Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Standard GS-1.4
Explain the impact of religion in classical
Indian civilization, including Hinduism and
the effects of its beliefs and practices on
daily life, changes that occurred as a result
of Buddhist teachings, and the influence of
religion on culture and politics.
Essential Question:
What were the effects of Hinduism and Buddhism
on the daily life, culture, and politics, of classical
Indian civilizations?
1. Indus River
2. Ganges River
3. Harappa
4. Mohenjo-Darro
5. Nepal
6. Pakistan
7. Indian Ocean
8. Sri Lanka
9. China
10. Himalaya
Mountains
Chapter 3 Key Terms
Term Definition
monsoon Seasonal wind pattern in southern
Sanskrit Writing system developed by the Aryans
raja Aryan prince or leader
Hinduism Religion of the majority of ; originated with the Aryans
ascetics People who practiced self-denial to achieve understanding of
ultimate reality
Silk Road Trade route that linked China to the Mediterranean Sea and made
the Kushan kingdom of India very prosperous
1. Caste system
a) a rigid set of social
classes
b) Determined one’s
occupation, economic
potential, and position
in society
c) Based, in part, on skin
color
C. Society in
Ancient India
(continued)
2. Untouchables
5% of India’s population
not treated as humans
and were separated from
the rest of society
Given menial and
degrading tasks such as
handling trash and
collecting dead bodies
D. Family in Ancient India
1. Extended family; patriarchal
a) Villages were run by a
headman and council of elders
2. Men
a) Could inherit property
b) Educated and served as priests
c) Could take a second wife if first
was infertile
3. Women
a) Marriages arranged by parents
a) Women were an economic burden
on their parents
b) Suttee required a wife to throw
herself onto her dead
husband’s flaming funeral pyre.
III. Hinduism and Buddhism
Religions of India Song
To the tune of “Mary had a Little Lamb”
India has 2 religions Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism
Hinduism and Buddhism rejects the caste system
Both believe in karma, dharma, They offer hope to all who
ahimsa, and reincarnation want to achieve nirvana
Through meditation a
person might achieve
enlightenment or
Nirvana: the union
with the universe and
release from the cycle
of rebirth.
Other Differences
Buddhism rejected the priests, formal
rituals, and existence of many gods
Buddhists rejected the caste system
offering hope of nirvana to all
Buddhism Spreads
It split into two major
schools of thought…
– Theravada: more like
Buddha’s original teachings,
main scriptures Tripitaka
– Mahayana: easier for
everyday people to follow,
and worshiped Buddha as
god, main scriptures Sutaras
IV. ANCIENT INDIAN EMPIRES
IV. ANCIENT INDIAN EMPIRES
Mauryan Empire Gupta Empire
Dates
Government
Who governed?
Economy
How did they gain
wealth?
Cultural
Developments
Literature,
architecture, science,
math?
A. Maurya Empire
1. Chandragupta Maurya was the founder
and ruled from 324-301BC.
a) Created a highly centralized state, divided
the empire into provinces, maintained order
through secret police.
b) He feared assassination so much that he
had secret passageways, taste-testers, and
women warriors for protection.
2. Asoka Maurya, Chadragupta’s
grandson, conquered most of the
Indian subcontinent through war and
violence.
a) Eventually he converted to Buddhism and is
considered the greatest Indian emperor.
i. He built hospitals, shelters for travelers, and
treated his people as his own children.
ii. Elephant Army Video
B. Kushan Kingdom
1. Silk Road = trade route that linked China to
Mesopotamia and Rome.
2. The Silk road helped the Kushan kingdom of
India become very prosperous in the first
couple of hundred years AD.
C. Gupta Empire
1. 320 AD a new Empire
emerged at the site of the old
Maurya capital, Pataliputra.
a. Golden Age of Indian civilization
b. Trade led to prosperous cities.
c. Religious pilgrims brought
wealth.
2. Eventually the Huns invaded in
the 5th century AD and the
empire collapsed.
D.
Achievements
and Culture