Indian Trade
-Domestic trade by foreign travelers
-Dehli was the center of major trade
-Their exports far exceeded their imports in number of items and volume
-This gave them great wealth
-Used the Red sea and Mediterranean ports
-Arab traders shipped Indian goods to European countries
-Their arts and crafts were unmatched for their beauty and skill
-Silk Road..a trade route that allowed many different regions to gain access to goods
-Extended 4000 miles long
-Most popular trade item traded for was the silk from the Chinese
Danger of Silk Road
-passed through mountain peaks, deserts, plains, and forests
-the mountains were the highest in the world
-only high goods would be worth the time of trade travel
-the precious goods encouraged robbers
-robbers stole important goods
Transport
-They used flat-bottomed boats and raft on the river
-2 wheel bullock carts carried heavy transport across the plains
-Sometimes pack animals transported goods. oxen, sheep, goats
Items Traded
-Textiles, hardwood furniture, cut stones, ivory, pearl, tortoise shells, curtains, silk, spices, gold, domestic animals
-The magnitude of foreign trade during this time period can only be imagined
Hinduism
Four main demoninations
-Saivism
-Shaktism
-Vaishnavism
-Smartism
-They have been formed over eons of time
-Not physically there
-Spirits that help guide, protect, and open new doors for mankind
Beliefs
-Most Hindus believed in a Supreme God who possess qualities that are seen in multiple deities that come from him
-They believe in a cycle of rebirth, or reincarnation, which is governed by Karma
-There is no single founder of Hinduism
-Brahma-god of creation
-Vishnu-god of preservation and restoration, worshiped in northern India
-Shiva-god of destruction, worshiped in southern India
Priests
-The Hindu priests controlled the religion and it's beliefs
-Invented reincarnation...after death, a person would be brought back to life as a higher or lower status based upon their karma
-As a priest, they may read, recite, the holy texts to those present, however, any reincarnated Hindu can perform these readings
-Had multiple holy days
Places of worship
-In a Hindu home you will find a decorated shrine that serves as an altar for worship
-Temples were made of stone or bricks
-Normally you visit the temples during festivals and special functions
-The temple is led by a priest and his helpers
Buddhism
Development
-Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism
-Tried to fast, ended up meditating for 49 days
-He was then called Buddha- the enlightened one
-Four noble truths (Eightfold Path) called the Middle Way between desire and self-denial
Beliefs
-Reincarnation
-World is created and destroyed repeatedly
-Nirvana... release from selfishness and pain
-Monks
-Buddhism was spread across Asia, into India
-Hinduism was more popular than Buddhism
-Buddhism affected trade
-Buddhism had different forms
-Some Buddhists worshiped Buddha as god
Theravada
-the teaching of the elders or the ancient teachings
-Theravada is the oldest surviving branch of Buddhism we know of.
-Main religion of Sri Lanka, about 70%
There is about 150 million Theravada Buddhists in the world
Stupas
-Temples
-Stupa means heap
-Symbolized elements
-Stupas are buildings that look like a dome
-They contained artifacts and stuff about Buddhism like ashes of dead people
-People meditated in Stupas
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