1. INDIA FROM 600 BCE - 600

2. HINDUISM
Vedic Age: religious texts ( bce) Aryans drove Dravidians down south Introduced VARNA (color) and JATI (caste) Brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya, shudra Connected to reincarnation and the idea of KARMA (and DHARMA)

3. SAMSARA – Going through the cycle of rebirth
MOKSHA – release from the cycle
“Truth is one, paths are many” – tolerance
All beings have a soul and are connected to an all-encompassing, universal soul
Holi celebration
Puja
Ganesha
Krishna

4. JAINISM & BUDDHISM THIS WAS A REACTION AGAINST BRAHMIN POWER!
Jainism: strict non-violence religion
Food restrictions, masks, brooms, extreme asceticism
tower

5. BUDDHISM
Believes in reincarnation and “moksha” – release from cycle of life….but that it can be done without the caste system
Some Buddhists are revered as Bodhisattvas: those that achieved enlightenment but chose to be reborn to help others
TWO SECTS: Mahayana (China) Theraveda (India – traditional)

6. MAURYAN EMPIRE – BCE
Chandragupta created the Mauryan Empire – the first centralized Indian empire
Inspired by Alexander the Great
¼ of agricultural crops were paid as tax
Pataliputra was the capital
ASHOKA – grandson…converted to Buddhism spread the religion to other areas
Very strong tradition and government

7. GUPTA 320-550 CE Tried to be like the MAURYAN EMPIRE
Even named their King “Chandra Gupta”
Did not control as much territory and not as centralized as Mauryan…a little weak
THEATRE-STATE…a way to “persuade” others to think they are bigger and stronger: splendor, orderliness of the capital, parades
Concept of “0” developed in India
Women had very little power: barred from studying, property, married young (6 years old), sati