Introducing the India of Hinduism (Lecturette 1-2) A scene from the Ramayana: Rama, Sita, Lakshmana in exile, visiting a sage at his ashrama in the hills of central India.

India’s Deep Diversity Hinduism as a culture? The comparison with Europe: varieties of language and culture Christianity (Europe), Hinduism (India) as common features in that diversity Problems with the model Each state of India represents a distinct language and culture

Naming India South Asia Using different terms India South Asia Greater India The Indian Cultural Orb The Indian subcontinent

A Zippy, Basic History BC and AD vs. BCE and CE c5000 BCE – 800 CE: pre-Hindu, Hindu and Buddhist civilizations c800 CE: Coming of Islam c1200 – 1600: Political dominance of Islam c1500: Beginnings of European exploration, trade, missionary activity, imperial struggles for power 1757: British domination 1947: Indian independence

Plate tectonics Plate tectonics describes the geological movement of the uppermost levels of the earth, called the lithosphere. It began 71 million years ago when a piece of Africa . . . We’re drifting, we’re drifting . . .

Drifting, drifting . . . Until about 10 million years ago . . .

Over millions of years, the crash resulted in the geography of South Asia.

Shiva (Śiva) as lord of ascetics, lord of Yoga in the Himalayas

The Vindhyas

-The Vindhyas: North and South -The Deccan Plateau -The Western and Eastern Ghats: the monsoon

Monsoon

Monsoon

Monsoon scenes

The cultural significance of the monsoon goes beyond agriculture Krishna and his beloved, Radha

Rivers as goddesses

The descent of Gangā

Glimpses

Lower Himalayas Agricultural Deforestation