Oh Canada
Meditation
Read Calliope pg. 20; A story that is believed to cleanse a person just by hearing it.
Watch Story of India Beginnings (last 12 minutes)
Look at Map – Greece, Egypt, Alexander the Great route through Empire, India, Natural borders around India.
Discussion
Alexander the Greats route, his turning back. What he left behind. The Nanda Dynasty. Civil unrest. Disjointed, warring chieftans, prefects bullying supremecy, taxes and unfair irregular laws.
Simulate Disjointed states
Shudra (plant/draw crops), Vaishya (make wares), Brahmin(meditate), Kshastriya (protect people and enforce laws of chieftan/prefect), Prefect/Chieftan (make laws and taxes and collect) and opposing Chieftan and Kshatriya. Try to function and get work done with irregular laws, taxes, wars, unrest etc.
TO contrast played a round with centralized rules and governance.
Discussion
Benefits of United Empire.
Chandrogupta Maurya conquer Nanda Dynasty.
Chanakya (brahmin) advised Chandragupta. He also wrote the Arthrashastra which included guidelines of living (rules, hygeine, taxation, and the laws of war)
Mauryan Army
Conquered Greeks.
Indo-Greek Peace Treaty
United Empire made way for vast improvements (Arts, Sciences, Technology, Well Being, Spiritual)
(50-60 million people, common currency, standardized fair (yet strict) system of governance written in the Arthrashastra. People protected and laws upheld. Public works for better villages, city, transport, living condtions and well being.
Indo-Greek trading
Watch Story of India Power of Ideas Part 1
Assignment
Look over Session Project/Presentation and determine what you will do as your project. Start to brainstorm how you might find what you are looking for and how you may want to present your findings. Come to class next week to share what your project will be about (Presentation not until Dec. 1 and 8).
Session Assignment and End of Session Presentations
Kshatriyas,You are part of this elite warrior caste. In order to fulfill your duty to your caste you must immerse yourself in the teachings and enhance your mind. Throughout this session there is an ongoing assignment that you can work on to deepen your connection and understanding of this ancient time. On the last day of class (Dec. 1 or 8) there will be time set aside for you to present what you have worked on (5-10 minutes each).You can choose from one of the following for your assignment or come up with your own idea all together (let us know so we have an idea too). Some possibilities are:
- Pick another Ancient Indian Time Period to research. You can look into what life and times were like then. What discoveries, inventions or ideas came from the time. What great or not so great leaders were featured. What invasions or conquering or battle tactics were implored. You can compare it to what was happening to the rest of the world or what had happened in the past. You can do timelines, a report, a map, a minibook, a diorama, a model, art, a play, a video, anything that speaks to you about what you have learned. Bring in something to share or just talk about it or give a handout. Some time periods include the Indus Valley Civilization (3000 - 1500BC), the Vedic Era (1500 – 500 BC), the Gupta Empire (200 – 500 AD). OR
- Watch the rest of the Story of India (we are covering Beginnings and Power of Ideas in class but you could watch Spice Routes and Silk Roads, Ages of Gold, The Meeting of two Oceans, or Freedom and Liberation). You can express your learning in art, a video, a handout, map, chart or just present verbally.OR
- Study/research one of the fine warrior clans of Ancient India or it's enemies. The Aryans, the Huns, the Rajputs and more. You can express your findings in a handout, models of weaponry, armour, demonstrations of tactics, comparisons or more. OR
- Read a novel based in the times and do a book presentation (get as creative as you would like). Some possible novels include (see our list for reviews and content appropriateness to help your decision): Golden Fire, Raiders from the North: Empire of the Moghul, The Iron Ring, Shiva's Fire, Jahanara: Princess of Princesses, Keeping Corner, Follow the Elephant.
Visit a Buddhist Temple OR Hindu Temple OR both and share your experiences. Parents, this could turn into a field trip-feel free to let the rest of the class know & maybe more than one family or the whole class could attend.