Hinduism
Early Indus River Valley
Civilizations:
http://www.flocabulary.com/ancientindia
• Decline started around
1750 BCE
• Not sure how civilization actually ended
• Think that river changed course or that the land
was over grazed
• A natural disaster may have forced the Indus
people to flee
• Also possible that new invaders known as Aryans
contributed to the end of the Indus Civilization
India after the Aryan Invasions
• India goes from
classless to caste
system
• Caste System-rigid
social classes – tied to
religion
• Aryans expected nonAryans to do worst
jobs
Origin/Founder
Hinduism is a collection of religious
beliefs that developed over time.
Unlike other religions, Hinduism can
not be traced to one founder
with a single set of ideas.
Holy Books
Vedas - collection of
hymns and prayers
Upanishads - are written
as discussion between
student and teacher. They
explore how a person can
get rid of desires and
suffering and reach
moksha.
Basic Beliefs
Henotheistic –
all gods are part
of Brahman (the
supreme god)
Major god(s)
- Brahman - Supreme God
- Creates, maintains, destroys, and recreates the universe (cycle)
- Everything is a part of Brahman
including atman, or the human soul
Other Gods
- Believe all gods are all an
aspect of Brahman
- Vishnu
- Shiva
- Brahma
Important Traditions/Customs
Dharma - Holy duty or moral
responsibility
- “The right thing to do”
1.Important Traditions/Customs
Karma: - the total of good and bad
actions
- ones good/bad actions will affect
their placement into their next life
Basic Beliefs
Reincarantion
(“samsara”)– the process
of an individual soul or
spirit being born again
Basic Beliefs
Moksha –
Goal of a Hindu’s life
- Released from
reincarnation and
united with Brahman
Important Traditions/Customs
Caste System- reinforced through
Karma and reincarnation
- your caste would determine all
aspects of life
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j31veR74gSo
Important Traditions/Customs
Brahmins/
Priests
Kshatriyas/
Rulers & Warriors
Vaishyas/
Peasants & Traders
Shudras/
Laborers
Untouchables
Important Traditions/
Customs
-Pilgrimage to the Ganges river to
cleanse or purify them.
Many holidays and festivals (Divali, Holi,
Where is Hinduism today?
- Mostly stayed in India
- Some in SE Asia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzLCIMKv17k
Crash Course
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nn5uqE3
C9w&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mod
e=1&safe=active
• India: Vedas, caste system, dharma,
reincarnation, buddhism, four noble truths,
eightfold path, asoka
Buddhism
Origins
Siddhartha Gautama is the
founder of Buddhism (563-483
B.C.)
Originated in India
Basic Beliefs
Reincarnation was the cycle of
rebirth until one reached nirvana
Nirvana/Enlightenment - release
from selfishness and pain
Holy Texts
Four Noble Truths - explained what
he discovered in his enlightenment,
how to end suffering.
Eightfold Path - how you achieve
enlightenment
1)
2)
3)
4)
4 Noble Truths
Everything in life is
suffering.
The cause of all suffering
is people’s selfish desire
for the temporary
pleasures of this world.
The way to end suffering
is to end all desires
The way to overcome
such desires and attain
enlightenment is to
follow the Eightfold Path,
which is called the
Middle Way between
desires and self-denial
Major Gods
Rejects the idea of many gods
Some sects believe that Buddha
was a god
Important Traditions/Customs
Sangha - religious community of
Buddhist monks and nuns
Rejected the Caste System
Many followers were laborers and
craftspeople.
Where is Buddhism today?
Missionaries spread Buddhism
throughout Asia (China, Japan, Korea)
Was not widely accepted in India
because of the rejection of the caste
system
Yahweh
Torah
Moksha
Caste System
Solomon
India
Vedas
Asia
Aryans
Ten Commandments
Canaan
Covenants
Moses
Nirvana
Eightfold Path
Abraham
David
Polytheistic
Karma
Monotheistic
Four Noble Truths
Israel
Brahman
Upanishads
Vedas
Caste System
Anatolia
Trade
City-states
India
Minotaur
Peace treaty
with Egypt
Mediterranean Sea
Pottery
Iron Weapons
Phonetic
Alphabet
Labyrinth
Crete
King Minos
Chariots
Pre-Greek
Purple Dye