhist sculptures. Hindu temples were also built during the Gupta Golden Age. Carved from a single, solid section of hillside, Kailasa Temple in Mumbai, India, is one of the world s largest buildings. Nearly 2.4 million cubic feet of rock was removed during its construction in the late 8th century. The builders carved the temple using 1inch chisels and it took one hundred years to complete. The temple is dedicated to Shiva, the often ominous god of the Hindu trilogy. Achievements in Education and Literature: During the Gupta Golden Age, medical schools were created to train physicians to properly care for patients and perform surgery (mentioned above). However, other universities were also developed for religious studies. Both Hindu and Buddhist religious colleges were established. In Hindu colleges, students were only admitted if they were in the highest three castes: Brahmins, Kshatriyas or Vaisyas. In addition to their religious studies, these students learned math, astronomy, art, chemistry and music. They also studied some of the significant literary works created during this time. These works included famous Hindu religious texts of the Puranas, the Mahabarata, and the Bhagavad-Gita. The Puranas included Hindu legends and stories. The Mahabarata was the longest poem ever written and the Bhagavad-Gita was another Hindu religious poem full of Hindu scriptures and legends.

12 The Gupta Golden Age Questions -Answer the following questions based on the reading. Please answer in complete sentences were indicated. 1. In a complete sentence, define the term 'empire.' 2. What was the official religion of the Gupta Empire? 3. What years did the Gupta Empire have control of most of India? 4. In a complete sentence, define the term 'Golden Age.' 5. In a complete sentence, state the three conditions that allowed for a Golden Age to occur. 6. List three achievements in mathematics made during the Golden Age of the Gupta Empire: a. b. c. 7. List four achievements in the area of astronomy: a. c. b. d. 8. List eight medical achievements from the Gupta Golden Age: a. e. b. f. c. g. d. h. 9. In the caves of Ajanta (central India), artwork was carved and painted. From what religion are the images and carvings based? 10. The Kalisa Temple in Mumbai was dedicated to what god from which religion? 11. List five achievements in education and literature during the Gupta Golden Age: a. d. b. e. c.