Ch. 24: The Cultural Ch. 24: The Cultural Geography of South AsiaGeography of South Asia

24-2 Notes: History & 24-2 Notes: History & GovernmentGovernment

Ch. 24: The Cultural Ch. 24: The Cultural Geography of South AsiaGeography of South Asia

Indian Society NotesIndian Society Notes

Early HistoryEarly History

The earliest S. Asians left few written The earliest S. Asians left few written recordsrecords– evidence of their achievements in evidence of their achievements in

building & building & tradetrade have been discovered. have been discovered.

Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley Civilization

Arose around 2500 B.C.Arose around 2500 B.C. Developed a Developed a writingwriting system, strong system, strong

central gov’t, and overseas tradecentral gov’t, and overseas trade They built possible first cities They built possible first cities

Mohenjo Daro & Mohenjo Daro & HarappaHarappa– Brick, sophisticated plumbingBrick, sophisticated plumbing

Civilization declined, maybe b/c of Civilization declined, maybe b/c of env’tal changes like droughts or env’tal changes like droughts or floodingflooding

The AryansThe Aryans

Hunters & herders called Aryans came Hunters & herders called Aryans came from the NW to settle in Indiafrom the NW to settle in India

Aryan society had 4 groups:Aryan society had 4 groups: Priests, warriorsPriests, warriors (or nobles), artisans & (or nobles), artisans &

farmersfarmers, and enslaved people , and enslaved people ((UntouchablesUntouchables))

The “The “CasteCaste” System” System It became more complex over time; no It became more complex over time; no

class mixingclass mixing From birth, people belonged to their social From birth, people belonged to their social

classclass

HinduismHinduism

Grew out of Aryan cultureGrew out of Aryan culture Expects everyone to carry out their Expects everyone to carry out their

dharmadharma, or moral duty, or moral duty Hindus believe in Hindus believe in reincarnationreincarnation until the until the

soul achieves perfectionsoul achieves perfection Law of Law of KarmaKarma—good deeds help a person —good deeds help a person

achieve perfection; evil deeds tie one to achieve perfection; evil deeds tie one to the endless wheel of rebirththe endless wheel of rebirth

Hindus worship thousands of gods & Hindus worship thousands of gods & goddesses, which are seen as different goddesses, which are seen as different forms of one eternal being (forms of one eternal being (BrahmanBrahman); ); some worship no gods.some worship no gods.

BuddhismBuddhism

Based on the teachings of Siddharta Based on the teachings of Siddharta GautamaGautama

During the 500’s B.C. let his family & During the 500’s B.C. let his family & riches to seek the true nature of human riches to seek the true nature of human existenceexistence

Known as the Known as the BuddhaBuddha, or “Awakened One” , or “Awakened One” he urged people to achieve happiness by he urged people to achieve happiness by working hard, thinking clearly, showing working hard, thinking clearly, showing compassion, & avoiding attachment to compassion, & avoiding attachment to material material thingsthings

If you could do all that, you could reach a If you could do all that, you could reach a state of insight, calm, & joy called state of insight, calm, & joy called NirvanaNirvana

A Marriage of InfluencesA Marriage of Influences

Buddhism rejected the caste systemBuddhism rejected the caste system It appealed to It appealed to lowerlower classes classes Spread from India to other countriesSpread from India to other countries Blended with local practicesBlended with local practices

Invasions & EmpiresInvasions & Empires After the Aryans, other invaders came After the Aryans, other invaders came

through the through the KhyberKhyber pass pass MauryanMauryan Empire— Empire—BuddhismBuddhism & &

nonviolencenonviolence GuptaGupta Empire— Empire—HinduHindu Civilization; Civilization;

technology, math, & the artstechnology, math, & the arts– Arabic numerals—later brought to Arabic numerals—later brought to EuropeEurope

by Arab tradersby Arab traders 1100’s—1100’s—MuslimMuslim forces— forces—MogulMogul Empire Empire

