1. Classical India Chapter 5

2. Lesson 1: Origins of Hindu India
Social Classes in Ancient India
The Four Varnas of the Caste System
Varna  Class
Brahmins- priests
Kshatriyas- ruling class and military elite
Vaisyas- Majority of population (Farmers, artisans, merchants)
Sudras- Serve higher classes

3. Your caste determines:
Dalit- “The oppressed” or untouchables
Avarna (meaning not in the varnas)
Tribal people & those who perform unclean tasks
Disposing of the dead, collecting trash
Seen as impure, less human
Your caste determines:
Your job
Who you would marry
Who you can be friends with
The higher the caste, the more pure you were considered to be

4. Central ideas of Hinduism
Based on Vedas
Live in a way that reunites them with the one true god (Brahmin)
Hinduism has no holy book, governing body, or prophets
Hindus can be polytheistic, pantheistic, monotheistic, monistic, etc.
Principles of Hinduism
Reincarnation- the belief that the soul is reborn after death
Good karma + multiple rebirths = union with Brahmin
Karma- How you act determines your future
Good karma- reborn into higher caste
Bad karma- reborn into lower caste

5. Dharma- Defines duty and right behavior for each caste
Warriors may kill because it maintains order & protects
Laborers must work to support the higher castes
Each person is responsible for their own situation and must act in accordance with dharma to improve their situation in the future
Primary Hindu gods
Vishnu- The protector from evil
Shiva- The destroyer of evil
Brahma- The creator (not as highly revered)

6. Lesson 2: Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama
Born ~536 BC, he was prince of a small North Indian kingdom
Trained to be a warrior
Married and had a family
In his 20s Siddhartha became aware of 3 things:
Pain of illness
Sorrow of death
Effects of old age
Decided to spend his life seeking a cure for human suffering
Wore plain clothes, shaved his head, left his family behind

7. Central ideas of Buddhism
Siddhartha tried ascetism
Ascetism- practicing self-denial to understand the ultimate reality
Turned to meditation after he almost died from not eating
Reaches enlightenment sitting under a tree
Spends rest of life preaching what he has discovered
Central ideas of Buddhism
Pain we feel is a result of attachment to physical things
To give up your desire is to achieve nirvana

8. The Buddha’s Four Noble Truths
All is suffering
Desire causes suffering
Suffering can be overcome
To end desire you must follow the Eightfold Path

9. The Eightfold Path Right view, knowing the Eightfold Path
Right intention, resolving to attain Enlightenment
Right speech, speaking morally and with kindness
Right action, leading a moral life
Right livelihood, working in a responsible way
Right effort, unwavering and striving to Enlightenment
Right mindfulness, controlling thoughts
Right concentration, meditating to see the world as it is

10. Buddha declared the caste system to be irrelevant
Said no one has any advantage in seeking enlightenment
Made Buddhism very popular with Sudras and Dalit (laborers and untouchables)
After the Buddha’s death, his followers spread Buddhism throughout India
Built temples
Built monasteries
Trained monks dedicated to a simple life and the pursuit of wisdom

11. Lesson 3: Mauryas & Guptas
Three New Empires
The Mauryan Empire
Founded by Chandragupta Maurya
After the Persians and Greeks invaded western India, small kingdoms began to collaborate to better protect themselves
Drove out foreign forces
Had vast network of spies and secret police
Paranoid of assassins, had food tasters and never slept in the same bed 2 nights in a row

12. Asoka- grandson of Chandragupta Maurya
Greatest Indian ruler of all time
Converted to Buddhism
Send Buddhist missionaries across Asia and into China
India became major trade crossroad
Empire weakened and fell after his death

13. Kushan Empire
Nomadic warriors from Central Asia dominated North India for 2 centuries
Prospered from Silk Road trade routes (China to Rome)
Strongly influenced by cultures encountered via trade
Practiced Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism
Adapted Greek alphabet to their own language

14. Gupta Empire
New state founded by Chandra Gupta (no relation to Mauryan founder)
Made the old Mauryan capital the Gupta capital
Largest Indian kingdom yet
Gupta Empire reached Golden Age under Chandra Gupta II
Flowering of Buddhist and Hindu art
Active in trade
Very wealthy
Silver & gold mines
Pilgrimages to religious shrines  $$$
Invasions by the Huns in 5th century AD reduced power of empire, eventually collapsed

15. Accomplishments Literature- 2 great epics Mahabharata Ramayana
Longest written poem in any language
Describes a war between 2 cousins for control of a country
Ramayana
Rama & his brother (Lakshmana) fight a demon king (Ravana), who had kidnapped Rama’s wife, Sita.
Morality tale famous throughout India & Southeast Asia
Also a very famous play
Tells of duty, morality, loyalty

16. Architecture Most architecture was perishable- made of brick and wood
Some has survived
Carved stone pillars
Rock cut caves
Buddhist stupas  contain images of Buddha or holy relics (Buddha’s lock of hair, fingernail, etc)

17. Science, Math, Technology
Astronomy
Charted stars, knew the earth revolved around the sun
Math
Algebra
Concept of 0
Number system was adopted by Arabs
Metalwork
Very strong, rust-resistant steel (superior to iron)