CLASSICAL CLASSICAL INDIAINDIA

RISE OF MAURYAN RISE OF MAURYAN EMPIREEMPIRE

Ganges RepublicsGanges Republics Prior to Alexander, kshatriyan republics dominated, vied for Prior to Alexander, kshatriyan republics dominated, vied for

powerpower Magadha was one of the most dominantMagadha was one of the most dominant

Western Intrusions Western Intrusions Intrusions of Persians (520 B.C.E.) and Alexander (327 B.C.E.)Intrusions of Persians (520 B.C.E.) and Alexander (327 B.C.E.) Persians established Indus satrapy Persians established Indus satrapy Alexander’s withdrawal left a political vacuum Alexander’s withdrawal left a political vacuum Magadha kingdom filled the vacuumMagadha kingdom filled the vacuum

Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya The founder of the Mauryan empire The founder of the Mauryan empire Overthrew the Magadha kingdom in 321 B.C.E. Overthrew the Magadha kingdom in 321 B.C.E. Conquered the Greek state in Bactria, Selecuid control of Conquered the Greek state in Bactria, Selecuid control of

Indus Indus Chandragupta's empire embraced all of northern IndiaChandragupta's empire embraced all of northern India

Chandragupta's government Chandragupta's government Government procedures devised by Kautalya, the advisor of Government procedures devised by Kautalya, the advisor of

the empire the empire The political handbook, The political handbook, ArthashastraArthashastra, outlined administrative , outlined administrative

methodsmethods

MAURYAN EMPIRE: MAURYAN EMPIRE: ASHOKAASHOKA Ashoka Maurya (reigned 268-232 B.C.E.) Ashoka Maurya (reigned 268-232 B.C.E.)

Chandragupta's grandson, Chandragupta's grandson, The high point of the Mauryan empire The high point of the Mauryan empire Conquered the kingdom of Kalinga, 260 B.C.E.Conquered the kingdom of Kalinga, 260 B.C.E. Ruled through tightly organized bureaucracy Ruled through tightly organized bureaucracy Established capital at Pataliputra Established capital at Pataliputra Policies of encouraging agriculture and trade Policies of encouraging agriculture and trade Converted to BuddhismConverted to Buddhism

Established a tolerant rule of righteousnessEstablished a tolerant rule of righteousness Sent out missionaries to Sri Lanka, SE Asia, Central AsiaSent out missionaries to Sri Lanka, SE Asia, Central Asia

Decline of the Mauryan Empire Decline of the Mauryan Empire Ashoka died in 232 B.C.E. Ashoka died in 232 B.C.E. Suffered from acute financial and economic Suffered from acute financial and economic

difficulties difficulties High cost for maintaining army and bureaucrats High cost for maintaining army and bureaucrats Debasing the currency, not an effective resolution Debasing the currency, not an effective resolution

The empire collapsed by 185 B.C.E.The empire collapsed by 185 B.C.E.

THE GUPTASTHE GUPTAS The Gupta Dynasty The Gupta Dynasty

After Mauryans, India was controlled by regional After Mauryans, India was controlled by regional kingdoms kingdoms

The Gupta state rose to power in Magadha The Gupta state rose to power in Magadha Chandra Gupta founded the new dynasty Chandra Gupta founded the new dynasty Gupta dynasty was relatively decentralizedGupta dynasty was relatively decentralized Officially supported revival of Hinduism as state faithOfficially supported revival of Hinduism as state faith Era seen as the Golden Age of Hinduism Era seen as the Golden Age of Hinduism

Gupta decline Gupta decline Invasion of White Huns weakened the empire Invasion of White Huns weakened the empire After 5th century C.E., Gupta dynasty ruled in name After 5th century C.E., Gupta dynasty ruled in name

only only Large regional kingdoms dominated political life in Large regional kingdoms dominated political life in

India India

ECONOMICSECONOMICS

Towns and manufacturingTowns and manufacturing Towns dotted the India countryside after 600 B.C.E. Towns dotted the India countryside after 600 B.C.E. Towns provided manufactured products and luxury goods Towns provided manufactured products and luxury goods

Long-distance tradeLong-distance trade Invasions by Persian empires helped to build extensive trade Invasions by Persian empires helped to build extensive trade

networks networks Trade with China through the silk roads of central Asia Trade with China through the silk roads of central Asia Trade in the Indian Ocean basin, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Trade in the Indian Ocean basin, Indonesia, Southeast Asia,

