1. Chapter 3 Classical India
AP World History University High School

2. Geography of India
Most of India separated from rest of Asia; subcontinent.
Three regions:
Himalayas in N/NE (linked India to Middle East; barrier to China)
Northern Plains with Indus and Ganges Rivers (agriculture)
Southern plateau (relied on monsoons)

3. Aryans and the Vedic Age
Aryan (Indo-European) hunter-gatherer migrants came from central Asia to India.
Warlike; lighter skin; physically and culturally different
Vedic Age ( BCE): Indian agriculture flourished in Indus and Ganges Rivers.
Epic Age (1000 BCE – 600 BCE): Ramayana, Mahabharata and Upanishads created
600 BCE: India divided into 16 states
Sanskrit: literary language of Vedic culture
Religious texts: Vedas (hymns, sayings, prayers)
Indian Caste System: Indian social classes that divided gender as well

4. Diffusion of Early Indo-European Dialects

5. Indian Caste System
Aryans developed caste systems because they saw themselves as superior, and wanted to distinguish themselves from non-Aryans.
Castes were referred to as “colors” or varna
Explained by a creation myth
Sacrifice of Purusha and division of body led to castes
1) Mouth: Brahmins
2) Arms: Kshatriya
3) Legs: Vaisya
4) Feet: Sudra

6. Indian Caste System
Harijan – Untouchables, “outside” of the caste system,
Castes were hereditary; only marry within castes, and could not move out of your caste in your lifetime.
Hindu process of reincarnation moves the physical body up or down
Castes became much more complex over time; each caste subdivided into occupation, duties, families

7. Mauryan Empire (322 BCE-185 BCE)
327 BCE: Alexander the Great of Macedonia expanded to the Indus River Valley, where he set up a state named Bactria.
Threatened Indian communities (Aryans + non- Aryans)
322 BCE: Mauryan Empire founded by a soldier named Chandragupta Maurya to protect Indian territory.
Unified much of India by developed a large bureaucracy and a large army.
Promoted trade and communication.

10. Mauryan Empire (322 BCE-185 BCE)
Mauryan rulers were the first to unify most of the Indian subcontinent.
Varying terrain had made transportation and communication difficult; sub-cultures developed
Mauryan rule used political centralization

11. Ashoka's Rule
Ashoka was the most prominent Mauryan ruler ( BCE)
Extended Mauryan territory, gaining control of all but southern tip of India.
Known for brutality, but later converted to Buddhism and become peaceful.
Spread Buddhism throughout the subcontinent; continued to tolerate Hinduism.
Used Buddhism as basis for laws

12. Ashoka's Rule Public works projects (hospitals; parks; wells)
Improved trade routes that connected India to Silk Roads (kingdom was already located along Ganges River trade route; constructed extensive road system
Indian cultural influence spread widely because of trade and Buddhism, especially in Southeast Asia.

13. What were some of the Mauryan Empire’s major accomplishments?
Quick Review Question
What were some of the Mauryan Empire’s major accomplishments?

14. Kushans (30 CE – 375 CE)
After Ashoka’s death, Mauryan empire began to fall apart
Regional kingdoms surfaced.
Kushans invaded central India from NW

15. Kushans (30 CE – 375 CE)
Greatest Kushan king, Kanishka, converted to Buddhism but this hurt Buddhism’s popularity in India due to its association with foreign rule.

16. Guptas (320 CE – 550 CE)
Guptas established a large empire in 320 CE; an era of political stability.
King Chandra Gupta II ( CE): strongest leader
Took name of Mauryan founder
Guptas are Hindus; caste system and influence of Brahmins spread.
Buddhism was still tolerated; Buddhist monks and nuns spread religion beyond India through monasteries and trade routes.

17. Guptas (320 CE – 550 CE)
“Theatre state”: awe subjects into remaining loyal to the leader
Guptan palace was described as being “too beautiful to have been built by human hands”
Gupta political system was decentralized: local rulers could maintain authority in their respective territories if they ultimately submitted to Guptas.
Did not use a bureaucracy; allowed local rulers power

18. Gupta Golden Age Religion
Religious tolerance: Stupas in honor of Buddha; courtyards, paintings, sculptures
Lavish Hindu wall paintings and carving in caves (Ajanta)
Literature
Growth of Sanskrit as the language of the educated
Huge output of epic poems

19. Gupta Golden Age Guptas supported trade with low taxes
Strengthening of trade, both internal and external (especially between E and SE Asia)
Textiles (calico, cotton, wool, linen)

20. Gupta Golden Age, cont. Education
University at Nalanda: lecture halls, library, observatory
Math
Discovery of zero and development of “Arabic” numerals
Decimal system; negative numbers; square roots

21. Gupta Golden Age, cont. Science
Indian scientists borrowed from Greek learning via contact with Alexander the Great’s Bactria.
They used sterilization during surgery and in treatment of wounds.
Knowledge of plastic surgery
Bone-setting
Advances in astronomy (eclipses, identification of planets)
Circumference of the earth; theory of gravity
Herbal medicines
Caesarian deliveries

22. Gupta Decline By 500, Gupta India were invaded by the White Huns.
Other nomads drove further into central India.
Simultaneously, the influence of Gupta rulers was in decline as local princes became more powerful.
Similar to what occurred within Zhou China
600 CE, India fragmented into regional states ruled by princes (Rajput).

23. Gupta Decline
Although political decline occurred as a result of invasions, traditional Indian culture continued.
Buddhism became less popular, while Hinduism added to its followers.
Fragmentation along regional lines leads to weakness, which will lead to conquest by Muslims

24. What were some of the Gupta Empire’s major accomplishments?
Quick Review Question
What were some of the Gupta Empire’s major accomplishments?

