SPREAD OF CIVILIZATIONS IN EAST ASIA UNIT FIVE

SPREAD OF CIVILIZATIONS IN EAST ASIA UNIT FIVE

BUDDHISM SECTION TWO

SETTING THE STAGE By the 6 th century BC, Hinduism and the caste system had become a way of life in India. For Hindus, the only way to gain salvation was by obeying caste rules and following complex rituals performed by Brahmin priests. These rules and rituals, however, did not meet the needs of the common people. As a result, some Hindus began to listen to the message of a rising religious teacher.

SIDDHARTA GAUTAMA • New religion was called Buddhism • Founded by Siddharta Gautama SIDDHARTA GAUTAMA: Indian prince born in 563 BC; later known as Buddha One day, when he was almost 30, Gautama saw first a dying old man, then a sick man in great pain, then a dead man, and finally a wandering religious beggar. These encounters came as a shock to the prince. Why, he asked, was there such sorrow in the world? Gautama decided to give up his life of luxury to seek understanding. For several years Gautama followed the Hindu way of self-denial and meditation. Still he felt troubled. Finally, at the age of 35, he sat down under a sacred fig tree and vowed never to leave the spot until he found answers. On the forty-ninth day, he suddenly saw the reason for life’s sufferings and a way to overcome them. From that time on, he was known as the Buddha, the “Enlightened One. ”

BUDDHA’S TEACHINGS Four Noble Truths: 1. Sorrow and suffering are part of life 2. People suffer because they constantly try to get things they can’t have 3. The way to escape suffering is to overcome these desires and reach a state of “not wanting” 4. To reach nirvana people should follow a “middle way” NIRVANA: state of enlightenment MIDDLE WAY: having neither too much nor too little pleasure

CHALLENGE TO HINDUISM • Many of Buddha’s teachings stemmed from Hinduism Three main differences exist between Buddhism and Hinduism: 1. Buddhism placed more importance on how one lived than on one’s caste; 2. Buddhists did not find value in Brahmins’ complex rituals; and, 3. Buddhists do believe in reincarnation, but that it is not necessary for becoming pure.

GROWTH OF BUDDHISM • Buddha and followers traveled doing missionary work • Monasteries became centers of teaching and learning Buddhism split into two schools of thought: THERAVADA BUDDHISM: Buddhists who remained close to original teachings MAHAYANA BUDDHISM: Buddhists who developed a complex religion with temples, saints and statues of the Buddha • Mahayana Buddhism spread into China, Japan and Korea • Theravada Buddhism spread into Sri Lanka, Burma and Southeast Asia

GOLDEN AGE FOR INDIA SECTION THREE

RISE OF THE MAURYAN EMPIRE By the 6 th century BC, several kingdoms existed in northeast India, on the great plain of the Ganges River. One of those kingdoms, the Magadha Kingdom, ruled the entire plain of the Ganges, and much of northern India. • Around 300 BC, Chandragupta Maurya seized power • Empire included all of northern India and part of present day Afghanistan • Empire had a strong central government

REIGN OF ASOKA • Around 269 BC, the empire passed to Chandragupta’s grandson, Asoka • Asoka was influenced by Buddhism • Proclamations were written in stone and carried throughout his empire

BREAKUP OF MAURYAN EMPIRE • Asoka has been judged one of the world’s greatest rulers • Death in 232 BC left a void in leadership • Over the next 500 years, northern and central India splintered

RISE OF THE GUPTA EMPIRE • Around 320 AD, the Gupta Empire was established • First emperor took the name Chandra Gupta • Last great Hindu empire • Often referred to as India’s Classical Age

GUPTA EMPIRE ACHIEVEMENTS • Literature showed importance of Hinduism in life • Produced plays and poetry in sanskrit SANSKRIT: Indian language of literature • Astronomers, scientists and mathematicians were far ahead of the rest of the world

FALL OF THE GUPTA EMPIRE • Lasted for almost 200 years • In the middle of the 5 th century, Huns began to raid the borders • By 500 AD, the northern part of India was once again broken into many kingdoms

MUSLIM RULE IN INDIA SECTION FOUR

SETTING THE STAGE Soon after the rise of Islam, the followers of this new religion set about conquering neighboring peoples. From the 700’s to the 1500’s, four different groups of Muslims invaded India. Eventually most of the Indian peninsula was united under Muslim rule. Although the majority of Indian people remained Hindu, Muslim rulers left a lasting mark on Indian society and culture.

CONFLICT BETWEEN HINDUISM AND ISLAM • Two religions differed in basic principles – number of Gods and equality of people • Two faiths could not mix

MUSLIM INVASIONS OF INDIA • In early 700’s, Muslim invaders claimed northern India for Muslim empire • In the 11 th and 12 th centuries, Muslims moved in and occupied all of India north of the Deccan • Indian territories became separate Muslim kingdom – a sultanate

DELHI SULTANATE • Named by the caliph of Baghdad • Ruled for over 300 years • Lived in great luxury – taxing non-Muslims • Gov’t was never stable • Delhi Sultanate fell in 1526

MONGOL RULE IN INDIA SECTION FIVE

SETTING THE STAGE In the early 1500’s, Babur, a descendant of Genghis Khan, led his army into India. In 1526, the Delhi Sultanate fell. Though Babur died shortly after the conquest, he succeeded in establishing a new empire in India. This empire was called the Mogul Empire, coming from the Persian word for Mongol.

REIGN OF AKBAR • Akbar ruled for 49 years and controlled most of India • Well respected and supported • Allowed religious freedoms • Lessened conflict between Hindus and Muslims

AKBAR’S SUCCESSORS • Son and grandson continued policies of fairness, efficiency and compromise • Grandson took the title of shah in 1628 SHAH: king • Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal TAJ MAHAL: architectural wonder of the world, built for Shah Jahan’s wife

END OF MONGOL RULE • Shah Jahan’s son seized the throne in 1658 • By his death in 1707, Mongol empire had gained territory, but lost its strength