Classical India From the Mauryans to the Guptas

Classical India From the Mauryans to the Guptas

Mauryan Empire • Chandragupta Maurya – Empire embraced all of N. India

Ashoka • Ashoka Maurya – High point of Mauryan empire – Ruled through Bureaucracy – Converted to Buddhism • Sent missionaries to S. E. and Central Asia • Decline of Mauryan Empire – Suffered from financial and economic difficulties

The Guptas • Gupta Dynasty – After Mauryans, India controlled by regional kingdoms – Gupta dynasty founded by Chandra Gupta – Supported Hinduism • Golden Age of Hinduism • Gupta Decline – Invasion of the White Huns weakens empire – Large regional kingdoms return to power

Economic and Social • Long-Distance Trade – Trade w/ China over silk roads • Social and Gender – Patriarchal • Caste System – New social groups appear – Trade guilds become subcastes (jatis) – Helps control economy

Jainism • Doctrine and Ethics – Everything posses a soul – nonviolence towards all living things – Too demanding and not practical • Appeal of Jainism – Social appeal-all souls equal • did not recognize the caste • attractive to lower caste

Buddhism • Siddhartha Gautama – Kshatriya caste – gave up comfortable life to search for enlightenment – organized followers into community of monks • traveled throughout India • Buddhist Doctrine (the dharma) – Four noble truths – Noble eightfold path – Goal: Nirvana, a state of spiritual independence

Appeal of Buddhism • Lower Caste – No Caste • Women • Monastic Organizations – Spread the Buddha’s message • Ashoka’s support

Hinduism • The epics – Mahabharata • Honored Vishnu – Ramayana • story of Rama and Sita • The Bhagavad Gita – dialogue between Vishnu and Prince Arjuna – Illustrates expectations of Hinduism • Popularity of Hinduism – Guptas help Hinduism become dominant religion in India