HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 1 State, Society, & the Quest for Salvation In India (7) The Fortunes of Empire in Classical India What factors contribute to the Legend of Ashoka? Ashoka Column & Lion Capital

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 2 The Fortunes of Empire in Classical India The Mauryan Dynasty & the Temporary Unification of India State, Society, & the Quest for Salvation in India The Mauryan & Gupta Empires, 321 B.C.E. – 550 C.E.

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 3 India Before the Mauryan Dynasty 520 BCE Persian Emperor Darius conquers north-west India Introduces Persian ruling pattern 327 Alexander of Macedon destroys Persian Empire in India Troops mutiny, departs after 2 years Political power vacuum

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 4 The Mauryan Dynasty & the Temporary Unification of India Kingdom of Magadha Most significant remaining kingdom after Alexander’s departure Central Ganges plain Economic strength Agriculture Trade in Ganges valley, Bay of Bengal Dominated surrounding regions in north-eastern India State, Society, & the Quest for Salvation in India

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 5 Chandragupta Maurya Power vacuum left by Alexander Overthrew Magadha rulers Expanded kingdom to create 1 st unified Indian empire Mauryan Dynasty Government Advisor Kautalya Recorded in Arthashastra, manual of political statecraft Foreign policies, economics Domestic policies ~ spy network Legend: Chandragupta retires to become a monk, starves himself to death

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 6 The Mauryan Dynasty & the Temporary Unification of India Chandragupta Maurya Chandragupta’s Government Ashoka Maurya Decline of the Mauryan Empire State, Society, & the Quest for Salvation in India Ashoka coins – symbol stamps

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 7 Decline of the Mauryan Empire Economic crisis follows death of Ashoka High costs of bureaucracy, military not supported by tax revenue Regions begin to abandon Mauryan Empire Disappears by 185 BCE Ashoka Lion Capital ~ Legacy

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 8 The Fortunes of Empire in Classical India The Emergence of Regional Kingdoms and the Revival of Empire Bactrian Rule in Northwestern India The Kushan Empire The Gupta Dynasty Gupta Decline State, Society, & the Quest for Salvation in India

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 9 Regional Kingdom: Bactria Northwestern India Ruled by Greek-speaking descendants of Alexander’s campaigns Intense cultural activity accompanies active trade

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 10 The Gupta Dynasty Based in Magadha Founded by Chandra Gupta (no relation to Chandragupta Maurya), c. 320 CE Slightly smaller than Mauryan Empire Highly decentralized leadership Gupta Decline Frequent invasions of White Huns, 5 th c. CE Gupta Dynasty disintegrates along regional fault lines Smaller local kingdoms dominate until Mughal Empire founded in 16 th c.

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 11 Gupta Decline Frequent invasions of White Huns, 5 th c. CE Gupta Dynasty disintegrates along regional fault lines Smaller local kingdoms dominate until Mughal Empire founded in 16 th c.

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 12 Society & Economy Gender Relations Patriarchy entrenched Child marriage common (8 year old girls married to men in 20s) Women encouraged to remain in private sphere Castes & Guilds Wealth & the Social Order Economy: Towns & Manufacturing Manufactured goods in big demand Developed in dense network of small workshops Trade intense, capitalizes on trade routes across India

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 13 Long-Distance Trade Persian connection since Cyrus, Darius Massive road-building projects under Persian rule Alexander extends trade west to Macedon Trade routes through Kush mountains, the silk roads Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin Seasonal sea trade expands Spring/winter winds blow from south-west, fall/winter winds blow from north-west Trade from Asia to Persian Gulf and Red Sea, Mediterranean

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 14 Religions of Salvation in Classical India Social change generated resentment of caste privilege e.g. Brahmins free from taxation 6 th -5 th c. BCE new religions & philosophies challenge status quo Charvakas: atheists Jainists, Buddhists

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 15 Jainism Vardhamana Mahavira, BCE Abandoned privileged family to lead ascetic life Promotes 7 th c. movement based on Upanishads Emphasis on selfless living, concern for all beings Ahimsa Principle of extreme non-violence Jainists sweep earth, strain water, use slow movements to avoid killing insects Ahimsa continues to inspire modern movements (Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr.) Appeal Rejected caste, jati distinctions Obvious appeal to underprivileged groups But asceticism too extreme to become a mass movement

