1. Classical India
600 BCE- 600 CE

2. India’s geography
Subcontinent that includes modern day Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhuten
To the south is the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal
North are the Himalaya Mountains
About 1/4th the size of Europe

3. India’s Geography
B/c of its geography, the only time the whole subcontinent was united politically was under the British in the s.
Asoka Maurya came close but didn’t get the far south under his control

4. Things to consider
Indian Empires didn’t last for more than a couple hundred years
India has maintained a consistent cultural unity

5. Aryans Named for their use of the language Sanskrit
Migrated into the Ganges region around 1000 BCE
Provided written works, but aren’t a “history” like was Rome and China would write

6. Vedas Sacred poems written in Sanskrit
Religious texts of early Aryan society
Recorded some history
Rigveda
written around BCE
1028 hymns
More religious than historical
Did account for some conquering the Aryans did as they moved into the region

7. Vedas Brahmanas Upanishads Puranas
give instructions for rituals and sacrifices
Upanishads
mystical speculations
Puranas
legends and folktales
written between 500 BCE- 500 CE
Contain genealogical lists of rulers
Mixes facts with fables

8. Vedas Mahbharta and Ramayana Accounts for events from 1000 to 700 BCE
Mahbharta is the longest poem in the world
Tells of a civil war between two families
Contains the Bhagavad-Gita
Gives advice to a warrior during battle

9. Aryan Politics Hundreds of chiefdoms that would fight with each other
Leader titled Raja who had a council of elders
Leadership based on heredity and family lines
Around 750 BCE population increases allowed for political groupings of land to develop
janapadas
Magadha was the most powerful

10. Chandragupta Maurya R. 321-297 BCE Leader of Magadha
Took troops north after Alexander left in 326 BCE
Bindusara (r BCE) would expand south
Asoka (r BCE) would rule from Afghanistan to NW Bay of Bengal (100 million people)

11. Ashoka Maurya 268- 232 BCE Brought rest of India under his control
Used centralized bureaucracy of his grandfather
After battle with Kalinga in the east, he converted to Buddhism
Created capital city Pataliputra
Centralized treasury
Inscribed edicts on pillars

12. Government under Mauryans
Family lineages are really important
Had well paid ministers and bureaucrats
Had a book Arthasastra
manual on politics and economics
Concept of danda niti (policy of the big stick)
All neighbors are potential enemies
Weak states should be conquered
Encouraged the use of spies

13. Government under Mauryans
Goal was to provide citizens with the opportunity to achieve the four major goals in life:
Artha (wealth)
Kama (sensual pleasure)
Dharma (the fulfillment of religious and social duties)
Moksha (the release from earthly existance)

14. Society Men had power over women Men must protect women
Women must run the household according to the wishes of the men
Women were the be readily available to men
Women very rarely had property rights

15. Caste System
Organized society by hereditary distinctions & occupations
Brahmins: priests
Kshatriyas: Warriors and aristocrats
Vaishyas: Artisans and merchants
Shudras: peasants and serfs
Untouchables
These categories were further split into jati

16. Economics Expansion of agriculture Massive irrigation systems
Trade was encouraged through the building of roads
State regulated guilds (associations of businessmen)

18. End of Mauyran Dynasty
After Asokas’ death, economic decline led to the end of Mauyran Dynasty
Last emperor was assassinated in 184 BCE
Soldiers were being paid well and weren’t defending the government

19. Between Maurayn and Gupta
Trade flourished
Beginning of the Silk Road
Coins reflect Greek influence
Lots of invasions from the east

20. Gupta Empire
Chandra Gupta I (r ) centralized India again by forming alliances with aristocratic families
Somudra ( ) expanded to the south
Chandra Gupta II conquered western territories and made them pay tribute & created marriage alliances
Did not centralize governments
Allowed local rulers and alliance systems to govern

21. Trade Trade cities developed along the Silk Road and the coast
Monsoon winds allowed for trade with Africa

22. Golden Age Sanskrit became the official language
Old Vedas were rewritten and restored
Scholars studied the Vedas and Arthasastra
Resurgence of Hinduism
Caste system was elaborated and enforced more strictly

23. Fall of the Gupta Emperors started to lose power
New conquerors showed up in the 400s.
Hunas from northern China
Caused loss of trade
Decline in culture (specifically attacked Buddhist monasteries)
Allowed new nomad groups into the region