A topical report

in
ASIAN STUDIES
(SST-105)

CHAPTER 7: INDIAN CIVILIZATION

Presented by:
AISA D. MACALIMBOL
DARWIN M. MATO
 INDIAN, means the culture and civilization that
spread from present-day Pakistan to the rest of South Asia,
even to Southeast Asia.

Indian civilization spread across the world, to

Cambodia (Kambuja in Sanskrit); in Java (Yava); and in
Sumatra. Indian traders established settlements in China,
in the Malayan peninsula, in Arabia, Egypt and Persia.
Through Persia and the Arabs the Indians became known to
the West.
LAND and PEOPLE

South Asia is the southern peninsula of the Asian

continent or the Indian subcontinent with these countries
(India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Himalayan kingdoms,
and Indian Ocean Islands).

The Indian subcontinent got its name from the Indus

valley civilization, one of the world oldest civilization.

Geography and climate have influenced the rise and fall

of civilization in Southern Asia.
The three Geographical factors :

1.) HIMALAYAS- isolate the Indian subcontinent from

the rest of Asia.

2.) RIVERS- the great rivers of the Ganges and Indus

shaped the foundations of early Indian civilization.

3.) KHYBER PASS- the Khyber Pass and the Indian

Oceans are the passageways for contact with the outside world.
 Climate is another important influence in Indian life.
Monsoon winds and the rains are a life-giving or life-
threatening part of life in South and Southeast Asia. The
Monsoon marks the seasons, wet or dry, hot or cold, planting
and harvesting, feast or famine.

South Asia is home to over one-fourth of world population

(over 1.5 million people), making the most densely populated
region in the world.
70% of the people to poverty, yet it has the 4th largest
economic market, due to a huge population.
EARLY HISTORY
From 5500 to 1300 an early Neolithic to bronze age
civilization developed around the Indus River in what is now
Pakistan, west India, and parts of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan
and Iran. Ruins of ancient cities such as Mohendro-Daro and
Harappa show that these ancient people built brick homes of
many stories, with sewers and drainage.

Three religions during this era: (HINDUISM, JUDAISM,

BUDDHISM)
HINDUISM-India’s main religion and one of the oldest
religion. They believed 300 million gods represent natural
forces and personified gods.
 Hindus believed Brahma as their chief god or the
(creator), Vishnu as the Lesser god or the (preserver) and Shiva
as the (destroyer). Nine versions of a divine mother: an
elephant god, a sun god, earth god, rat god, monkey god, etc.
Other beliefs concern herbal medicine (Ayurveda), yoga
(physical exercise), meditation, karma (destiny), reincarnation
( a cycle of giving births and deaths); Brahma, the creator and
source of true happiness. Some elements have entered the
stream of modern civilization as “new age” practices by a guru
(teacher), yogi (holy sage), swami, self motivational speaker,
or other groups.
A Hindu believes there are many paths to God. None is
better than any other; all are equal. The Rig Veda, the most
ancient of Hindu scripture says this: “Truth is One, but the
sages speaks of it by many names.”
THE VEDAS
Vedic literature reflects the life and culture of the
ancients Aryans of India, but it greatly affected Indian life.
Vedas consist of four literary works: Vedas, Brahmas,
Arankayas and Upanlshads handing down hymns, prayers,
rituals,

SANSKRIT EPICS
The two Sanskrit Epic were the Mahabharata and
Ramayana: they are also classics of world literature. The
Mahabharata (ca. 500 BC) is the longest epic poem. While
Ramayana is shorter and tells the story of Prince Rama, the
seventh reincarnation of the Hindu god Vishnu.
CASTE SYSTEM
It is divided people into caste or a class system, as
follows: Brahmin, the highest class of priests, scholars,
lawmakers, aristocrats, educators;
Soldiers, merchants, artists, farmers
Workers and slaves
“Untouchables”, “inferior to others and condemned to do
the dirtiest work; also called “dalit” from which Filipino
word for “poor” comes from.s
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