Mediterranean basinMediterranean basin Spread Buddhism and Hinduism throughout Indian Ocean Spread Buddhism and Hinduism throughout Indian Ocean

basin basin

SOCIETYSOCIETY Social and gender relationsSocial and gender relations

Strong patriarchal families; subordination Strong patriarchal families; subordination of women to men of women to men

Child marriage placed women under Child marriage placed women under control of old men control of old men

Development of caste systemDevelopment of caste system Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras

(part of Hinduism)(part of Hinduism) New social groups of artisans, craftsmen, New social groups of artisans, craftsmen,

and merchants appeared and merchants appeared Individuals of same trade or craft formed Individuals of same trade or craft formed

a guild; guilds were subcastes, jatis a guild; guilds were subcastes, jatis Functions of guilds: social security and Functions of guilds: social security and

welfare systems welfare systems Wealth and social orderWealth and social order

Trade and industry brought prosperity to Trade and industry brought prosperity to many many vaishyasvaishyas and and shudrasshudras

Old beliefs and values of early Aryan Old beliefs and values of early Aryan society became increasingly irrelevant society became increasingly irrelevant

JAINISMJAINISM Vardhamana Mahavira Vardhamana Mahavira

Born in north India, 540 B.C.E. Born in north India, 540 B.C.E. Left family, searching for salvation from cycle of incarnation Left family, searching for salvation from cycle of incarnation Gained enlightenment, taught an ascetic doctrine Gained enlightenment, taught an ascetic doctrine His disciples began to lead a monastic life His disciples began to lead a monastic life Mahavira became Mahavira became JinaJina, the "conqueror," and followers, , the "conqueror," and followers, JainsJains

Jainist doctrine and ethicsJainist doctrine and ethics Inspired by the Upanishads Inspired by the Upanishads Everything in the universe possessed a soul Everything in the universe possessed a soul Striving to purify one's selfish behavior to attain a state of bliss Striving to purify one's selfish behavior to attain a state of bliss The principle of The principle of ahimsaahimsa, nonviolence toward all living things , nonviolence toward all living things Believed that almost all occupations entailed violence of some kind Believed that almost all occupations entailed violence of some kind Too demanding, not a practical alternative to the cult of the Too demanding, not a practical alternative to the cult of the

brahminsbrahmins Appeal of Jainism Appeal of Jainism

Social implication: Individual souls equally participated in ultimate Social implication: Individual souls equally participated in ultimate reality reality

The Jains did not recognize social hierarchies of caste and The Jains did not recognize social hierarchies of caste and jatijati Became attractive to members of lower castes Became attractive to members of lower castes The ascetic tradition continues to today The ascetic tradition continues to today

EARLY BUDDHISMEARLY BUDDHISM Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 B.C.E.)Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 B.C.E.)

Born in 563 B.C.E. to the Kshatriya casteBorn in 563 B.C.E. to the Kshatriya caste Witnessed miseries of the human condition Witnessed miseries of the human condition Gave up his comfortable life and began searching for Gave up his comfortable life and began searching for

enlightenment enlightenment Intense meditation and extreme asceticism Intense meditation and extreme asceticism Received enlightenment under the bo tree and became Received enlightenment under the bo tree and became

Buddha Buddha The Buddha and his followers The Buddha and his followers

"Turning of the Wheel of the Law," 528 B.C.E. "Turning of the Wheel of the Law," 528 B.C.E. Organized followers into a community of monks (“the Organized followers into a community of monks (“the

sangha”)sangha”) Traveled throughout north India, bringing enlightenment Traveled throughout north India, bringing enlightenment

to othersto others

EARLY BUDDHISMEARLY BUDDHISM Buddhist doctrine: The Buddhist doctrine: The dharmadharma

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths All life involves suffering All life involves suffering Desire is the cause of suffering Desire is the cause of suffering Elimination of desire brings an end Elimination of desire brings an end

to suffering to suffering The Noble Eightfold Path brings the The Noble Eightfold Path brings the

elimination of desireelimination of desire The Noble Eightfold Path (“Setting The Noble Eightfold Path (“Setting

the wheel in motion”)the wheel in motion”) Right belief, right resolve, right speech, Right belief, right resolve, right speech,

right behavior,right behavior,right occupation, right effort, right right occupation, right effort, right

contemplation, and right meditation contemplation, and right meditation Religious goal: Religious goal: NirvanaNirvana, a state of , a state of

perfect spiritual independenceperfect spiritual independence

APPEAL OF BUDDHISMAPPEAL OF BUDDHISM Appealed strongly to members of lower castes Appealed strongly to members of lower castes

Salvation without services of the brahmins Salvation without services of the brahmins Did not recognize social hierarchies of castes and Did not recognize social hierarchies of castes and jatijati

