Preclassical and Classical INDIA The Vedic Age The

Pre-classical and Classical INDIA

The Vedic Age The foundations for Hinduism were established!

Aryan Migration § pastoral depended on their cattle. § warriors horse-drawn chariots.

Sanskrit writing

The Vedas § Series of books § written in SANSKRIT. § Religious text is the Hindu core of beliefs §Upanishads = establishes relationship of soul to Brahman Rig Veda oldest work.

Varna (Social Hierarchy) What is a JATI? Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaishyas Shudras Those with no caste: Untouchables

The Caste System §SOCIAL CLASSES= Brahmins Kshatriyas § Purusha’s mouth § arms Vaishyas § legs § feet Shudras

The Maurya Empire 321 BCE – 185 BCE

CHANDRAGUPTA § Chandragupta Maurya unified northern India. Extremely centralized! § Divided empire into provinces & districts for tax assessments and law enforcement. § Feared assassination food tasters, slept in different rooms, etc. § 301 BCE gave up his throne & became a Jain.

Kautilya § Chandragupta’s advisor. § Wrote the Arthashastra: § A guide for the king and his ministers Ø Supports royal power. Ø The great evil in society is anarchy. Ø Therefore, a single authority is needed to employ force when necessary!

Ashoka 304 -232 BCE § Ashoka = most important ruler of Maurya §Religious conversion after gruesome battle of Kalinga § religiously tolerant § Patronized Buddhism § Conflict how to balance Kautilya’s methods of keeping power and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless person?

Mauryan Empire under Ashoka – HUGE!

Ashoka’s law code § Written mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic – Cosmopolitan (diverse) empire! § Buddhist principles dominate his laws. § Focus on: nonviolence, morality, & religious toleration §Note the pillar on the left!

Turmoil & a power Vacuum: 220 BCE – 320 CE Ta mi ls The Mauryan Empire gets divided into many kingdoms

Gupta Empire : 320 CE – 647 CE

Gupta Rulers § Chandra Gupta I v r. 320 – 335 CE § Chandra Gupta II v r. 375 - 415 CE v Profitable trade of cotton & pepper §Guptas were Hindu, not Buddhists § Less centralized & smaller than Mauryan §Theater State

Xuanzang: Life in Gupta India § Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the Silk Roads and visited India in the 5 c. § He was following the path of the Buddha. § He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and charity. Other references in the journal, however, indicate that the caste system was rapidly assuming its basic features, including "untouchability, " the social isolation of a lowest class that is doomed to menial labor.

Empire under Chandra Gupta II

International Trade Routes during the Guptas

Extensive Trade sp ic es horses n cotto s silk ods o g n cotto spices

Gupta Art Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & architecture.

1000 diseases classified 500 healing plants identified Gupta Achievements Printed medicinal guides Plastic Surgery Medicine Inoculations Gupta India C-sections performed Decimal System Mathematics Concept of Zero PI = 3. 1416 Solar Calendar Astronomy The earth is round

The Decline of the Guptas § Invasion by White Huns in the 500 s = end of the Gupta Golden Age §decline of Gupta empire - north India broke into many separate Hindu kingdoms ruled by rajputs §Indian History: Unity v. Disunity