Vedic India
I. Stage One: Early Vedic Age, 1500-1000 BCE
II. Stage Two: Later Vedic Age, 1000-500 BCE
III. Stage Three: Hinduism & Early Buddhism,
after 500 BCE
IDs: Brahmans, karma, Mahavira, Siddhartha
Gautama (the Buddha), d. 483 BCE
Argument
The Vedic religion provided a united identity for
people in north India. It began as a tribal faith
which emphasized sacrifice and evolved into
an ethical religion - Hinduism – around 500
BCE.
Indus River Civilization (3500-2000
BCE)
India
Pakistan
Bangladesh
Himalaya Mtns.
Punjab
2000-1600 BCE: Crisis &
collapse of Indus River
Culture
Vedic Nomads Invade, ca. 1500 BCE
• Indo-European
• Vedic peoples
(Aryans)
• Dravidians
Vedic Age, 1500500 BCE
I. Stage 1: Early Vedic Age, 1500-1000 BCE
A. History
Vedic People brought
• Horses
• Chariots
• Iron tools & weapons
Settled Ganges River Valley
• Pastoral  agricultural
• Villages & no cities
B. Caste (varna) in early Vedic Age
brahman
kshatriyas
vaisyas
Shudras
C. Religion in early Vedic Age
•
•
•
•
•
Brahmans
Vedas
Sanskrit
Rig Veda, ca. 1500 BCE
Indra
Emphasis on Sacrifice
•
•
•
•
Proper rituals
Sacrifices to gods
Cosmic order
Brahmans
II. Stage 2: Late Vedic Age (1000-500
BCE)
A. History
Many small states
Rajas
Growth of towns
B. Caste System Develops
Jatis/sub-castes
outcastes/
untouchables
purity
C. New religious ideas from late Vedic
Age
• karma
• transmigration of souls
(reincarnation)
• dharma
Philosophy & Written Texts
Upanishads (700 BCE)
Brahman
atman
III. Stage 3: Hinduism
“Spiritual Age”: 6th -4th c. BCE
A. Mahavira
Jainism
Asceticism
Non-violence
B. Dissatisfaction with Brahman
leadership: Popular texts
• Mahabharata (written
down 200 BCE)
• Bhagavad Gita
• Krishna
• Arjuna
C. Early Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama (c.
563 – 483 BCE)
the Buddha (the
Enlightened One)
Ganges
Bodhi tree (bo)
Four Truths
1.Life is full of suffering.
2.Suffering is caused by desires.
3.The only way to rise above suffering is to
renounce desire.
4.One can only do this by following Noble
Eightfold Path.
Goals
rid self of desire & the illusion of separate
identity
reach nirvana (contentment and extinction)
By following Noble Eightfold Path
The Buddha’s Footprints
Limestone carving on
stupa, India
1st c. BCE
Sangha (Order)
• monks
• nuns
The Three Jewels
“I go for refuge to
the Buddha.
I go for refuge to
the Doctrine
(dharma).
I go for refuge to
the Order
(sangha).”
D. Religious Changes in South Asia (in
Hinduism)
Emergence of Popular
Cults
• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Krishna
Development of Vedic Religion into Hinduism
Stage One
1500 – 1000 BCE
Early Vedic Religion
Stage Two
(1000 BCE – 600 BCE)
History: Tribal
organization,
migration into north
India, settlement,
domination by
Brahmins & kshatriya
History: Many small
states governed by
kshatriya; growth of
towns
Text: Rig Veda
Religion: elaboration of
caste system, karma,
reincarnation, dharma
Religion: Brahmins
(priests), sacrifice,
caste, obedience
Human Needs:
Identity (caste)
Security
Text: Upanishads
Human Needs:
Identity
Security
Answers
Stage Three
(600 BCE – 500
BCE)
Hinduism &
Buddhism
History:
Dissatisfaction,
towns, trade
Texts:
Mahabharata,
Ramayana
Religion:
Mahavira & nonviolence; Buddha
& 4 Noble Truths
Human Needs:
Answers
Personal
Connection