India and Southeast Asia 1500 B.C.E. – 600 C.E

Chapter Objectives - Mauryan vs. Gupta Empires SPICE Charts - Reasons for each Empires decline? - Understand the rise of Hinduism & Buddhism - Know early Indian Ocean Trade

Chapter VI Quote “I have enforced the law against killing certain animals and many others, but the greatest progress of righteousness among men comes from the exhortation in favor of non-injury to life and abstention from killing living beings.” Ashoka

Mr. Whitaker quote “DUDE! You just killed about a million people! Lay off the BS about Love & Peace. Okay, you’ve changed your ways, you’re sitting around a campfire, smoking pot & singing Kumbaya – Got it! DUDE! You just killed about a million people! ”

(Region 2)

Foundations of Indian Civilization 1500 B.C.E. – 300 C.E. The Indian Subcontinent Monsoon Seasonal Winds Sea Trade begins! Ship developed: Dhow

Foundations of Indian Civilization 1500 B.C.E. – 300 C.E. The Vedic Age 1500 to 500 B.C.E. Aryans invaded India, conquered Dravidians Vedas: Religious texts, recorded the interactions Iron allowed migration to Ganges River valley; fertile soil & monsoon rains Upanishads – Blended Religious texts of Aryan & Dravidian beliefs = Hinduism Aryans used the Caste System to stay in power

The Vedic Age 1500 to 500 B.C.E. Varna – Social Classes of India (Caste System) Brahmin – Priests & Scholars Kshatriya – Warriors & Officials Vaishya – Merchants, Artisans, & Land Owners Shudra – Peasants & Laborers Untouchables – Leather Tanning, Waste Removal Jati – birth groups; determined jobs, marriage, friends Through Karma you moved between classes The Goal was moksha - release from this world

Challenges to Old Order: Jainism & Buddhism Not everyone accepted rigid Social Classes (Buddha) Some moved into the forest & through meditation attempted to achieve Moksha Jainists believed in ultra non-violence, & sometimes starved to death (Don’t step on Ants!) Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) created Buddhism Four Noble Truths: (Hated the Caste System) Life is suffering, it comes from desire, solution to suffering: curb desire, desire can be curbed by: The Eightfold Path – The “Right” Views of life

The Evolution of Hinduism Vedic religion became Hinduism in 4th Century C.E. Brahma, Vishnu, & Shiva became main deities Today 4 main sects of Hinduism w/different beliefs Most believe gods are manifestations of Brahma (some believe Buddha was incarnation of Vishnu) Through adherence to good Karma and reincarnation, one can achieve Moksha, release from this world

Imperial Expansion and Collapse 324 B.C.E. – 550 C.E. Mauryan Empire, 324 - 184 B.C.E. India’s 1st centralized empire & largest for 1600 years Ashoka was the 3rd & most notable ruler Extended boundaries of the empire After a bloody battle, he converted to Buddhism! Posted his message of nonviolence & tolerance throughout empire on carved pillars & stones Empire continued for 40 years after Ashoka’s death Roads & towns created by the Mauryan Empire allowed India to remain prosperous without empire

The Gupta Empire 320-550 C.E. Smaller and less powerful than the Mauryan Empire Local governors were allowed great autonomy Mostly interested in Tribute of surrounding areas rather than conquest & control First example of a “Theater-State” (Acquired prestige & power by developing attractive cultural forms & staging elaborate public ceremonies) Developed the concept of zero and “Arabic” numerals Women were marginalized in India as well & lost nearly all rights to: father, husband, son Women married at 6 or 7; sati - expectation of widows to die with her husband on his funeral pyre

Map – p. 191

Southeast Asia, 50 C.E. - 600 C.E. Climate & resources enabled Southeast Asia to support large populations Located on the Trade & Pilgrimage routes between China & India, Southeast Asia came under strong Hindu & Buddhist influence Shrewd rulers used Indian knowledge & personnel to enhance their power & prestige Funan rose to prominence between the 1st & 6th centuries C.E. by controlling trade route across the Malay Peninsula