—converted many S.Asians to Islam—converted many S.Asians to Islam

Invasions & EmpiresInvasions & Empires

1500—Europeans arrived by sea1500—Europeans arrived by sea 1700’s the 1700’s the BritishBritish became the major became the major

European power in S. AsiaEuropean power in S. Asia– Referred to the empire as the British Referred to the empire as the British rajraj

(Hindi word for empire)(Hindi word for empire) British reconstructed the school British reconstructed the school

system, introduced the system, introduced the EnglishEnglish language, railroads, & civil service language, railroads, & civil service systemsystem

Modern South AsiaModern South Asia

IndependenceIndependence– Mohandas K. Mohandas K. GandhiGandhi

inspired Indians to protest inspired Indians to protest British rule by British rule by nonviolentnonviolent measuresmeasures

– Peaceful protests, Peaceful protests, boycotting British goodsboycotting British goods

– Wanted to end rigid social Wanted to end rigid social systemsystem

– Became known as Became known as Mahatma, or “Great Soul”Mahatma, or “Great Soul”

– Assassinated in 1948Assassinated in 1948

IndependenceIndependence

British India gained independence in 1947British India gained independence in 1947– Divided along religious linesDivided along religious lines– HinduHindu majority— majority—IndiaIndia– MuslimMuslim majority— majority—PakistanPakistan ( (East Pakistan-East Pakistan-today today

Bangladesh-Bangladesh- and West Pakistan); divided by and West Pakistan); divided by 1,000 miles of land1,000 miles of land

1948—1948—CeylonCeylon—independence from Britain; —independence from Britain; 1972 started using its ancient name— 1972 started using its ancient name— Sri Sri LankaLanka

1971—East & West Pakistan revolted—1971—East & West Pakistan revolted—BangladeshBangladesh established; west remained established; west remained PakistanPakistan

Indian SocietyIndian Society The The AryansAryans set up a social set up a social

institution in India that has institution in India that has lasted to this daylasted to this day

The The castecaste system system determined a person’s job, determined a person’s job, economic potential, and economic potential, and position in societyposition in society

Aryans were light skinned & Aryans were light skinned & looked down on the looked down on the darkerdarker skinned Indiansskinned Indians

Indians actually had a more Indians actually had a more advanced civilizationadvanced civilization

India’s Caste SystemIndia’s Caste SystemPriestsPriests BrahmansBrahmans In charge of religious In charge of religious

ceremoniesceremonies

WarriorsWarriors KshatriyasKshatriyas Families from other castes Families from other castes could move to the warrior could move to the warrior classclass

CommonersCommoners VaisyasVaisyas Merchants & FarmersMerchants & Farmers

PeasantsPeasants SudrasSudras Made up most of the Indian Made up most of the Indian population; manual labor; population; manual labor; limited rightslimited rights

Untouchables—considered to be BELOW the caste system.

Untouchables Untouchables (Dalits)(Dalits)

Had jobs no other Had jobs no other Indians wanted—Indians wanted—trashtrash collection, handling collection, handling the the deaddead

Not considered humanNot considered human Other castes thought Other castes thought

they were harmful to they were harmful to just be around; tapped just be around; tapped sticks so people new sticks so people new they were coming and they were coming and could avoid themcould avoid them

Indian SocietyIndian Society FamilyFamily was the basic unit of was the basic unit of

Indian societyIndian society Ideal to have Ideal to have 33 generations generations

living togetherliving together Families were Families were patriarchalpatriarchal; ;

only only malesmales could inherit could inherit property & were educatedproperty & were educated

Women couldn’t be priests, Women couldn’t be priests, divorce was forbidden, divorce was forbidden, children were supposed to children were supposed to take care of their aging take care of their aging parentsparents

Marriages—Marriages—arrangedarranged, girls , girls married young-considered married young-considered an economic drain on the an economic drain on the familyfamily

SutteeSuttee

Women were expected to throw Women were expected to throw themselves on their dead husbands themselves on their dead husbands funeral pyre and die herselffuneral pyre and die herself

