1. Chapter 3 Classical India
Ms. Sheets 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 flourishes 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. 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

5. 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

6. 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.
Threatens Indian communities (Aryans + non-Aryans)
322 BCE: Mauryan Empire founded by a soldier named Chandragupta Maurya to protect Indian territory.
Unify much of India by developing a large bureaucracy and a large army.
Promoted trade and communication.
Mauryan rulers were the first to unify most of the Indian subcontinent.
Varying terrain had made transportation and communication difficult; sub-cultures developed
Mauryans rule using political centralization

7. 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 converts to Buddhism and becomes peaceful.
Spreads Buddhism throughout the subcontinent; continued to tolerate Hinduism.
Used Buddhism as basis for laws
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.

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

9. Kushans (30 CE – 375 CE)
After Ashoka’s death, Mauryan empire began to fall apart
Regional kingdoms surfaced.
Kushans invade central India from NW
Greatest Kushan king, Kanishka, converted to Buddhism but this hurt Buddhism’s popularity in India by associating it with foreign rule.

10. 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
Takes 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.
“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

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

12. Gupta Golden Age, cont. Education Math Science
University at Nalanda: lecture halls, library, observatory
Math
Discovery of zero and development of “Arabic” numerals
Decimal system; negative numbers; square roots
Science
Indian scientists borrowed from Greek learning via contact with Alexander the Great’s Bactria.
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

13. 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).
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

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

15. Hinduism and Buddhism Hinduism (religion of majority) Buddhism
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

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

17. 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
Economy
Extensive trade both within the subcontinent and in Indian Ocean trade.
Emphasis on trade (cinnamon, elephants, salt, fish)
Excelled in iron-making
Produce textiles, cotton
Agriculturally based