Unit 1: South and Central Asia

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These materials have refreshed formatting and layout, but no substantive changes from the 2023-24 materials.

Cluster 1: Geography of South and Central Asia (Lessons 1-6)
How do geography and climate influence the development of societies and the lives of people in South and Central Asia?

Lesson 1: The “Influencers” of Today and of Ancient South and Central Asia

Lesson 2: South Asian Geography: Influences on People and Society

Lesson 3: Challenges and Benefits of Central Asia’s Geography

Lesson 4: Putting It Together: Analyzing the Geography of South & Central Asia 

Lesson 5: Human-Environment Interaction: The Ganges River and the Aral Sea (Part I)

Lesson 6: Human-Environment Interaction:The Ganges River and the Aral Sea (Part II)

Cluster 2: Harappan Society (Lessons 7-11)
If you were a curator, which three artifacts would you choose to communicate what is most important about Harappan society?

Lesson 7: Meet the Harappans

Lesson 8: Considering the Candidates: Stations of Harappan Artifacts 

Lesson 9: Supporting Claims: What Is Most Important about the Harappans?

Lesson 10: Building the Exhibit (Part I)

Lesson 11: Building the Exhibit (Part II)

Cluster 3: Post-Harappan Developments in South Asia (Lessons 12-21)
What are the origins and essential beliefs of the religious traditions that developed in ancient South Asia? 

Lesson 12: The Indo-Aryan Migration 

Lesson 13: Brahman: The Hindu Concept of God

Lesson 14: Key Hindu Beliefs: Dharma and Karma, Samsara and Moksha

Lesson 15: The Bhagavad Gita, Caste and Society

Lesson 16: Taking Action to Reduce Inequality: The Work of Bishnu Pariyar

Lesson 17: Key Aspects of Buddhism: Buddha, The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path

Lesson 18: Buddhism: The Middle Way, Meditation and the Meaning of Brahmin

Lesson 19: The Appeal of Buddhism in Ancient South Asia 

Lesson 20: The Buddhist Community in Ancient South Asia (Part I)

Lesson 21: The Buddhist Community in Ancient South Asia (Part II)

Cluster 4: Kingship and Golden Ages in Ancient India and Central Asia (Lessons 22-31)
How did the Mauryan Empire use philosophical ideas and belief systems to guide its leadership?
Who created the Golden Ages of India and Central Asia?

Lesson 22: The Roots of Mauryan Power

Lesson 23: Governing Kautilya-Style 

Lesson 24: From Bindusara to Ashoka: Analyzing Shifts in Mauryan Rule 

Lesson 25: Ashoka’s Edicts: Governing through the Teachings of Buddhism

Lesson 26: Kautilya and Ashoka — Making Ancient and Modern Connections

Lesson 27: Inquiry Cycle: Who Created the Gupta Golden Age? (Part I)

Lesson 28: Inquiry Cycle: Who Created the Gupta Golden Age? (Part II)

Lesson 29: Inquiry Cycle: Who Created the Gupta Golden Age? (Part III)

Lesson 30: Central Asia and Baghdad: Land of Libraries and Learning

Lesson 31: The Gifts of the Polymaths of Central Asia

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