Indian Religions
THE INDIAN RELIGIONS
The Indus Valley Civilization
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa (2500 – 1500 B.C.)
- trade, commerce, domestic, sewage system, drainages, buildings, establishments, streets, paved roads, fortresses, urban planning, infrastructure, peaceful civilizations
- indigenous Indian people – Dravidian, language – Dravidian or Indo-Aryan
- declined between 1800 – 1700 B.C.E., possibly due to the effects of flooding and drought
- Aryan (‘Noble Ones’) Invasion/Migration
- nomadic tribe located in Asian Steppes in Central Asia, engaged in warfare
- language – Dravidian – Indo-European, Sanskrit
- became the dominant culture in India, especially in Ganges Plain
- Veda/s – religious literature
- Four Classes in the Society (The first three were twice born. They are males who underwent initiation to adulthood – Upanayana.)
1. Brahmans – priests
2. Kshatriya – warriors-nobles
3. Vaishya – commoners/merchants
4. Sudra – serfs/slaves
The Vedic Period (1500 – 500 B.C.)
Four Books
1. Rig Veda – origins of the world and the society in terms of sacrifice. (Sacrifice and dismemberment of the giant Purusa: mouth – Brahmans, arms – Kshatriyas, thighs – Vaishyas, feet – Sudra)
2. Sama Veda – liturgical collection of melodies
3. Yajur Veda – guidebook of prayers and rituals
4. Atharva Veda – spells and charms
Indian Empires
1. Mauryan Empire (321 – 232 B.C.)
- northeastern part of India
- capital: Pataliputra
- Chandragupta Maurya
- centralized government, districts and provinces
- paved roads of cities, irrigation system
- converted to Jainism
- Asoka
- policies of religious tolerance
- diplomacy
- government programs
- territorial expansion
- Other contributions of the empire
- ‘Sacred Kingship’ – ‘ruler of the universe’ – Chakravartin
- Fall – Asoka died in 232 B.C., successors failed to keep the empire intact. Some kingdoms wanted to break free from the empire. Mongolians and Persians invaded the empire.
2. Guptan Empire (320 B.C.
The Indus Valley Civilization
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa (2500 – 1500 B.C.)
- trade, commerce, domestic, sewage system, drainages, buildings, establishments, streets, paved roads, fortresses, urban planning, infrastructure, peaceful civilizations
- indigenous Indian people – Dravidian, language – Dravidian or Indo-Aryan
- declined between 1800 – 1700 B.C.E., possibly due to the effects of flooding and drought
- Aryan (‘Noble Ones’) Invasion/Migration
- nomadic tribe located in Asian Steppes in Central Asia, engaged in warfare
- language – Dravidian – Indo-European, Sanskrit
- became the dominant culture in India, especially in Ganges Plain
- Veda/s – religious literature
- Four Classes in the Society (The first three were twice born. They are males who underwent initiation to adulthood – Upanayana.)
1. Brahmans – priests
2. Kshatriya – warriors-nobles
3. Vaishya – commoners/merchants
4. Sudra – serfs/slaves
The Vedic Period (1500 – 500 B.C.)
Four Books
1. Rig Veda – origins of the world and the society in terms of sacrifice. (Sacrifice and dismemberment of the giant Purusa: mouth – Brahmans, arms – Kshatriyas, thighs – Vaishyas, feet – Sudra)
2. Sama Veda – liturgical collection of melodies
3. Yajur Veda – guidebook of prayers and rituals
4. Atharva Veda – spells and charms
Indian Empires
1. Mauryan Empire (321 – 232 B.C.)
- northeastern part of India
- capital: Pataliputra
- Chandragupta Maurya
- centralized government, districts and provinces
- paved roads of cities, irrigation system
- converted to Jainism
- Asoka
- policies of religious tolerance
- diplomacy
- government programs
- territorial expansion
- Other contributions of the empire
- ‘Sacred Kingship’ – ‘ruler of the universe’ – Chakravartin
- Fall – Asoka died in 232 B.C., successors failed to keep the empire intact. Some kingdoms wanted to break free from the empire. Mongolians and Persians invaded the empire.
2. Guptan Empire (320 B.C.