25. Hinduism & Buddhism Hinduism (religion of majority)
Developed gradually over many centuries
Sacred texts: Vedas
No founder, no central holy figure
Buddhism
Developed in 563 BCE after Siddhartha Gautama, who becomes the Buddha (“enlightened one”)
Buddha accepted many Hindu beliefs but rejected its priests and the caste system it supported.
Buddhism didn’t “stick” in India despite Ashoka’s conversion, but spread throughout Asia

26. Concept of Universal Spirit
Hinduism has concept of universal spirit as do most Eastern religions
Universal spirit is responsible for what happens in universe
This spirit encompasses humans
All human souls (called atman) are pieces of the spirit trapped inside a physical body

27. What Happens when you Die?
Greatest desire of human soul is to unite with the universal spirit
When you die you have this opportunity
Each person has a karma
A destiny shaped by years of cause & effect
Your outward indication of your karma is the caste you live in

28. What Happens when you Die? (Continued)
Attached to karma is dharma
Dharma is your set of duties to perform
If you have fulfilled your set of duties or your dharma--- then
the atman will be reincarnated in the next life to a higher caste

29. Hinduism & caste system
Members of Brahmin caste in original Aryan religion had attained their status
Through many reincarnations
Higher castes have the opportunity to attain moksha
Moksha is reunion with universal spirit
Caste system in modern India is illegal
Buddhism was very critical of Hindu caste system

30. Is Hinduism polytheistic? Universal Spirit & individual gods
Simplistic to say that Hinduism is polytheistic
All the gods are part of the universal spirit
Is Hinduism is actually monotheistic?

31. Major Hindu gods Vishnu—the preserver
Vishnu is the second god of the Hindu triad
Known as preserver of the universe
Represents mercy and goodness
Said to be the cosmic ocean nara, meaning water
For this reason, he is also known as Narayana, or "one who moves on the waters"

32. Vishnu
Hindu gods often portrayed with multiple hands or mudras (hand signals)

33. Vishnu

34. Shiva—the destroyer Shiva is the destroyer of the world
Responsible for change in the form of death and destruction
Also, responsible for positive sense of destroying the ego
Includes shedding of old habits

35. Seated on tiger skin; tiger skin represents the Mind
Shiva
Seated on tiger skin; tiger skin represents the Mind

36. Vedas Doctrines of Hinduism stem from the Vedas
Epic poems sung by priests
Eventually written down
Rig Veda most significant
Deals with deities: Indra & Varuna & their relationship with humans

37. Hindu Poems & Stories Mahabharata Ramayana Bhagavad-Gita
World’s longest poem
Ramayana
Represents the fulfillment of dharma, especially relationships of husband & wife
Bhagavad-Gita
Best known story in Hinduism (part of Mahabharata)
About the warrior Arjuna

38. Bhagavad-Gita
Warrior Arjuna must go to battle against his cousins
His charioteer (god Krishan in disguise) reveals to him nature of human soul (atman) & cycle of rebirth
Poem is moral guideline as are all Hindu poems
You could start reading the Hindu poems at birth and never finish by end of your life

39. The Bhagavad-Gita
Our bodies are know to end, but the embodied Self is enduring, Indestructible, and immeasurable; therefore, Arjuna, fight the battle! he who thinks this Self a killer and he who thinks it killed, both fail to understand; it does not kill, nor is it killed.

40. The Bhagavad-Gita
It is not born, it does not die… it is enduring, all pervasive fixed, immobile, and timeless… The self embodied in the body of every being is indestructible; you have no cause to grieve for all these creatures, Arjuna!

41. Belief of Reincarnation
There is a “world spirit” or “supreme principle” called Brahman
This spirit present in everyone & living creatures
All are part of the “world spirit”
Goal of a Hindu is to return to Brahman
Be absorbed into this universal spirit
Takes more than one lifetime (reincarnation)
Speed of absorption depends on ones karma

42. Karma All of the good & bad acts of ones previous life
Good karma means you will be born into a better life
Caste system fits with this belief
Brahmins at top with knowledge of Vedas
Must perform correct dharma within your class to achieve good karma

43. Important Components in Hinduism
Attain perfect understanding
Reincarnation
Reach enlightenment or develop a relationship with the "universal spirit“
(known as Mokṣha)

44. Buddhism
Buddha taught that everyone could reach nirvana or union with the universal spirit
Different from Hinduism that related reincarnating to the caste system
Hinduism saw individuals going through the various castes based on their previous life
Reaching nirvana in Buddhism means not suffering

45. Buddhism
Nirvana in Buddhism is similar to Hindu belief of attaining moksha
Moksha, however, could only be attained by upper classes
Nirvana can be reached through understanding the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path

46. Buddhism & Four Noble Truths
All of life is suffering
All suffering is caused by desire for things that ultimately won’t fulfill us
Desire can only be overcome by ending all desire
Desire can only be ended by following the Eightfold Path

47. Buddhism & Eightfold Path
Right understanding
Right concentration
Right intention
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness

48. Buddhism & Eightfold Path
By following the eightfold path anyone can reach nirvana
Buddhism broad appeal is that anyone can achieve satisfaction in life

49. Art in India Stupas: spherical Buddhist shrines
Art was less realistic, and more stylistic
Art was very colorful and was inspired by religion.

50. Economy and Society in India
Caste system
Created social order by regulating marriages and dictating rights (lower caste members had fewer rights)
Family life
Close family units; respect for elders
Patriarchal society; rights of women limited; sati
Code of Manu: “A woman must never be independent”
System of arranged marriages; women cannot remarry

51. Sati

52. Economy and Society in India
Extensive trade both within the subcontinent and in Indian Ocean trade.
Emphasis on trade (cinnamon, elephants, salt, fish)
Excelled in iron-making
Produced textiles, cotton
Agriculturally based