7.6 India’s
Empires
WWBAT draw similarities between the progressions of development
in India to other civilizations we have studied this year. (Reason for
permanency of settlement, form of government)
WWBAT describe how the caste system in India works as a point of
contrast between India and other civilizations (introduction to lesson
7.8 – Religion and Culture)
A brief history
(sequenced notes on a
timeline would be a good
strategy)
What should we know by the
end of class?
India was established along 2 river valleys and in
a moderate region (climate-wise) with a variety of
resources
Indians used irrigation and division of labor to
establish large population centers
India’s organization and success was managed
early on by a series of dynasties
India is different from other civilizations we have
studied because of the origins of their social class
system (in their religion – covered more in lesson
7.8)
Diagram social class (caste) system for India.
What should my notes look like
by the end of class?
3300 BCE:
Farmers in
small
agricultural
communitie
s settle in
Indus River
Valley
500 BCE: Nomads
and their cows
chillin’ by the rivers
1600 BCE:
climate
change in
the Indus
R.V.
200 BCE-300 CE:
Things get pretty
cray #bullyingsucks
321 BCE: Dynastic
Power helps India
get baller-status
#Who’s more Epic?
Chandragupta or
A.T.G.?
300-500 CE: Gupta
Dynasty (Egypt and
Greece have
already fallen to
Rome, Mayans
established on the
Yucatan Penninsula)
Drawing of a social class pyramid
Reminds me of/Questions I have…
Geography: Where would early
Nomads settle?
Two main rivers
1. Ganges
2. Indus
Harappan Civilization
3300 BCE to 1600 BCE
Two major cities:
1. Harappa (we don’t know how to
read Harappan writing, so everything
we know about them is
INFERENCE
-BASED!
Mohenjo-Daro
Means “Mound of the
Dead” in Sanskritwriting of Indus Valley
civilization
-Similar to Harappa,
but located 400 miles
away
CHALLENGE
Without being able to read their
writing, how do you think we know
about the Harappan’s way of life?
The Aryans
‘Nobel Ones’ in
sanskrit language
1500-500 BCE
1500 B.C.E. Harappan civilization
collapses due to hurricanes and floods
The Aryans who herded cows in central
Asia move in and start agriculture!
Cattle were VERY important to the
Aryans. They provided food, milk, and
were even used as money!
HOLY COW! (no…really.)
When the Aryans moved to India,
they were no longer nomads.
They began to farm and raised
cows.
Eventually, the Aryans declared
that COWS WERE SACRED
and forbid them to be eaten as
food.
What does Sacred mean?
Dynasties:
how do families get power?
India’s first empire was built by
Chandragupta Maurya
He founded the Mauryan
dynasty in 321 B.C.E.
Who was emperor of Greece at
this time?
Alexander the Great!
Chandragupta’s empire had….
A good spy system!
A postal system!
A strong army!
A very well organized government!
I can’tContinues
believe I’ve
Mauryan Dynasty
killed all these people. I
Why do we kill
other people?!
am THIS
sickened
by my
IS
This is the
AWFUL!! From this
actions.
dumbest thing
Everyone
ever! Good
grief.
Son
of Chandragupta
moment
on, I will follow
is dead!
Ashoka (269-231 BC)
teachings
of the
used violence totheexpand
India
Buddha.
Asoka: India’s first Buddhist King
Gave up warfare.
Built hospitals, better roads so people
could trade, shelters for travelers
And he sent Buddhist teachers
throughout India to spread the word.
HOW did they travel?
The best part….
Even though Asoka was a Buddhist,
he allowed Hindus to practice their
religion too.
This is awesome!!
We all get religious
freedom to practice
whatever we
believe!!!
Buddhists
Hindus
The Gupta Empire ~300 -500 CE
Mauryaun Empire fell India split
• After
into different kingdoms.
• 500 years for fighting for power and
control
Gupta dynasty lasted 230 years
• The
and brought peace and great
achievements to India
Achievements of the Gupta Empire
✦ Universities
✦ Literature
✦ Painting/Sculpture
✦ Metalwork
✦ Mathematics
✦ Roads
India Today
“GO FORTH IN PEACE AND DON’T FORGET TO STUDY!”