Chapter 3 Classical Civilization: India

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Chapter 3 Classical Civilization India

• 1600-1000 B.C.E. Aryan invasions of India
• 1500-1000 B.C.E. Vedic Age

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Aryan Migration

• pastoral ? depended on their cattle.
• warriors ? horse-drawn chariots.

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The Vedic Age
The foundations for Hinduism were established!
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The Framework for Indian History Geography and a
Formative Period

• Alexander the Great Greek invader who provided
  important contacts between India and Hellenistic
  culture
• Aryans During Vedic and Epic ages these
  Indo-Europeans migrants developed the regions
  first epic stories, later written down in
  Sanskrit. Their rigid ideas abut social order
  influenced India's castes system

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• Himalayas Northern mountain ranges
• Monsoon wind and rain
• Sanskrit The first literary language of India,
  introduced by the Aryans. Under the Guptas, it
  became the language of educated people but never
  became the universal language of India. Was the
  language of the Vedas, the sacred books of early
  India.

Buddha
Vedas Meaning hymns to the gods four ancient
books of Aryan religious traditions in which can
be found the origins of Hinduism.
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• Vedic Age Means knowledge
• Epic poems
• A. Mahabharata
• B. Ramayana
• C. Upanishads

• Jati basic castes, divided into smaller
  subgroups
• Brahma Hindu idea that a basic holy essence
  formed part of everything in the world
• Indra Aryan god of thunder and lightening

India at the Time of Ashoka
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Sanskrit writing
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The Vedas

• 1200 BCE-600 BCE.
• written in SANSKRIT.
• Hindu core of beliefs
• hymns and poems.
• religious prayers.
• magical spells.
• lists of the gods and goddesses.

Rig Veda ? oldest work.
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• Patterns in Classical India
• Development of Sanskrit language
• Chandragupta Maurya 322-298- B.C.E. Ruler of a
  small Ganges Valley state who defeated the Greeks
  in the area and made himself king in322 B.C.E. He
  then created and enlarged the Mauryan Empire.
  highly autocratic
• Ashoka Greatest Mauryan ruler. Gained all but
  the southern tip of India through conquest.
  Converted to and greatly promoted Buddhism.

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• Dharma law of moral consequences, a kind of
  ethical guide - Ashoka propagated Buddhism
  throughout India while honoring Hinduism.
• Kushans Invaders of India c. 100 B.C.E. who
  were gradually absorbed into Indian culture and
  became the Kshatriya caste.

Taj Mahal
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• Gupta Empire began in 320 C.E. and provided two
  centuries of political stability. Overturned in
  535 C.E. by invading Huns

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• Political Institutions
• Gupta uniform law codes
• Promoted Sanskrit
• Regionalism and political diversity dominated
  classical Indian political life
• Increase complex caste system
• Caste system allowed various race to live
  together without perpetual conflict and without
  full integration of cultures and values.

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Varnas (Social Classes - Hierarchy)
Brahmins - Priests
Initially warriors were highest during Epic
Age, Brahmins replaced them as highest
Kshatriyas Warriors
Vaishyas Traders and Farmers
Shudras Common Labors
Pariahs Harijan ? Untouchables
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Religion and Culture

• Hinduism The religion of Indias majority,
  developing at first in the Vedic and Epic ages.
  Hinduism has no single founder or central holy
  figure, unlike all other major religions.
• Dharma A Hindu concept that was a guide to
  living in this world and at the same time
  pursuing spiritual goals.
• Vishnu and Shiva Two important gods in the
  enormous Hindu pantheon. Vishnu was the preserver
  and Shiva the destroyer.

Shiva as Celestial dancer The Destroyer
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• Reincarnation Hindu idea in which souls do not
  die when bodies do but pass into other beings,
  either human or animal. Where the soul goes
  depends on how good a life that person has led.
• Gurus Hindu mystics who gathered disciples
  around themselves.
• Yoga Hindu practice of mediation and
  self-discipline which has the goal to free the
  mind to concentrate on the divine spirit.
• Bhagavad Gita Hindu sacred hymn which details
  the story of Arjuna, a warrior, who struggles
  with the decision of whether to go to battle
  against his own family

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• Siddhartha Gautama - Buddha the Enlightened
  One
• 563-483 B.C.E. Creator of a major Indian and
  Asian religion born in the 6th century B.C.EE.
  As son of a local ruler among Aryan tribes
  located near Himalayas became an ascetic found
  enlightenment could be achieved only be
  abandoning desire for all earthy things.

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Economy and Society

• India develop extensive trade
• Rights of women limited
• Economy vigorous especially trade
• Merchants traded from the Roman Empire to
  Indonesia to China

Millions of gods in Hinduism
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Indian Influence

• Indian cultural influence spread in southeast
  Asia
• Buddhism was a leading cultural export
• Political dominance of outside peoples was not a
  characteristic of Indian governments

Hinduism expands
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In Depth Inequality as the Social Norm

• Indian caste system humans are inherently
  unequal
• All classical systems played down the
  importance of the individual
• All societys throughout history few challenged
  the natural order of social hierarchy

White indicates the Brahmin Caste
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China and India

• Both stable structures over large areas
• India primary religion - Hinduism
• China - separate religions
• China art practical technology
• India mathematics trade played a greater role
• Both relied on large peasant classes in agrarian
  settings political power based on land ownership

Bathing in Ganges
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Global Connections India and the Wider World

• Open to outside influence
• Innovations in math and science
• Buddhism one of the world major religions
• Placed between the great empires and trading
  networks of the Mediterranean and China, Indian
  influenced both East and West.