Ancient India
Why is the Geography of India unique?India is a subcontinent since the Himalayas mountains separate it from the rest of Asia. 2 rivers are fed by the melted snow from the Himalayas. These two rivers were the Indus and Ganges which made 2 very fertile valleys. India's first civilization was near the Indus River. Summer monsoons left the soil fertile. Their population then grew. Cities were well-planned and built. These cities had as many as 35,ooo people. Most of the civilians were farmers but the city people made tools, pottery, cotton cloth, jewelry, and toys.
What do the Hindus believe?The Hindus' religion is called Hinduism. They have 1000s of gods. They believe that they are monotheistic though; they believe that these 1000s of gods come from one universal spirit. This universal spirit is called Brahman. Ancient writings say that every living thing has a soul that wants to be reunited with Brahman. This is what happens when a person dies.
What do buddhists' believe?Buddha is said to be at first a prince called Siddhartha. Siddhartha left his wealth and family to find out why suffering was in the world. He sat under a fig tree for 49 days without food or water. Siddhartha believed that the only way to find truth about the world was to give up all desires. If a person did so, they would reach Nirvana. Nirvana is a state of mind.
Brahman StatueVideos |
What is the Caste system and what role did the Aryans play in it's development?Historians today believe that the Aryans developed the casts since the people in India during that time outnumbered them. In simple terms, there are 4 levels of the caste system. The 1st is the smallest group with the richest people. They are Priests and scholars. They are called the Brahmans. The 2nd level is made up of the Rulers, warriors, and landowners. They are called the Kshatriyas. The third level is made of the farmers and merchants.They are called Vaishyas. The people of the 4th and last group are called the Shudras. They are made up of Artisans and Laborers. There is another group of people called the Untouchables. They are not considered part of the caste. They have the dirtiest jobs handling things like trash, dead bodies, and sewage. They are usually homeless and in extreme poverty. When the Aryans made this caste system they placed the indian citizens in the lowest level. This system is still alive today. It's considered tradition and many of the upper class want to keep it.
Compare and Contrast Buddhism and Hinduism |