Appealed to women as all souls considered equalAppealed to women as all souls considered equal Less demanding than Jainism, more popular Less demanding than Jainism, more popular Used vernacular tongues, not Sanskrit Used vernacular tongues, not Sanskrit Holy sites and pilgrimages Holy sites and pilgrimages The monastic organizationsThe monastic organizations

Spread the Buddhist message, won convertsSpread the Buddhist message, won converts Could be endowed by others to support the religionCould be endowed by others to support the religion Centers of learning, good works, contemplation Centers of learning, good works, contemplation

Ashoka's support Ashoka's support Emperor Ashoka became a devout Buddhist, 206 B.C.E. Emperor Ashoka became a devout Buddhist, 206 B.C.E. Banned animal sacrifices in honor of Banned animal sacrifices in honor of ahimsaahimsa Granted lands to monasteries Granted lands to monasteries Sent missionaries to Bactria and CeylonSent missionaries to Bactria and Ceylon

VARIANTS OF VARIANTS OF BUDDHISMBUDDHISM Early Buddhism made heavy demands on Early Buddhism made heavy demands on

individuals individuals Giving up personal property Giving up personal property Forsaking the search for social standing Forsaking the search for social standing Detaching oneself from worldly pleasures Detaching oneself from worldly pleasures

Development of Buddhism Development of Buddhism Buddha gradually seen as a god by ex-Hindus, in ChinaBuddha gradually seen as a god by ex-Hindus, in China The notion of The notion of bodhisatvabodhisatva - "an enlightened being" - "an enlightened being" Monasteries began to accept gifts from wealthy individuals Monasteries began to accept gifts from wealthy individuals Buddhism became more attractive Buddhism became more attractive

The Schism of Buddhism: Was he a god or man? The Schism of Buddhism: Was he a god or man? MahayanaMahayana - "the greater vehicle" - "the greater vehicle"

Spread to Central, East Asia Spread to Central, East Asia Blended in India with Hinduism, which co-opted Buddha Blended in India with Hinduism, which co-opted Buddha

as a god as a god Co-opted Chinese traditions and Daoist gods in ChinaCo-opted Chinese traditions and Daoist gods in China

Hinayana or TheravadaHinayana or Theravada Continued to view Buddha as humanContinued to view Buddha as human Practiced in Sri Lanka, parts of India, SE AsiaPracticed in Sri Lanka, parts of India, SE Asia

Buddhism died out in India as it merged with HinduismBuddhism died out in India as it merged with Hinduism

HINDUISMHINDUISM Comes from the blending of Aryan and Comes from the blending of Aryan and

Dravidian (IRV) beliefsDravidian (IRV) beliefs Vedas (hymns), Rig Veda, Upanishads Vedas (hymns), Rig Veda, Upanishads

(written down)(written down) Brahman=universal soul Brahman=universal soul Samsara=reincarnationSamsara=reincarnation Karma=sum of good and bad in this Karma=sum of good and bad in this

life life will determine next life will determine next life

Moksha=salvation of the soul Moksha=salvation of the soul Caste system, varna, Hindu god PurushaCaste system, varna, Hindu god Purusha

POPULAR HINDUISMPOPULAR HINDUISMThe epics The epics

MahabharataMahabharata A secular poem revised by A secular poem revised by

brahmin scholars brahmin scholars Honored the god Vishnu, the Honored the god Vishnu, the

preserver of the world preserver of the world RamayanaRamayana

Secular story of Rama and Secular story of Rama and Sita was changed into a Hindu Sita was changed into a Hindu storystory

The The Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita A short poetic work within the A short poetic work within the

MahabharataMahabharata A dialogue between the god A dialogue between the god

Vishnu and Prince Arjuna Vishnu and Prince Arjuna Illustrated expectations of Illustrated expectations of

Hinduism and promise of Hinduism and promise of salvation salvation

HINDUISM CONTINUEDHINDUISM CONTINUED Hindu ethics Hindu ethics

Lower demands for achieving salvation Lower demands for achieving salvation Individuals should meet their responsibilities in Individuals should meet their responsibilities in

detached fashion detached fashion Balance of Balance of dharma, artha, kamadharma, artha, kama to attain to attain moksha, moksha,

endend samsara samsara Popularity of Hinduism Popularity of Hinduism

Became more popular than Buddhism; Buddhism Became more popular than Buddhism; Buddhism too aesthetic too aesthetic

The Guptas helped Hinduism become the The Guptas helped Hinduism become the dominant religion dominant religion