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Ancient Civilization in India

Early Civilization in India BCE in the Indus River Valley (“Indus River Valley Civilization”) Over a thousand settlements, two major cities (that we know of): – Harappa – Mohenjo-Daro

Cities Harappa: 35,000 people Mohenjo-Daro: 35,000-40,000 people Carefully planned cities – broad streets (north/south) and smaller roads (east/west) Walled neighborhoods, “large” houses (3 stories high) constructed of mud bricks Public wells, bathrooms, drainage, trash chutes

Government & Economy Connection between religious & political power – Rulers based on divine power – Royal palace and holy temple combined into a citadel (fortress) Economy based on farming (relied on annual Indus River floods) Traded with city-states in Mesopotamia via ship over the Persian Gulf

Decline of Indus Valley Civ. Floods, earthquakes, change in climate, and change in course of Indus River caused decline Final collapse came from Aryan invaders

Aryan Invasion (1500 BCE) Indo-European nomadic people moved from central Asia – conquered Indus Valley Civ. Excelled at art of war (common to nomadic people) and slowly conquered most of India Major contributions to culture: – Sanskrit – Caste System – Hinduism

Aryan Society Pastoral nomads – gave up for farming settlements in India Developed written system of Sanskrit (1000 BCE) Early India was “a world of warring kingdoms and shifting alliances” – competition between different rajas (princes) and chieftains

Family in Ancient India Extended family, patriarchal Women – Could not inherit property, serve as priests, or be educated – Suttee: dead are burned on funeral pyres and the wife was required to throw herself on her dead husband’s flaming pyre

Hinduism Vedas – written collection of religious beliefs Belief in single force in the universe: Brahman 6 th century BCE – idea of Reincarnation* – *Reincarnation provides a spiritual justification for caste system. Goal: to merge with Brahman after death Karma: what people do in their current lives determines where they will be in their next lives Dharma: the divine law that must be followed Yoga: method of physical training to lead to “oneness with God”

Brahma the Creator Vishnu the Preserver Shiva the Destroyer

Buddhism 6 th c. BCE – Siddhartha Gautama founds a new religion

Buddhism Goal: to achieve nirvana (the end of the self and a reunion with the Great World Soul) Four Noble Truths – Ordinary life is full of suffering. – This suffering is caused by our desire to satisfy ourselves. – The way to end suffering is to end desire for selfish goals and to see others as extensions of ourselves. – The way to end desire is to follow the Middle Path.

The Middle/Eightfold Path Right views Right aspirations Right speech Right conduct Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right contemplation Dharma Wheel

Transition Aryans brought little political unity – faced threats from Persia, the Greeks, and the Macedonians Alexander the Great (Macedonian king) conquered India (327 BCE) but they soon left and gave rise to a new dynasty – the Mauryan Dynasty

Mauryan Dynasty Founded by Chandragupta Maurya who drove out foreign forces and established capital at Pataliputra (northern India) – Highly centralized, provinces ruled by governors, large army, secret police – Always feared assassination

Reign of Asoka Flourished under grandson of Maurya “Greatest ruler in the history of India” Expanded trade – India became crossroads between East and West Used Buddhism to guide his rule – Hospitals – Trees and shelters along road for travelers Died in 232 BCE – decline – eventual collapse

Kushan Kingdom 1 st century CE – founded by nomadic warriors in north (rest of India – fighting kingdoms) Masters of trade route: Silk Road – Route from eastern China to Mesopotamia (4,000 miles) – Carried luxury goods via camel caravans Invaded by Persia in 3 rd century CE

Kingdom of the Guptas 320 CE – new kingdom in central Ganges Valley by Chandragupta – capital at Pataliputra Empire expanded by son Samudragupta Dominant political force throughout northern India; also established loose control over central India New age of Indian civilization – Tolerance of Buddhism – Prosperity/trade – Large cities with temples along trade routes – Kings lived in luxury Invaded by Huns (nomadic people from the northwest)

Ancient Indian Literature – Vedas (earliest; religious text) – Historical epics: Mahabharata and Ramayana Bhagavad Gita (most famous section; sermon by Krishna setting forth emphasis on moral rightness)

Ancient Indian Architecture Mauryan Dynasty – spread of Buddhist architecture (especially reign of Asoka)

Ancient Indian Science – Recognized the Earth was round – Charted movements of the heavens – Mathematics Aryabhata: most famous mathematician of Gupta Empire – one of the first scientists to use algebra – introduced the concept of zero