Women who refused were disgracedWomen who refused were disgraced

Hinduism (Indian Society Notes)Hinduism (Indian Society Notes) Hinduism is the world’s Hinduism is the world’s oldestoldest organized religion organized religion BrahmanBrahman was a single force in the universe was a single force in the universe

– Each person’s goal was to try to “know” this ultimate being and Each person’s goal was to try to “know” this ultimate being and merge with him after deathmerge with him after death

ReincarnationReincarnation came along later came along later– After a number of existences, the soul could reach it’s final After a number of existences, the soul could reach it’s final

goal-union with Brahmangoal-union with Brahman KarmaKarma determines how one will be born in their next determines how one will be born in their next

life; what people do in their life; what people do in their currentcurrent life determines how life determines how they’ll be reborn in their next lifethey’ll be reborn in their next life

Hindu reincarnation justified the rigid caste system and Hindu reincarnation justified the rigid caste system and privileges of the upper classes; gave privileges of the upper classes; gave hopehope to the lower to the lower classes for a better next lifeclasses for a better next life

Other Hindu gods (forms of Brahman) Other Hindu gods (forms of Brahman) – Shiva Shiva (destructive & creative forces of the universe)(destructive & creative forces of the universe)– VishnuVishnu (preserver of the universe) (preserver of the universe)

BuddhismBuddhism

Also began in India around the 500’s Also began in India around the 500’s B.C.B.C.

Based on the teacher of Siddharta Based on the teacher of Siddharta Gautama, known as the Gautama, known as the BuddhaBuddha or or Awakened One.Awakened One.

The story of Buddha……The story of Buddha……

Holy Man or Great Holy Man or Great World LeaderWorld Leader

– SicknessSickness– Old ageOld age– DeathDeath– MonkMonk

BuddhismBuddhism

He wanted to find the true meaning He wanted to find the true meaning of of lifelife

Practiced intense meditationPracticed intense meditation While sitting under a While sitting under a treetree, he , he

reached enlightenment about the reached enlightenment about the meaning of lifemeaning of life

Spent the rest of his life preaching Spent the rest of his life preaching what he had what he had learnedlearned..

BuddhismBuddhism

Buddha said pain, poverty, and Buddha said pain, poverty, and sorrow people face is based on their sorrow people face is based on their attachment to attachment to materialmaterial things in the things in the worldworld

Buddhists want to ultimately reach Buddhists want to ultimately reach nirvananirvana, an ultimate reality and a , an ultimate reality and a reunion with the Great World Soulreunion with the Great World Soul

4 4 NobleNoble Truths Truths

Ordinary life is full of sufferingOrdinary life is full of suffering Suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy Suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy

ourselvesourselves The way to end suffering is to end desire The way to end suffering is to end desire

for selfish goals and to see others as for selfish goals and to see others as extensions of ourselvesextensions of ourselves

End desire by following the Middle Path End desire by following the Middle Path (also known as the (also known as the EightfoldEightfold Path) Path)– Eightfold Path called for a life of morality, Eightfold Path called for a life of morality,

wisdomwisdom, and concentration, and concentration

BuddhismBuddhism

Buddhism accepted the idea of Buddhism accepted the idea of reincarnation, but rejected the Hindu reincarnation, but rejected the Hindu castecaste system. system.

He believed all people could reach He believed all people could reach nirvana based on their behavior in nirvana based on their behavior in THIS life.THIS life.

Buddhism reject the large number of Buddhism reject the large number of godsgods and complexity of Hinduism and complexity of Hinduism

BuddhismBuddhism

Buddha forbade his followers from Buddha forbade his followers from worshipping either him or his image worshipping either him or his image after he after he dieddied..

Buddhism, more of a Buddhism, more of a philosophyphilosophy and and not a religionnot a religion

Buddhist monasteries are places Buddhist monasteries are places where where monksmonks can live a simple life in can live a simple life in the pursuit of wisdomthe pursuit of wisdom