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 16 Religions of Salvation in Classical India ~ Early Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama Gautama’s Search for Enlightenment The Buddha & his Followers Doctrine: The Dharma Appeal of Buddhism Ashoka’s Support Mahayana Buddhism Development of Buddhism The Spread of Mahayana Buddhism Nalanda State, Society, & the Quest for Salvation in India Sanchi Stupa

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 17 Early Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama, c BCE Encountered age, sickness, death, then monastic life Abandoned comfortable life to become a monk Sarnath

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 18

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 19 The Buddha & his Followers Begins teaching new doctrine c. 528 BCE Followers owned only robes, food bowls Life of wandering, begging, meditation Establishment of monastic communities

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 20 Buddhist Doctrine: The Dharma The Four Noble Truths all life is suffering there is an end to suffering removing desire removes suffering this may be done through the eight-fold path (right views, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration)

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 21 Appeal of Buddhism Less dependence on Brahmins for ritual activities No recognition of caste, jati status Philosophy of moderate consumption Public service through lay teaching Use of vernacular, not Sanskrit

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 22 Ashoka’s Support of Buddhism Personal conversion to Buddhism Disillusioned after violent war with Kalinga Banned animal sacrifices, mandated vegetarianism in court Material support for Buddhist institutions, missionary activities

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 23 Changes in Buddhist thought 3 rd c. BCE – 1 st c. CE Buddha considered divine Institution of Bodhisattvas (“saints”) Charitable donations to monasteries regarded as pious activity

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 24 Spread of Mahayana Buddhism Mahayana (“greater vehicle”), newer development India, China, Japan, Korea, central Asia Hinayana (“lesser vehicle,” also Theravada), earlier version Ceylon, Burma, Thailand

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 25 Nepal ~ Sacred Landscapes

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 26 Nalanda Buddhist Monastery Quasi-university: Buddhism, Hindu texts, philosophy, astronomy, medicine Peak at end of Gupta dynasty Helped spread Indian thought E.g. mathematical number zero

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 27 The Emergence of Popular Hinduism The Epics Mahabharata Ramayana Emphasis on god Vishnu & his incarnations The Bhagavad Gita “Song of the Lord” Centuries of revisions, final form c. 400 CE Dialogue between Arjuna & Krishna during civil war Religions of Salvation in Classical India

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 28 Hindu Ethics Emphasis on meeting class obligations (dharma) Pursuit of economic well-being and honesty (artha) Enjoyment of social, physical & sexual pleasure (kama) Salvation of the soul (moksha) Popularity of Hinduism

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 29 Hinduism ~ Puja

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 30 Varanasi ~ City of Light

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 31 Sources From the Past: Caste Duties According to the Bhagavad Gita “Having regard to your own duty you ought not to falter, for there is nothing better for a kshatriya than a righteous battle. Happy those kshatriyas who can find such a battle - an open door to heaven!” - The Bhagavad Gita State, Society, & the Quest for Salvation in India

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 32 Key Words & Terms (7) Chandragupta Maurya Ashoka Kalinga Bhagavad-Gita Brahmin Dharma Arthashastra Jati Hinduism Ramayana Krishna Mahabharata Jainism Mahavira Siddharta Gautama Buddha, Enlightened One Four Noble Truths stupas bodhisattva Mahayana Buddhism Theravada

HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 33 Homo sapiens (consciously thinking human) evolved around 200,000 years ago. Between 9000 and 3500 BCE agriculture had appeared in most regions of the earth. Between 3500 and 500 BCE complex societies (large scale social organization) arose independently In Mesopotamia, southwest Asia, Africa, south & east Asia, the Americas & Oceania, formal institutions of government, distinct social classes & religious beliefs, productive economies & long-distance trade characterized these complex societies. Various peoples of the world influenced each other through cross- cultural interaction & exchange By the end of the first millennium BCE early societies in the Mediterranean basin, China, India and Persia achieved high degrees of internal organization & extended their authority & cultural traditions over large regions. The Achaemenid empire inaugurated a new era in world history (6 th century BCE) ~ the Classical Era, as the Qin Empire united central China, and the Mauryan Dynasty united India. These empires integrated peoples from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indus River & beyond to China and wielded enormous cultural, economic and political influence. Unit I Summary