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The Sarasvati River was the largest in ancient India, flowing west of Delhi and providing water to a fertile region as described in the Rig Veda, which is the most fundamental of the sacred Vedic Hindu texts.  (The river has since completely dried up, but was proven to have existed by looking at satellite photographs of India.)  Food and commerce was based on barley (yava), copper (ayas) and cattle.  By 2600 B.C., the Indus-Sarasvati civilization became the largest civilization in the ancient world, spreading from Pakistan to many areas of India today.  It had links to Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, Central Asia and elsewhere.  Its population is estimated to have been 100,000.

The Sarasvati River was the largest in ancient India, flowing west of Delhi and providing water to a fertile region as described in the Rig Veda, which is the most fundamental of the sacred Vedic Hindu texts.  (The river has since completely dried up, but was proven to have existed by looking at satellite photographs of India.)  Food and commerce was based on barley (yava), copper (ayas) and cattle.  By 2600 B.C., the Indus-Sarasvati civilization became the largest civilization in the ancient world, spreading from Pakistan to many areas of India today.  It had links to Mesopotamia, Afghanistan, Central Asia and elsewhere.  Its population is estimated to have been 100,000.

By 2000 B.C., the world’s population was 27 million, 22% of which lived in India.  Today India has 16% or so of the world’s population.  Three of the world’s ten most populated cities today are in India: Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi.

By 2000 B.C., the world’s population was 27 million, 22% of which lived in India.  Today India has 16% or so of the world’s population.  Three of the world’s ten most populated cities today are in India: Bombay, Calcutta and Delhi.

Around 1500 B.C., nomads known as “Aryans” invaded through the Bolan and Khyber passes in the Hindu Kush mountain range.  The Aryans spoke Sanskrit, an Indo-European language.  They conquered the Dravidians and others fled south into India.  Religious literature describes these struggles in the “Rig Veda” and two long poems known as the “Mahabharata” and the “Ramayana”.  By 900 B.C. iron smelting was discovered and became useful in making weapons and tools to clear fields and the jungle for agriculture.  The Aryans produced much agriculture in the Ganges River Valley, aided by winds known as monsoons that brought rain from the Indian Ocean.  Rice was the most popular crop, and remains the world’s leading crop today.

Around 1500 B.C., nomads known as “Aryans” invaded through the Bolan and Khyber passes in the Hindu Kush mountain range.  The Aryans spoke Sanskrit, an Indo-European language.  They conquered the Dravidians and others fled south into India.  Religious literature describes these struggles in the “Rig Veda” and two long poems known as the “Mahabharata” and the “Ramayana”.  By 900 B.C. iron smelting was discovered and became useful in making weapons and tools to clear fields and the jungle for agriculture.  The Aryans produced much agriculture in the Ganges River Valley, aided by winds known as monsoons that brought rain from the Indian Ocean.  Rice was the most popular crop, and remains the world’s leading crop today.

By 975 B.C., the King Hiram of Phoenicia encouraged trade between India and King Solomon of Israel.  In 950 B.C., Jewish people arrived in India in King Solomon’s merchant fleet, and later established colonies there.  Around the same time, perhaps due to increased trade, Sanskrit began to decline as the spoken language of India.  Priestly Sanskrit was later refined between 750 and 250 B.C.   

By 975 B.C., the King Hiram of Phoenicia encouraged trade between India and King Solomon of Israel.  In 950 B.C., Jewish people arrived in India in King Solomon’s merchant fleet, and later established colonies there.  Around the same time, perhaps due to increased trade, Sanskrit began to decline as the spoken language of India.  Priestly Sanskrit was later refined between 750 and 250 B.C.   

Perhaps the people migrated southeast to what is India today.  The Vedic (pronounced VAYD-ik) civilization existed from about 1500 to 500 B.C., and is credited with developing the religion and culture of Hinduism (explained further below).  But the “classical” civilization of India came later, after this foundation had been laid.  Classical India consisted of two major empires:  the Mauryan Empire (322-185 B.C.) and the Gupta Empire (A.D. 320-467). India is best understood by studying its major religion, Hinduism.  This is one of the oldest and most durable religions in the history of the world, thriving to this day.  India is also the origin of two other major religions, Buddhism and Jainism.  One of Jesus’ Apostles (Thomas) went to India and established a Christian community there that thrives to this day.

Perhaps the people migrated southeast to what is India today.  The Vedic (pronounced VAYD-ik) civilization existed from about 1500 to 500 B.C., and is credited with developing the religion and culture of Hinduism (explained further below).  But the “classical” civilization of India came later, after this foundation had been laid.  Classical India consisted of two major empires:  the Mauryan Empire (322-185 B.C.) and the Gupta Empire (A.D. 320-467). Before, during and after these empires there was very little in the way of a central government, and India is best understood by studying its major religion, Hinduism.  This is one of the oldest and most durable religions in the history of the world, thriving to this day.  India is also the origin of two other major religions, Buddhism and Jainism.  One of Jesus’ Apostles (Thomas) went to India and established a Christian community there that thrives to this day.

 

=== Classical Indian Civilization ===

=== Classical Indian Civilization ===

== The Rise of Christianity ==

== The Rise of Christianity ==

The ancient world had several founders of great religions, but only one performed miracles:  Jesus of Nazareth. Do we know when it occurred?

The ancient world had several founders of great religions, but only one performed miracles:  Jesus of Nazareth. His resurrection is the single greatest event in the history of the world.  Do we know when it occurred?

It is easy to calculate the date of His crucifixion because we know it was during the reign of Pontius Pilate, who served from A.D. 26 to 36, thereby encompassing the entire period of ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus himself.  A Roman historian named Philo described Pilate as inflexible, obstinate and merciless, and Pilate was hated by the Jewish people under his rule.  The Gospels describe the savage retaliation by Pilate against Galileans as follows:  “Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.”  Luke 13:1 (NAS).  Eventually the Romans removed Pilate from power for being too cruel.

It is easy to calculate the date of His crucifixion because we know it was during the reign of Pontius Pilate, who served from A.D. 26 to 36, thereby encompassing the entire period of ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus himself.  A Roman historian named Philo described Pilate as inflexible, obstinate and merciless, and Pilate was hated by the Jewish people under his rule.  The Gospels describe the savage retaliation by Pilate against Galileans as follows:  “Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.”  Luke 13:1 (NAS).  Eventually the Romans removed Pilate from power for being too cruel.