1. Classical India, Hinduism, and Buddhism

2. Hinduism Atman: human soul
Brahman: creator of the universe, supreme being
Dharma: universal principle of law, order, and harmony; how to live an appropriate life
Samsara: rebirth/reincarnation
Karma: action or deed that causes samsara
Moksha: liberation from samsara

3. Hinduism Devas: Hindu gods
Descend to Earth as avatars to help humans achieve moksha
Humans must follow dharma in order to have good karma
Karma determines into which caste you are reincarnated
Goal is to end samsara and unite your atman with Brahman

4. Varnas in Caste System
May have been based on mixing of invading lighter-skinned Aryans and native Indians
Brahmin: priests, teachers
Kshatriya: warriors, rulers
Vaisya: artisans, merchants, farmers, herders
Sudra: laborers, peasant farmers
Varna, codified in the caste system, originated most likely as the lighter-skinned Aryans migrated into the Gangetic plain, and was used to distinguish themselves from the darker-skinned natives. The system helped to accommodate the constant influx of varied people and immediately defined them in the Indian culture. You were born into your varna, and it was very difficult to move out of it. Jatis, or occupational subgroups, divided the varnas into smaller and more distinct sections in which a person worked, married, and interacted.
Untouchables (Dalit): handled corpses and animal skins

5. Hindu Texts Vedas (written by 600 BCE) Upanishads (800-400 BCE)
Collection of poems, hymns, prayers, and rituals
Upanishads ( BCE)
Mystical interpretations of the Vedas
Mahabharata (400 BCE)
Epic poem about a battle within a family
Bhagavad Gita—Krishna counsels Arjuna
Ramayana (400 BCE)
Epic poem about duties of relationships

6. Buddhism

7. Siddhartha Gautama (ca. 566-486 BCE)
Wealthy Indian prince
Lived luxuriously until he was exposed to suffering
Sought to overcome suffering by being an ascetic
Followed the Middle Way to achieve nirvana
Became the Buddha (“Enlightened One”)
Taught others the Four Noble Truths

8. Middle Way Path between indulgence and asceticism
Remove desire and craving for individual fulfillment to end suffering
Live modestly, meditate, compassion for all beings
Nirvana: enlightenment, extinguishing of the self, removal of greed, hatred, delusion

9. Appeal of Buddhism Egalitarian
No caste system
Individual was responsible for spiritual enlightenment
No need for Brahmins
Buddhist teachings were available in local language
Written down as sutras
Written in Pali, not Sanskrit
Women could participate equally
Joined monasteries

10. Changes in Buddhism
Mahayana (“Great Vehicle”) branch emerged in st century CE
Buddha became divine rather than just a wise teacher
Acts of piety and devotion could achieve nirvana
Ideas of heaven and hell, salvation
Bodhisattvas: teachers who helped others in search of nirvana
Mahayana was embraced by more people

11. Mauryan Empire (326-184 BCE) Chandragupta Maurya (r. 322-298 BCE)
United most of India
Created a bureaucracy influenced by Persia and Alexander the Great
Ashoka (r BCE)
Converted to Buddhism
Sent out Buddhist missionaries, built monasteries
Ended slavery
Invested in roads and used diplomacy to deal with neighbors

12. Stupas of Ashoka Built between 269-232 BCE 40-50 feet tall
19 survive of purported 84,000 built by Ashoka

13. Wheel: Ashoka Chakra
Symbolic of dharma: following the Middle Way of Buddhism
Many placed at holy Buddhist sites
Some contained relics of the Buddha

15. Rock and Pillar Edicts Edicts proclaimed Ashoka’s practice of Buddhism
Communicated laws and policies of his administration
Contained ideas about benevolence, moral treatment of people and animals

16. Pataliputra Capital of the Mauryan and Gupta Empires
Population of 150, ,000
Situated on the Ganges River
Major economic center and trade hub
Architecture influenced by Persian Achaemenid style

17. Mauryan Decline Weak rulers after Ashoka
Unable to manage army and government
Invasion by Central Asian kingdoms
Bactria and Kushan Empire

18. Gupta Empire (320-550 CE) Golden Age of India Development of chess
Concept of zero, base 10, numerals
Studied Earth’s rotation, solar and lunar eclipses
Development of chess
Built free hospitals
Performed inoculations, skin grafts, set broken bones

19. Nalanda Residential university
Specialized in Buddhist studies
Massive library
Flourished with Gupta government support
10,000 students and 2,000 teachers
Students came from Middle East, China, Greece

21. Mauryan and Guptan Organization
Alliances with Hellenistic kingdoms
Regional princes and ministers ruled provinces and districts in empire
No main political theory aside from laws
Sanskrit promoted as official language of the elite
Vast army of 600,000 soldiers and 9,000 war elephants
Caste system and village life dominated local politics

22. Mauryan and Guptan Society
Trade along Silk Roads and Indian Ocean ports
Merchants had great wealth and high status
Economy was primarily agricultural
Upper classes controlled most land
Majority of population were subsistence-farming peasants

23. Gupta Influence and Decline
Extensive trade with the Middle East and Mediterranean
Less with China and Southeast Asia
Exported cotton and pepper
Gupta Empire collapsed
No single language
Repetitive invasion of the White Huns
Conflict with other local kingdoms

24. Changes in Buddha in Art
For five hundred years there are no representations of the Buddha. Footprints are some of the most widespread art during this time, which includes the dharmachakra, lotus flower, and triratna, which symbolizes the three things Buddhists can take refuge in: The Buddha himself, his teachings, and the sangha (Buddhist community).

25. Changes in Buddha in Art
During the Gupta, we see an early Indian representation of the Buddha. He is thin, has long ears that show how he came from wealth and had heavy earrings, and has a knot in his hair, symbolizing his enlightenment.
As Buddhism moves into East Asia, his ethnic characteristics change from Indian to Chinese and Japanese. This statue is in Japan.

26. Various Buddhas

27. Changes in Buddha in Art
From China: The “Laughing Buddha” is popular in East Asia, but is not Siddhartha Gautama. Rather, this is of a Buddhist monk named Budai, who was known for being jovial and spreading good cheer. He is often associated with the Maitreya, or future Buddha, who will bring back Buddhist teachings when they become forgotten.

28. Comparing Buddhism to Hinduism
Similarities
Ordinary life is an illusion
Karma and samsara
Meditation
Hope for moksha
Specific to Hinduism
Need for rituals and Brahmins
Caste system