Enduring Impacts of India

By Jessica

Geography and Early India

India’s geography has high mountains, great rivers, and heavy rain. Indian civilization was first developed on the Indus River Valley.

Ancient societies

The highest mountain in the world is the Himalayas and is located in north India, this separated it with the rest of Asia. Page 124

In ancient India the Indus River Valley was were the Harappan Civilization was settled. When the Civilization ended the Aryans took power over the Indus River Page 126-127

Early India Vocabulary

Subcontinent- a large landmass that is smaller (page 124)

Monsoons- seasonal wind patterns that cause wet and dry seasons(page 125)

Sanskrit- the most important language of ancient India. (page 129)

Origins of Hinduism

When the Aryan society grew more complex, they were divided into the caste system. The Aryans practiced a religion known as Brahmanism.

The Caste System

Caste system- divided Indian society into groups based on a person’s birth, wealth, or occupation.

(Page 131)

Origins of Hinduism Vocabulary

Hinduism- the largest religion in India today (Page 133)

Reincarnation-the processof rebirth (Page 133)

Karma- the effects that good or bad actions have on a person’s soul (Page 134)

Jainism- was based on the teachings of a man named Mahavira (Page 135)

Nonviolence- or the avoidance of violent actions (Page 135)

Origins of Buddhism

Buddhism spread far from where it began in India. The teachings of Buddhism deal with finding peace. It became a major religion.

(Page 136-141)

Origins of Buddhism Vocabulary

Fasting- going with out food(Page 137) Meditation- the focus of the mind on spiritual ideas(Page 137) Nirvana- a state of perfect peace(Page 138) Buddhism- a religion based on the teachings of a Buddha.(Page 138) Missionaries- people who work to spread their religious beliefs.(Page 140)

Indian Empires

The two greatest empires of India were the Mauryan and Gupta Empire. They both built great empires in India. The Mauryan used war elephants and thousands of chariots.

(Page 142-145)

Asoka

Asoka was king of Mauryan Empire. He was the strongest of all. In conquering other kingdoms, he made his own empire both stronger and richer.

After Asoka died the empire soon began to fall apart. India divides into smaller states again(Page 143)

Gupta Society

India became divided for about 500 years.

Buddhism continued to spread and Hinduism declined

The empire soon took over and spread.

(Page 144-145)

Indian Achievements

Ancient India made great contributions to the arts and science. They created works of religious art, they created the Sanskrit literature, made scientific advances in metalworking, and medicine.

(Pages 147-151)

Indian Achievements Vocabulary

Metallurgy- the science of working with metal

Alloys- mixture of two or more metals

Hindu-Arabic numerals- the number we use today.

Inoculation- injecting a person with a small dose of a virus to help him or her build up defenses to a disease.

Astronomy- the study of stars and planets

Review Questions

Where did Harappan civilization develop? How was Aryan society different from

Harppan society? What was the caste system? What role did missionaries play in spreading

Buddhism? Who was the Buddha? What happened after Asoka became a

Buddhist?