Persia and India

Geography and Culture

Early culturesEarly cultures Between 1000 and 500 B.C., some of Between 1000 and 500 B.C., some of

the greatest empires and civilizations the greatest empires and civilizations developed in Asia and the developed in Asia and the Mediterranean area.Mediterranean area.

– Each of them contributed to the culture Each of them contributed to the culture and learning of Western Civilization.and learning of Western Civilization.

Persia Persia was built on earlier Central Asian and

Mesopotamian civilizations.

It developed the largest empire in the world. It stretched from the Indus River in the east to the Nile and the Black

Sea in the west.

The Persian EmpireThe Persian Empire Persian kings ruled their empire with great Persian kings ruled their empire with great

skill:skill:

ToleranceTolerance (acceptance) of conquered people. (acceptance) of conquered people.– Allowed to speak their own language and practice their own religion. Allowed to speak their own language and practice their own religion.

Development of imperial Development of imperial bureaucracybureaucracy..– Divided empire into provinces and ruled each province through a Divided empire into provinces and ruled each province through a

governor, an army leader, and a tax collector. governor, an army leader, and a tax collector.

ZoroastrianismZoroastrianism as a religion. as a religion.– Prophet Prophet ZoroasterZoroaster taught that forces of light and darkness struggle taught that forces of light and darkness struggle

for the human soul.for the human soul.– At the end of time, those who choose light ascend to paradise, and At the end of time, those who choose light ascend to paradise, and

those who choose darkness descend to hell.those who choose darkness descend to hell.

Excellent road system.Excellent road system.– It allowed royal commands to reach all parts of the empire swiftly.It allowed royal commands to reach all parts of the empire swiftly.

The Greatest Persian The Greatest Persian Rulers:Rulers:

NebuchadnezzarNebuchadnezzar – the 2 – the 2ndnd Babylonian EmpireBabylonian Empire

Cyrus the GreatCyrus the Great – – conquered Babylon (built by conquered Babylon (built by Nebuchadnezzar)Nebuchadnezzar)

DariusDarius – unified the – unified the Persian empirePersian empire

Indian CivilizationIndian Civilization►Classical Indian civilization began in Classical Indian civilization began in

the Indus River Valley.the Indus River Valley.

► It spread to the Ganges River Valley, It spread to the Ganges River Valley, then through the Indian subcontinent.then through the Indian subcontinent.

► It continued with little interruption It continued with little interruption because of its geographical location.because of its geographical location.

Physical GeographyPhysical Geography• Physical barriers such as the Himalayas (to

the east), the Hindu Kush (to the north), and the Indian Ocean (to the south) made invasion more difficult.

• Mountain passes in the Hindu Kush provided invasion routes into the Indian subcontinent.

• The Indus and Ganges were the most important rivers in the Indian subcontinent.

Indo-Aryan InvasionsIndo-Aryan Invasions Around 1500 B.C., the Around 1500 B.C., the Indo-AryanIndo-Aryan people (nomads from people (nomads from

Central Asia) invaded the area. Central Asia) invaded the area.

The culture of natives gradually blended with that of the The culture of natives gradually blended with that of the Aryan conquerors. Aryan conquerors.

One result of this blend was One result of this blend was HinduismHinduism..

The Impact the Aryans Had on India:

Migration – assertion of dominance.

Rigid caste system (hereditary), which influenced all social interactions and choices of occupations.

It divides society into 4 classes based on ritual purity and occupation.

Caste System in India Brahmins (priests)

Kshatriya (warrior-nobles)

Vaishya (traders, artisans, farmers, herders)

Shudra (laborers)

Untouchables – outcastes. They were not even included in the caste system.

Gupta DynastyGupta Dynasty Until 321 B.C. much of India was ruled by foreign Until 321 B.C. much of India was ruled by foreign

invaders.invaders. Aryans, then Darius of Persia, and then Alexander the Great. Aryans, then Darius of Persia, and then Alexander the Great.

Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya was the first Indian to was the first Indian to unite and rule large areas of India.unite and rule large areas of India. In about 310 A.D., another ruler In about 310 A.D., another ruler Chandragupta IChandragupta I built an built an

empire that lasted for 200 years. empire that lasted for 200 years.

The The Gupta dynastyGupta dynasty created a created a golden agegolden age for for Indian classical culture:Indian classical culture: Contributions – mathematics (invented the zero), new Contributions – mathematics (invented the zero), new

textiles, literature.textiles, literature. HinduismHinduism was an important contribution of classical India. was an important contribution of classical India.

Still practiced in India today.Still practiced in India today.

Golden AgeGolden Age► During the Golden Age of classical Indian During the Golden Age of classical Indian

culture, Indian people made significant culture, Indian people made significant contributions to world civilizations.contributions to world civilizations.