Imperial India India vs China India contrasts with

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Imperial India

Imperial India

India vs. China • India contrasts with China, as it had more interactions with

India vs. China • India contrasts with China, as it had more interactions with other cultures, partially due to geography, but also to conquest (Alex the Great 323 BC) • Divisions within the country did not allow for centralization seen in China • Himalaya’s: geographical boundary, but mountain passes allowed trade wth Mid East

Contrasts cont. . • No Clear dynastic eras like China • Political eras not

Contrasts cont. . • No Clear dynastic eras like China • Political eras not as clear cut as Greece • Divergences often due to invasion from NW border • Alexander the Great: North Western India: • Bactria est.

Decentralization under the Indo. Aryans • Kshatriya kingdoms • Decentralized form of government: feudalism

Decentralization under the Indo. Aryans • Kshatriya kingdoms • Decentralized form of government: feudalism • Peasants (sudras) had hard lives; princes (Rajas) lived in luxury • Constant warfare

Invasion by Alexander the Great • 326 – cataclysmic invasion of Indus valley area

Invasion by Alexander the Great • 326 – cataclysmic invasion of Indus valley area • Troops turned back • Small-pox • Inspired the Maghada • ruler create an empire

The Mauryan Empire • First leader: young solider: Changragupta Maurya seized power along Ganges

The Mauryan Empire • First leader: young solider: Changragupta Maurya seized power along Ganges • Changragupta: highly autocratic • Subsequent rulers unified much of sub-cont • King conquered other nearby kingdoms and became a Maharaja • Spies, soldiers (large army with chariots and Elephants), and bureaucrats numbered over 1 million (combined)

Economy • Took large tax – 25 – 50% of all output • Built

Economy • Took large tax – 25 – 50% of all output • Built massive capital at Pataliputra

Imperial Organization • Divided into districts reflecting existing tribal boundaries • Each district run

Imperial Organization • Divided into districts reflecting existing tribal boundaries • Each district run by close relative or friend of Chandragupta Maurya • Gigantic Army

Chandragupta’s end • 301 BCE – stepped down to become a monk (!) •

Chandragupta’s end • 301 BCE – stepped down to become a monk (!) • Son Bindusara took rule • Bindusara’s son ASHOKA more famous Ashoka

Ashoka (r. 269 -232) • First eight years typical • Invaded frontier area of

Ashoka (r. 269 -232) • First eight years typical • Invaded frontier area of Kalinga; bloodiest war of era • Renounced violence & became Buddhist • Ruled according to Buddhist principles, tried to spread Buddhism The Buddha

Ashoka (cont) • Laid out “edicts” on 18 rocks and 30 pillars across the

Ashoka (cont) • Laid out “edicts” on 18 rocks and 30 pillars across the empire • Sent out Buddhist missionaries to Central Asia, SE Asia, Parthia (Greeks in Afghanistan)

Ashoka’s Edicts Not all Buddhist • Ashoka’s key points • Proper Behaviour towards servants

Ashoka’s Edicts Not all Buddhist • Ashoka’s key points • Proper Behaviour towards servants and employees, respect for mother and father generosity to friends, companions, relations, Brahmins and Aesthetics & Not killing living Beings • Not individualistic and more concerned with social order than classic buddism (B argues that fulfillment of self will lead to the order of the world

Ashoka (cont) • • Pilgrimages, roads with shade trees Vegetarianism Hosted Great Council of

Ashoka (cont) • • Pilgrimages, roads with shade trees Vegetarianism Hosted Great Council of Buddhism Created 84, 000 Buddhist stupas around India

Ashoka • Stability and the sheer expansion of his empire (all but Southern India),

Ashoka • Stability and the sheer expansion of his empire (all but Southern India), encouraged economic growth • However, few long-term effects from the style of govt. • Though Buddism persisted, after Ashoka’s death Empire disintegrated • Kushan’s (invaders from NW) est 200 years of political instability

Gupta Rule • No individual leaders as significant as during Mauryan Empire. • However,

Gupta Rule • No individual leaders as significant as during Mauryan Empire. • However, probably more enduring impacts • Two centuries of Gupta rule gave classical India greatest period of political stability

Gupta Rule • Established Hinduism as religion of state • Heavily influenced by caste

Gupta Rule • Established Hinduism as religion of state • Heavily influenced by caste system, e. g. who got which govt jobs (ksyatriya as warriors, Brahmans as bureaucrats)

 • Code of Manu codified Hindu beliefs into detailed rules • Hinduism absorbed

• Code of Manu codified Hindu beliefs into detailed rules • Hinduism absorbed Buddhism (the Buddha as avatar of Vishnu) • Refocus on devotion to one of the gods, ritual Vishnu

 • Preferred diplomacy to war, esp. intermarriage • Did not have a welldeveloped

• Preferred diplomacy to war, esp. intermarriage • Did not have a welldeveloped bureaucracy • Ultimately fell to the Huns (535 CE)

Politics • Contrast with China and Greece: no solid poltical institutions • Primarily autocratic

Politics • Contrast with China and Greece: no solid poltical institutions • Primarily autocratic rulers, some instances of councils • Regionalism: rulers relying on armies=instability/insec. Therefore favoured Hindusim as divine mandate (Budd aethestic) • No est bureaucracy, provincial differentaiton • No est political theory, values like Ch/Gr •