The Indus River System
The Indus River stretches across the northwestern part of the subcontinent, a large land mass that's somewhat separated yet still part of a continent, in an area that is now part of Pakistan.
The river's source lies high atop Himalayan peaks, where melting snow feeds dozens of trickling mountain streams. These streams join as they flow down rugged slopes, eventually forming small rivers.
In ancient times, the river flooded frequently. When the river overflowed its banks, flood waters left a rich, fine-grained soil called silt uopn the bands and neighboring lands. Enriched by the silt, crops in the area of the Indus River Valley grew very well.
The Beginning of Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion founded in India by Siddhartha Gautama; Buddhism stresses moderation and nonviolence.
There are four Noble Truths as a part of Buddhism:
1. Human life is full of suffering and sorrow.
2. Suffering and sorrow are caused by people's greedy desires for power, pleasure, and possessions.
3. Suffering and sorrow will end when people overcome their greed.
4. People can overcome their greed and uncontrolled desires by adopting the Eightfold Path. This path gives eight steps for living a correct, or right, life.
Beliefs of Hinduism
Hinduism is the major religion of India today that has always been linked to the class and caste system. The four classes of the Vedic period, as well as various castes continued into Hindu times.
The tale comes from the Bhagavad Gita, which means "Song of the Blessed One."
Hinduism has no central figure such as Jesus in Christianity or the Buddha in Buddhism. Instead Hinduism combines the religious thinking of peoples from various time periods. The belief actually began before Buddhism and its roots are in the Vedic religion of the Aryan people.
The tale comes from the Bhagavad Gita, which means "Song of the Blessed One."
Hinduism has no central figure such as Jesus in Christianity or the Buddha in Buddhism. Instead Hinduism combines the religious thinking of peoples from various time periods. The belief actually began before Buddhism and its roots are in the Vedic religion of the Aryan people.
