India
Early Indian Civilization
Hinduism
Family in Ancient India
Common Myths about India
Reincarnation- the belief that the soul is reborn after death.
- after several rebirths one should find total peace and happiness and not be reborn again
Karma- the force built up by a persons actions will determine how they will be reborn or how the "universe" will respond to them.
Dhrama - All people should do their duty. Those of higher status should be able to do more then those of the lower classes.
"the divine law"
Ideally each has had about 3 generations living together
Patriarchy - Oldest Male was in charge of making decisions
Only males could inherit property
Only males were educated
Husband could take second wives
Marriages were arraigned
Suttee- When a dead husband was being cremated, burned alive, it was the job of the wife to throw herself on the the fire and die along with her husband.
Indian Geography
Ancient India
Buddhism
Principles
1. Ordinary Life is suffering
2. Suffering is our desire to satisfy ourselves
3. We can end the suffering by helping others
4. Follow the middle path
- Middle Path
1. Right View
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
Indian Caste System
India had/has a very rigid social structure called the Caste System.
You are born into a social group and you cannot move out of that group.
1. Brahmans - top of the social scale, in charge of religious ceremonies
2. Kshatriya- warrior class
3. Vaisyas - common people - merchants, teachers, artists
4. Sudras- bulk of population - peasants/ labors
5. Untouchables - the lowest class given the worst job and literally thought as less than human.
The Indian Subcontinent is a triangle shaped piece of land that hands from the southern ridge of Asia
Has a wide variety of landforms and geographic regions
The primary feature of India's climate is the Monsoon, a seasonal wind pattern that blows in warm air southwest bring a lot of rain, and then a cooler are from the northeast during winter.
India is currently the worlds Largest Democracy in terms of population
It is one of the worlds largest consumer of natural resources
Emerged in India between 3000 and 1500 BCE
Flourished in the Indus River Valley
Rulers based their power on a mix of Religion and Political influence
Economy based on the farming of wheat, barley, peas