Ancient+India

=Ancient India =

3000 B.C. - A.D. 500
media type="custom" key="11397246"

==="By order of the Beloved of the Gods (Asokka) to the officers in charge; Let us win the affection of all people. All people are my children, and as I wish all welfare and happiness in this world and rest for my own children..." -B.G. Gokale===





media type="youtube" key="QCxcq2uxTFM" height="315" width="420"

__**5 Key Terms**__

 * 1) **Sanskrit**: Ancient Aryan language of India in which scriptures and classical indian poems are written, created in 1000 BC and is still used by some today.
 * 2) **Caste System**: Social system in which classes are determined through heredity. For example there is the Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras and lastly the Untouchables.
 * 3) **Hinduism**: Major religious and cultural practice of India, also the oldest religion in the world and was created by the beliefs of Vedas and the Aryans.
 * 4) **Karma**: The sum of a persons actions which effect that persons exsistence in their next life. This belief is the basis for their social system in India.
 * 5) **Buddhism**: Widespread religion or philosophy which was started by Sidhartha Guatama who was said to have achieved enlightenment and his teachings are still studied.

__**5 Most Important People**__

 * 1) **Sidharta Guatama-** A man that claimed he could see the world with new eyes now that he was "awake". He would meditate for days and had many followers that studied his teachings.
 * 2) **Ashoka-** The greatest ruler of Ancient India, he used Buddhist values in his laws and trade grew during his reign. He not only a great ruler but a kind one; he tried to not only improve his country but improve the lives of the people living in it.
 * 3) **Chandragupta Maurya-** His reign was 324-301 BC and during this time he divided India into provinces run by governors and he established a secret police to watch over their doings.
 * 4) **Darius-** In 500 BC, the Persian king conquered the Indus Valley and he added it to his territory as a new Persian province that included the Indus river.
 * 5) **Alexander the Great-** In 327 BC he invaded Northwestern India on a quest for riches, but left soon after. This was prior to the first dynasty in India.

India is composed of many regions. These regions include mountain ranges, river valleys, plateaus, and fertile coastal planes. In the north of India, the Himalaya, which is the highest mountain range in the world, is located. South of the Himalaya is the Ganges River valley. West of that is the Indus River valley, which is actually a dry plateau. However, in the times of Ancient India, the Indus River moderated their climate and was a main source of civilization for the citizens. South of the Ganges and the Indus rivers, the Deccan, a plataeau, is located. The monsoon, which is a wind pattern dependent on seasons, is one of the most important things to India's climate. Two major cities in Ancient India were Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. Civilizations were big in these cities for hundreds of years. Much like the Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilizations, government and power in Ancient India were based on divine assistance. The Indus Valley also traded with several city-states in Mesopotamia. Eventually, the Aryans invaded and took over the Indus River valley, which brought this civilization to an end. In 1000 BC, the Aryans created the writing system known as Sanskrit. The Aryans also brought their caste system, which separated people according to their social class. The most important in that system were the Brahmans, followed by the Kshatriyas, followed by the Vaisyas, followed by the Sudras, and the lowest social class, the Untouchables.

Hindu beliefs were started by the Aryan people after 1500 BC. This is shown by the Vedas, or hymns written and passed down by the Aryan people. Reincarnation became apparent in Hinduism by sixth century BC. Another important belief was karma, which is the belief that actions determine what the person's life will be like in their next life. It is ruled by dharma, the divine law. Also by sixth century BC, Buddhism became apparent in northern India. It was founded by Siddhartha Gautama, known as Buddha ("Enlightened One"). When Buddha became aware of the of the pain in others, he spent most of his time finding the cure for this pain and suffering, and the true meaning of life. He eventually became enlightened, spent the rest of his life teaching this enlightenment, and these teachings became the principals of Buddhism. These principals became known as the Four Noble Truths.

After 400 BC, the west had threatened India multiple times. First by Persia, followed by the Greeks and Macedonians. Macedonian king, Alexander the Great, came to India in 327 BC and eventually controlled a large part of India. Chandragupta Maurya founded a new Indian state in the Ganges Valley. It flourished during the reign of Asoka, but fell after his death. Many new kingdoms formed along modern day Afghanistan. The Kushan kingdom was formed and the Kushans prospered from the trade that was shipped along the Silk Road between Rome and China. The Kushan kingdom fell when Persia invaded it in third century AD. India has a varying culture that has many great works in literature, architecture, science, and almost every cultural field there is.

Timeline for this Era:

 * 3000 BC:** Indus River valley civilization begins
 * 1500 BC:** Aryans invade India
 * 1000 BC:** Aryans begin composing the Vedas
 * 563 BC:** Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) is born
 * 500 BC:** Buddhism develops
 * 480 BC:** Buddha dies
 * 301 BC:** Chandragupta Maurya dies
 * 232 BC:** Asoka dies
 * 100 AD:** Silk Road connects China and Mesopotamia
 * 320 AD:** Gupta kingdom begins


 * To Learn More:**
 * [|Buddhism]**
 * [|Ancient India]**
 * [|Ancient India for Kids]**
 * [|Hinduism]**
 * [|Sanskrit]**