1. The Vedic Age Indo-European warriors migrated into India
After 1000 b.c.e. some of them began to push into the Ganges Valley, using new iron tools to cut down trees and cultivate the land
The oral tradition of these light-skinned Arya tribes tells of a violent struggle between themselves and the darker-skinned Dravidian-speaking Dasas, whom they evidently pushed into southern India.

2. Caste System (1) Brahmin (priests/scholars) (2) Kshatriya (warriors)
(3) Vaishya (merchants)
(4) Shudra (peasant/laborer)
A fifth group, Untouchables

3. Religion
The systems of varna and jati were rationalized by belief in reincarnation
According to this belief, each individual has an immortal spirit (atman) that will be reborn in another body after death.
One’s station in the next life depends on one’s actions (karma) in this and previous lives.

4. Women
We do not know much about the status or roles of women in the Vedic period
They could study lore and participate in rituals, they could own land, and they married in their middle or late teens.

5. Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama founded Buddhism
His title, “Buddha,” means “Enlightened One.”
Alienated by both the extremes of a wealthy youth and six years of asceticism, Siddhartha Gautama set forth his teaching of the “Four Noble Truths” and of the Eightfold Path that would lead the individual to enlightenment.

6. The Buddha's

7. Maurya
&
Gupta
India

8. Chandragupta: 321 BCE-298 BCE
Unified northern India.
Well Organized Government
Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law enforcement.
He feared assassination [like Saddam Hussein]  food tasters, slept in different rooms, etc.

9. The Maurya Empire
321 BCE – 185 BCE

10. Asoka (304 – 232 BCE) Religious conversion
Dedicated his life to Buddhism
Built extensive roads
Conflict  how to balance power and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless person?

11. Asoka’s Empire

12. Asoka’s law code
Edicts scattered in more than 30 places in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan
Written mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek
10 rock edicts
Each pillar [stupa] is 40’-50’ high
Buddhist principles dominate his laws

13. Ashoka's column
The best preserved of the pillars that King Ashoka erected in about 240 B.C.E. is this one in the Bihar region, near Nepal. The solid shaft of polished sandstone rises 32 feet in the air. It weighs about 50 tons, making its erection a remarkable feat of engineering. Like other Ashokan pillars, it is inscribed with accounts of Ashoka's political achievements and instructions to his subjects on proper behavior. These pillars are the earliest extant examples of Indian writing and a major historical source for the Mauryan period. (Borromeo/Art Resource, NY

14. One of Asoka’sStupas

15. Turmoil & a power Vacuum: 220 BCE – 320 CE
Tamils
The Maurya Empire is divided into many kingdoms.

16. Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 647 CE

17. Gupta Rulers Chandra Gupta I Chandra Gupta II Hindu revival
320 – 335 CE
“Great King of Kings”
Chandra Gupta II CE
Profitable trade with the Mediterranean world!
Hindu revival
Huns invade – 450 CE

18. Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta India
Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the Silk Road and visited India in the 5c
He was following the path of the Buddha
He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and charity. Other references in the journal, however, indicate that the caste system was rapidly assuming its basic features, including "untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest class that is doomed to menial labor

19. International Trade Routes during the Guptas

20. Extensive Trade: 4c spices silks cotton goods rice & wheat spices
horses
gold & ivory
gold & ivory
cotton goods

21. Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & architecture.
Gupta Art
Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & architecture.

22. 500 healing plants identified Printed medicinal guides
Gupta Achievements
1000 diseases classified
500 healing plants identified
Printed medicinal guides
Kalidasa
Literature
Plastic Surgery
Medicine
Inoculations
Gupta India
C-sections performed
Solar Calendar
Astronomy
Mathematics
Decimal System
The earth is round
PI =
Concept of Zero

23. The Decline of the Guptas
Invasion of the Huns in the 4c signaled the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even though at first, the Guptas defeated them
After the decline of the Gupta empire, north India broke into a number of separate Hindu kingdoms and was not really unified again until the coming of the Muslims in the 7c