ch 3 classical india.ppt

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Chapter

AP* Sixth Edition

World Civilizations

The Global Experience

World Civilizations

The Global Experience

Classical Civilization:

India

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Classical Civilization: India

I. The Framework for Indian History:

Geography and a Formative Period

II. Patterns in Classical India

III. Political Institutions

IV. Religion and Culture

V. Economy and Society

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The Framework for Indian History:

Geography and a Formative Period

Period of Aryan Incursions

–Buddhists and brahmans shape society

–Gupta dynasty emerges

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Formative influences

– Geography



Open to influences from the Middle East

• Alexander the Great



Himalayas

• Isolating, but passable

• Mountainous northern areas

• Deccan



Semitropical climate

• Monsoon rains

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The Great Epics

–Aryans



Indo-European pastoralists



Into Asia Minor, Europe, Iran from 2000s

B.C.E.

–Sanskrit epics of the Vedic Age



Rig-Veda

• 1028 hymns

–Epic Age, 1000-600 B.C.E.



Mahabharata

,

Ramayana



The Upanishads

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Society and Religion in the Vedic and Epic Ages

(1500-1000 and 1000-600

B.C.E.

)

–Caste system



Varnas

• Warriors, brahmans, traders and farmers, laborers

• Untouchables added later

• Brahmans replace warriors at the top during the Epic Age

–Religion elaborated



Upanishads

record developments

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Patterns in Classical India

End of formative era, c.600

B.C.E.

– From c. 600 to c. 300 B.C.E. plains divided

among rulers

– Sixteen major states

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Patterns in Classical India

The Mauryan Dynasty

– Chandragupta Maurya, 322 B.C.E.



Autocratic rule

– Ashoka (269-232 B.C.E.)



Grandson of Chandragupta



Conversion to Buddhism

• Becomes pacific, vegetarian

• Infrastructure: roads, hospitals, inns



Opposed by Brahmins

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Patterns in Classical India

The Guptas

– Collapse of Kushan state by 220 C.E.



Autocratic rule

– Guptas



From 320 C.E.



Long period of stable rule

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Political Institutions

Consistent tradition of regionalism

– Attempts to hold large areas



Mauryan rulers rely on armies



Guptas create taxation system, claim divine sanction

– In general simple political culture



Kautilya is an exception

• Chandragupta’s chief minister

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Political Institutions

Social organization

– Caste system becomes more rigid

– Yet social mobility existed

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Religion and Culture

Hinduism

–Origins in Vedic and Epic Eras

–No single founder, develops gradually

–Fluid, adaptable

–Brahmans



Develop abstract aspects of gods



Upanishads



Tension between ritual and spirituality

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Religion and Culture

Hinduism (cont’d)

–

Brahma

– holy essence

–Different paths for a good life



Yoga



Brahmans’ ritual



Personal devotion

–Dharma



Moral law

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Buddhism

–Siddhartha Gautama, born c. 563 B.C.E.



Takes to wandering life, asceticism

–Four Noble Truths

–Escape suffering by renouncing worldly things



Achievement of

nirvana

–Spread through work of monks



Conversion of Ashoka



Opposed by brahmans

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Religion and Culture

Arts and Sciences

–Literature



Strong traditions of storytelling



Drama

–University center under Guptas



Some borrowing from Greeks

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Religion and Culture

Arts and Sciences (cont’d)

–Mathematics



Originated “Arabic” system, including zero



Negative numbers, square roots

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Economy and Society

Society

–Caste system influences many aspects of life

–Status of women diminishes

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Economy

–Strong manufacturing



Textiles



Steel



Guilds, selling from shops

–Trade



Greater status than in China



Trade with East Asia, Middle East, Roman Empire,

Southeast Asia

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Indian Influence and

Comparative Features

Influence

–Indian Ocean a hub for contacts

–Buddhism carried to China

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Indian Influence and

Comparative Features

China and India Compared

–Chinese restraint versus Indian sensuality

–Sciences



Chinese prefer the practical



Indians interested in mathematics

–Popular worldviews



Hindu peasants had more local control

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Global Connections:

India and the Wider World

Open to influence

–Buddhism, spread both east and west

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