A Mad Dash Through History India A Mad Dash Through History

Geography SOUTH Asia – The “Indian Subcontinent” 3 Topographical Regions Northern India: Mountain Zone & Indus/Ganges Basins Southern Peninsula: Flatlands & Sri Lanka Separated from the north by Deccan plateau

The Vedic Age (1500-500 BCE) Invasion by Aryans into N. India (1000 BCE) Indo-European nomads (Central Asian) Warrior people Domesticated horse Early iron workers

Aryan Control in India Politics: Economy: Religion: Individual city-states with local rulers Aryan language (Sanskrit) in the North – Dravidic languages continue in the South Economy: Small, self-sufficient communities Introduction of iron technology Religion: Local Indian gods continue to be worshipped Aryan scriptures = Vedas (thus “Vedic Age”) Combined elements create Hinduism

Aryan Social Structure Varna = Color (came to mean class) Brahmins – scholars & priests (classes occupied by Aryans) Kshatriyas – government officials & warriors Vaishyas – merchants, artisans, & farmers Shudra – peasants & laborers Dalits (untouchables) – not part of the class structure, did most demeaning work Strict segregation; little/no mobility Reincarnation/karma beliefs helped justify/explain the class structure

Challenges to Brahmin Power Aryan religion/social structure placed Brahmin priests on top 2 challenges to this structure: Jainism & Buddhism Jainists – ascetics, practiced non-violence Buddhists – followers of Siddhartha Gautama Focused on the individual, less emphasis on the gods Brahmin response: codified religious traditions into Hinduism

Vedic Age Ends With Darius & Alexander

The Mauryan Empire Greek control of India ended with Alexander’s death in 324 BCE Power vacuum filled in N. India filled by Chandragupta Centralized government control over regional kingdoms Territory expanded by grandson Ashoka

Ashoka Major figure in classical Indian history: Early career: brutal military commander, extended the empire into S. India Battle of Kalinga – 260 BCE 100,000 Kalingans died; 150,000 driven from home More died from disease/starvation in the aftermath Ashoka was overwhelmed by brutality, converted to Buddhism & preached non-violence, morality, moderation, religious tolerance Published this program on rock pillars spread throughout empire

Trade & Economy Economy based on agriculture United India increased trade Roads were renovated, towns built textile industries Uniform system of currency, weights & measures Provinces ruled by governors who collected taxes and enforced laws Taxes rose to pay for Ashoka’s projects Trade: silk cotton and spices to Mesopotamia, China, Egypt, and Rome

Social Structure Varna (caste) system still in place – limited social opportunities and controlled who people could marry Patriarchal society – eldest male controlled family Laws limited women’s opportunities Sati was practiced: widows burned themselves on their husband’s funeral pyre Buddhist women had more rights Single women could become nuns

Political Fragmentation After Ashoka’s death, Mauryan Empire declines Trade network/roads allow small kingdoms to maintain contact Merchants become politically powerful Small kingdoms rose in Central/Southern India Deccan Plateau: Andhra dynasty Southern India: Tamil Kingdoms

Reunification Under Gupta (320-550 CE)

Gupta Politics Grew out of kingdom of Magadha, capital at Pataliputra (former home of the Mauryans) Modeled after Mauryan Emperors: Chandra Gupta, Samudra Gupta, Chandra Gupta II Never had the military might of Mauryans “persuaded” territories to join the empire Married neighboring princess Splendor, beauty, orderliness of life at the capital Rituals and ceremonies meant to impress “Theater-state”

Gupta Economy Government owned mines (metals & salt), collected rent money from farmers Trade along the Silk Roads went through Gupta territory Indians: ivory, jewels, textiles, salt, iron Romans: glass, jewels, clothes China: silk, spices, tea, porcelain Additional profits from religious trade & religious pilgrims

Gupta Social Structure Gupta returned Hinduism to primary religion Change in architecture as Hindu styles became more prominent Loss of status for women Could not own property Could not study sacred texts or participate in rituals Women expected to obey father  husband  sons Child marriage became common (sometimes as young as 6 years old) Sati became more common

Gupta Math/Science Astronomers, mathematicians, scientists received government support Developed concept of zero; “Arabic” numerals Charted star movements; earth is round Developments in medicine