Of the five major religions; Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism,
Islam, Judaism place in chronological order in which
they first appeared
http://www.mapsofwar.com/ind/history-of-religion.html
•
Aryans
• 2000 B.C. – 1500 B.C.
• Migrated to the Indian
Subcontinent from
Europe
•
Aryans settled and gave up
their nomadic ways
•
Created a civilization
around the Indus and
Ganges Rivers
http://www.mrsk.net/harappan%20civilization.html
• Vedas- hymns, chants,
religious teachings which
helped us understand the
Aryans
• Nomadic herders
• Warriors on chariots
• Loved food, drink and
dice games
http://veda.wikidot.com/hinduism
• Polytheistic
– Gods & Goddesses embodied natural forces
• Indra (God of war)
• Varuna (God of order and creation)
• Agni (God of fire & the messenger)
Aryan Religion started to change….
Brahman
A single spiritual power that resided
in all things and was above the gods
of the Vedas
Mystics
Seek direct communication with
divine beings through meditation &
yoga
Aryans started to encounter other
people and their traditions/culture
The cultures started blend which is
called acculturation
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/tag/population-genetics/
Stories helped blend the cultures
Together
Mahabharata
Epic battle over the Ganges
River
Moral lesson: Importance of
duty over personal desires &
ambitions
http://www.indianetzone.com/2/lord_indra.htm
Ramayana
The fantastic deeds of Rama
& his wife Sita
Moral lesson: virtue &
loyalty
Apply the five themes of geography to the
Indus and Aryan Civilizations
Relative Location
India Subcontinent,
Southern Asia
Place
Mountains, Rivers, Plateaus
Polytheistic, Farmers,
Traders
Movement
Walking, Boat, Nomads at
first
Human Environment
Interaction
Farming
Region
Himalayan Mountain
Region, India
First organized religion
http://eslsocialstudiesexploratorium.blogspot.com/2010/12/aim-what-are-origins-of-hinduism-and.html
Brahman-the one true god, supreme spirit
• Present in all creations
• Formless
• Concrete forms of Brahman
• Brahma, the creator
• Vishnu, the preserver
• Shiva, the destroyer
6. Moksha
5. Death
Moksha is the main goal of
existence (Heaven)
• Union with Brahman
• Cannot be achieve in one
lifetime
• Reincarnation- rebirth
of soul in another
bodily form
1. Reincarnation
3. Karma
• To help achieve goal one
must obey the laws of Karma
• All actions of a person’s
life affects his or her fate in
the next life
• Wheel of Fate---continuous
reincarnation
Escaping the Wheel of Fate
• Dharma- Religious and moral
duties of an individual
6. Moksha
5. Death
• Ahimsa- Practice of non violence
1. Reincarnation
4. Ahimsa
2. Dharma
3. Karma
Scriptures
• Vedas
• Epic Stories
• Other literature
Hindu Caste System
http://akarlin.com/2012/08/14/the-puzzle-of-indian-iq-a-country-of-gypsies-and-jews/