Indian Civilization
The Great Andamanese Negritos are descendants of the first humans to migrate out of Africa. What can be learned about them is of great interest and relevance to our understanding of origins of humankind as a whole.
INDIA S INDUS RIVER VALLEY CIVILIZATION also called HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION
Was this civilization peaceful? Hundreds of villages lined the Indus river with no sign of defensive walls or fortifications Farming was the basis of this civilization Towns and cities were built with people of similar trades living together in the same sector Resources were used to meet basic needs of people. Cities were built with streets in orderly grids and sewerage systems
A talc seal with some of the 400 inscriptions which made up India s first written language.
Mother Goddess Figurine Pakistan, Mohenjodaro, ca. 2,600-1,900 B.C. Terra-cotta. Courtesy of Mark Kenoyer Return
Migrations and invasions of dominant Indo- Europeans(Aryans) into India 1500 BCE
However they came, whether by migration or invasion, the Indo- Europeans ended the time of peace and introduced the caste system and warfare between tribal chiefs.
Indo-Europeans established tribal groups across Northern India Eventually these tribal groups formed confederations across northern India. Chieftain leaders of these tribal groups came to be called rajas. Some rajas acquired enough land to form India s first kingdoms.
The first Kingdom in India was the Magada Kingdom (490-321 BC) located on the Ganges River. Around the time this kingdom was ending, Alexander of Greece invaded India in 327 BC and established trade routes from India to the Mediterranean Sea
India s first empire, the Mauyran Empire, founded 321 BCE
Stone carving of Asoka, a convert to Buddhism
A sandstone pillar of Asoka carved with events in Buddha s life and marking routes to Buddhist holy shrines.
500 years of political decentralization in India (185 BCE- 320 CE)
Gupta Empire founded 320 CE
Indian Ocean Trade Monsoon winds Southeast Asia-India Dec.-April, Arabia-India, Aug.-Oct.
Turkish/Muslim domination of India 1000-1700 CE
India s Tªj Mahal Considered to be one of the world s most magnificent structures, the Tªj Mahal was under construction from around 1630 to around 1650. It was built by Shah Jahan as a memorial to his wife, who died in childbirth. It is located south of Delhi in gra, where the Mughal Empire (15261707) built its capital. Construction of this marble mausoleum drew artisans from far and wide, and it still attracts admirers today. This garden tomb is the finest example of the Islamic architecture of the 17th century.
HINDUISM
Main Beliefs 1. Belief in an impersonal force which is the eternal unity of the cosmos called Brahman. 2. Belief in the interconnectedness of all life and all things in the cosmos 3. Belief in reincarnation. People must fulfill their duty (dharma) in their caste in order to be reincarnated into a higher form. 4. Each person has a fate (karma). 5. The ultimate goal of a Hindu is for the soul to merge with the eternal oneness of the Cosmos.
Hindu Gods
Shiva dancing in a ring of fire
Shiva, Destroyer God
Vishnu, Preserver God
Brahma, Creator God
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Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
In India the Divine has often been perceived as feminine. Most all Hindu deities contain symbolism of opposites, creation/destruction, good/evil, dark/light. There are also images of hermaphrodites. Gods and goddesses who form a couple are divine because their sexuality is considered a divine, sacred force.
Hindu Goddesses
Laksmi, Wife of Vishnu
Sarasvati, wife of Brahma
Shiva and Parvati
Shiva and Parvati
Durga Slaying the Buffalo Ambika Mata Temple at Jagat, Rajasthan, 10th century.
