Name: Ms. ZendrianDate: World History/Section __

Chapter 5: India’s First Empires

Section 1: Origins of Hindu India

Social Class in Ancient India Life in ancient India centered on the family

The Four Varnas Aryans believed that society was divided into four varnas or social groups Brahmins- religious Kshatriyas- warriors Vaisyas- commoners (merchants and farmers) Sudras- peasants and servants

Caste System In this system, every Indian was believed to be born into a caste, a social group defined

by occupation and family lineage Caste determined what jobs people could have, whom they could marry, and what groups

they could socialize with Lowest level of Indian society- Untouchables

Hinduism Aryan people in 1500 BC Vedas- collections of hymns and religious ceremonies Single force- Brahman Duty of individual to seek to know ultimate reality Practiced yoga Three chief gods: Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer Hindu temples

Principles of Hinduism Reincarnation Karma Dharma

Section 2: Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama Buddhism appeared in northern India in the 6th century Rival of Hinduism Founder- Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha- “Enlightened One”

Principles of Buddhism

Physical surroundings were illusions Pain, poverty, and sorrow that afflict human beings is caused by their attachment to the

things of this world Nirvana Four Noble Truths:

o Ordinary life is full of sufferingo This suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy ourselveso The way to end suffering is to end desire for selfish goals and to see others as

extensions of ourselveso The way to end desire is to follow the Middle Path

Middle Path

Section 3: The Mauryans and the Guptas

Three New Empires1. Persians- extended their empire into western India2. Greeks3. Macedonians

The Mauryan Empire New Indian state founded by Candragupta Maurya Ruled from 324- 301 BC Highly centralized empire Asoka- grandson of Candragupta

The Kushan Empire Current day Afghanistan Began by nomadic warriors Silk Road

The Empire of the Guptas Kushan kingdom came to an end in the third century- invaded by Persians Local prince- Candra Gupta Guptas created a golden age of Indian culture Serves as a model of excellence and has lasting value and relevance Engaged in trade with China, Southeast Asia, and the Mediterranean and also encouraged

trade in cloth, salt, and iron Cities famous for temples

Indian Accomplishments Literature

o Vedas o Mahabharatao Bhagavad Gitao Ramayanao The Cloud Messenger

Architectureo Pillaro Stupao Rock chamber o Burial mounds

Science and Mathematicso Astronomyo Aryabhata- most famous mathematician of the Gupta Empireo Introduced the concept of zero