“Classical Era” in the East

Early Indian Civilizations ●Indian civilization developed on the Indus River. ●Located on the Indus River, the Harappan civilization also had contact with people far from India. ●Harappan achievements included a writing system, city planning, and art.

Archaeologists think that the Harappan civilization thrived between 2300 and 1700 BC. The Harappan civilization controlled large areas on both sides of the Indus River. The largest settlements were two cities:Harappa and Mohenjo Daro. The Harappan civilization was dependent on agriculture and grew a variety of crops—from wheat and barley to dates and vegetables. The Harappan’s traded with people as far away as southern India and Mesopotamia.

Developed India’s first writing system Scholars cannot read this system. Must rely on other clues to study Harappan society Writing System Skilled engineers Towering fortresses were built near each city. Streets were lined with storehouses, workshops, market stalls, and houses. Built extensive sewer systems City Planning Artistic Achievements Skilled artisans Sturdy pottery vessels, jewelry, and ivory objects

Harappan civilization ended by the early 1700s BC. No one is sure why their civilization ended. Perhaps invaders or natural disasters caused the civilization to collapse.

Aryan’s -came from central Asia -crossed mountain passes through Himalayas -arrived in India about 1500 B.C. -Nomadic people -herding cattle -developed:iron weapons and horse drawn chariots -enabled them to conquer neighbors -moved into the Ganges River Valley pushing Dravidian people further south -900 B.C. Aryan’s formed city states in the major river valleys -Ruled by its own ruler -Developed Sanskrit-form of writing -Sign of education & wealth Only taught to members of higher castes

Empires of India: The Ayran Invasion Arrival and Spread First arrived in India in the 2000s BC Originally from the area around the Caspian Sea in Central Asia Spread east and south into central India Most of what we know about Aryan society comes from the Vedas Government and Society Nomads who eventually settled in villages and began to farm Lived in small communities based on family ties Villages were governed by rajas. Groups often fought each other Language Did not read or write Memorized poems and hymns that were important to their culture Sanskrit was the most important language in ancient India. Sanskrit is no longer spoken today.

Gods:many,manifestation(form) of one supreme being Hinduism Major beliefs Gods:many,manifestation(form) of one supreme being Reincarnation:at death soul is reborn as another living thing,endless cycle of rebirth for each soul Karma:behavior determines form in the next life good life=reborn in a higher caste not good=reborn into lower caste Sacred Objects: Ganges River=power to wash away sin & evil Cow

Guide explaining way of life from birth to death No single Holy Book Two Texts contain major beliefs Upanishads Bhagavad-Gita The Caste System Divided into 5 hereditary classes=castes Brahmin-priests Kshatriyas-warriors Vaishyas-landowners Shudras-peasants Untouchables-gravediggers & trash collectors completely outside social order

Caste System

Mixing of Aryan and Dravidian peoples led to new social order Secure status Aryan’s put into effect new social and religious rules Aryan’s occupied higher social classes priests,warriors,landowners Caste lines rigid and based on birth People lacked all social mobility(ability to change social classes) Not permitted to marry outside their caste

Buddhism around 500B.C. Siddartha Gautama(563-487 B.C) wealthy prince in Nepal shocked by all human suffering left wealth,wife,two children in search for TRUTH Enlightened-all suffering caused by selfish human desires End suffering accept world as is and block own selfish desires

“Buddha” or the “Enlightened One” Major beliefs of Buddhism based on philosophy of self-control and meditation reincarnation Gods and Holy Books No single supreme being No primary holy book beliefs found in Sutras

Four Noble Truths explain life’s meaning All life is suffering Suffering caused by our (craving)human desires (material wealth and selfish pleasures) Suffering can only be stopped by ending our craving Only a carefully disciplined and moral life,such as a life of concentration and meditation,can end our craving

Eightfold Path Give up selfish human desires one should follow this path: Right goals Right perspectives Be aware Act in worthy manner Speak truthfully Live righteously Respect all living things Meditate Nirvana-by following Eightfold Path one can escape the soul’s endless reincarnations and achieve a state of eternal peace and bliss(Nirvana)

Spread of Buddhism attracted many followers Missionaries helped spread throughout all of India Spread southwards from Northern India to Skrilanka, Burma, Thailand, Indochina, and other Southeast Asian countries Northwards:Himalayan Kingdoms of Bhutan and Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia and other parts of Central Asia China,Korea,Japan Popular:It rejected the caste system

The Maurya Empire 321 BCE – 185 BCE

Mauryan Empire (321 B.C.-232 C.E.) After northwestern invasion by Alexander the Great of northwestern India rise of great Hindu empires King Chandragupta challenged Greeks and established Mauryan Empire (Afghanistan-Ganges

Chandragupta: 321 BCE-298 BCE Unified northern India. Defeated the Persian general Seleucus. Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law enforcement. 301 BCE gave up his throne & became a Jain.

Asoka (304 – 232 BCE) Fought series of wars to enlarge empires After 8 years of constant warfare grew horrified of bloodshed of battle which prompted him to renounce violence and convert to Buddhism wins people’s loyalty by acts of kindness,promoting welfare and kindness decreed people of all religions should live peacefully with one another improved roads built hospitals sent teachers throughout empire to encourage education promoted Buddhism-built Buddhist shrines throughout India & sent missionaries to other lands Despite success Mauryan Empire began to fall apart after his death

Asoka’s Empire

The Maurya Empire is divided into many kingdoms.

Gupta Empire: (320 A.D.-535 A.D.)

Astronomers earth not flat,but round and rotated on it’s axis calculated solar year shape and movement of bodies in space with accuracy Medicine Physicians set bones and performed minor skin grafts Prosperous period drew to a close around 500A.D. Huns,war-like tribe from Central Asia,invaded northwestern India,causing Gupta Empire to disintegrate into smaller states

Gupta family emerged United territory around Ganges River Emperors encouraged peace,prosperity,and trade with foreign lands especially China “Golden Age of Hindu Culture”-two centuries of Gupta rule marked by peace and stability accompanied by strides in arts and literature built universities supported learning arts painted colorful murals literature poems and plays written in Sanskrit excelled in science & mathematics concept of zero idea of infinity decimal system (Arabic numerals used throughout the world today,were first developed in India during this period)

Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & architecture. Gupta Art Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & architecture.

Gupta Achievements Gupta India Literature Medicine Astronomy 1000 diseases classified 500 healing plants identified Printed medicinal guides Kalidasa Literature Plastic Surgery Medicine Gupta India Inoculations C-sections performed Solar Calendar Astronomy Mathematics Decimal System The earth is round PI = 3.1416 Concept of Zero

International Trade Routes during the Guptas