Durga
Kali
Stories about Kali s Meaning She is a goddess who represents power, might, and vitality. She is a wild deity, with no stake in the orderly structures of society but is connected with destruction, blood, and death; She thrusts on her followers things they would rather not think about. In Hindu culture blood and corpses are handled in ritualized ways to purify them; The goddess Kali is one way in which Hindu tradition comes to terms with impure elements in life People worshiping her overcome fear and inhibitions and find energy in her wildness; she reminds followers certain aspects of reality are untamable; Her dreadful face, large fang teeth, disheveled hair, necklace of skulls, and lolling tongue are disgusting, but followers overcome their feelings of disgust by praying to her; Kali s bloodthirsty pursuit of death and destruction offer an ultimately liberating image if one can accept the dark and difficult sides of life one gains comfort and solace;
Kali
Women s Situation in India
BUDDHISM
Main Beliefs 1. 4 Noble Truths Revolve around the belief that suffering is caused by greed and egotism 2. 8-fold Path to Nirvana show love, compassion, joy and serenity in daily life, choose the right career, eliminate distractions, eliminate desires, and learn yoga and meditation 3. All people are equal and everyone has potential to be reborn and reach Nirvana 4. Women, as well as men, can remain celibate and become monks or nuns
Image of Buddha in Sri Lanka
Stone images of Buddha in Cambodia
Image of Buddha in Japan
Sikh Holy Place Hari Mandir, or the Golden Temple, is the most important shrine for followers of the Sikh religion. Located in Amritsar, a large city of the Punjab in northern India, the temple was built in the16th century and is said to have more than 100 kilograms (more than 220 pounds) of pure gold on its roof. Surrounded by numerous other religious buildings, the temple appears to float in a large, human-made lake known as the Pool of Immortality and is reached by a narrow causeway. Many Sikhs desire independence for Punjab, and the temple has been the site of several clashes between Sikhs and Indian government soldiers. Bullet holes may still be seen on its walls from a battle that occurred in 1984
The great 13th-century temple of Konª Sun Temple of Konªrka is in the tropical state of Orissa, along India s northeast seaboard near the Bay of Bengal. Conceived as a chariot for the god Surya, the Sun Temple has 24 gigantic stone wheels around its base. Seven straining horses appear to pull the immense structure. Before the sea receded, the temple was closer to the coast, and sailors could see its dark profile far out in the Bay of Bengal.
Cave Temples of Elephanta Island This early 8th-century religious sanctuary is a shrine to Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and regeneration. In Bombay Harbour, colossal sculptures 20 meters (66 feet) high of Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma the Hindu sacred triad adorn the caves carved out of solid rock on Elephanta Island.
Jain Temple With its glass mosaics and colorful stonework, the Sitambara Jain Temple in Calcutta is one of the most ornate religious centers in India. Built in 1867 in the northwest part of the city, the temple honors Sheetalnathji, tenth of the 24 Jain tithankars, or prophets. The Jain religion arose in India about 500 BC. Its followers believe in reincarnation but do not worship a deity, or divine being. Though the Jainist sect is relatively wealthy in India and has the financial means to construct large temples, it is not a large sect and has few followers outside the country. Jainists are strict vegetarians, and some monks even cover their mouths while walking to avoid accidentally swallowing an insect.
Delhi s Great Mosque To reach the enormous courtyard of the Jami Masjid, or Great Mosque, visitors must climb an imposing sweep of stairs. The elegant tomb, crowned by onion-shaped domes and framed by towering minarets, was built on an elevated site in Delhi from 1650 to 1656.
Peacemaking in Indian Civilization In Arthashastra by Kautilya there are six possible relationships between states: peace, war, neutrality, alliances, preparing for war, and making peace with one state while waging war against another. Peace processes are: peace with or without a promise, ruler of defeated group turned over or not, goods offered to winning side or not, and peace bought with a payment from losing side.
Modern Indian flag with emblem of a crest which symbolizes the Buddhist 8-fold Path as was seen atop an Asoka pillar
INDIA S CONTRIBUTIONS TO HUMANKIND
1. Hindu Texts called the Vedas written in Sanskrit 2. Epics of literature the Mahabaharata which contains the Bhagavad-Gita and the Ramayana 3. Math discovered during the Gupta Dynasty (400 AD) Algebra, Pi, the zero, and Arabic numerals invented in India and carried west by Arabs which prevailed in west by 1400 AD 4. Elegant Muslim architecture like the Taj Mahal, Hindu-Buddhist temples and stone carvings of gods and goddesses
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