1. CLASSICAL INDIA

2. I. After Harappa
1500 B.C.E. - fall of the Indus River Valley Civilization (Harappa)
1500 – 500 B.C.E. - nomadic Aryan invaders move in, begin building new civilization
Based on rigid social structures and the emerging Hindu religion
Two Ages to consider:
Vedic Age – from the word veda, Sanskrit word for “knowledge”
Epic Age

3. II. Government Less cohesive than classical China's political culture
Diverse political ideas based on regionalism
Different types of gov't in different areas
Monarchies, assemblies of priests/warriors common
Warfare between regions very common
327 B.C.E. - Alexander the Great invades
322 B.C.E. - Chandragupta Maurya seizes power along the Ganges river, begins Maurya dynasty
Borrows from Alexander the Great:
Large, powerful armies
Autocratic (absolute) ruler
Large bureaucracy

4. II. continued... Mauryan dynasty united much of the sub-continent
Invaders and political unrest begin to unravel the Mauryan dynasty
Kushans, then the Gupta dynasty begin ruling
Under Gupta dynasty, longest period of political stability
Promoted uniform law code
Supported higher education and arts
Considered “golden age” of Indian history

5. III. Economy Agriculture based Focus on trade and merchant activity
Most of population were farming peasants
Focus on trade and merchant activity
Merchants had high status
Trade within India and outside thanks to sea routes
Rivaled China in terms of technological advancement
Chemistry
Steel
Manufacturing – cotton cloth, calico, cashmere

6. IV. Social Structure Brahmins – priests
Indian life based on strict hierarchy of the caste system
5 main social classes (varnas)
Brahmins – priests
Kshatriyas – warrior/governing class
Vaisyas – traders & farmers
Sudras – common laborers
Untouchables – confined to jobs like hauling trash and dead bodies

7. IV. continued... Caste system becomes hereditary (passed to children)
Marriage between castes forbidden, punishable by death
Caste system assigned people occupations
Gender relations
Patriarchal
Husbands & fathers were dominant figures
Women had little rights
Arranged marriages became the norm

8. V. Religion Hinduism Vedas - contain hymns, incantations, and rituals
From the Sanskrit word, sindhu, meaning “river.”
No single founder - combination of beliefs
Sacred texts
Vedas - contain hymns, incantations, and rituals
Upanishads – continuation of the Vedas, elaborates on Karma
Bhagavad Gita – conversations between the god Krishna and the warrior Arjuna

9. V. continued... Hinduism continued...
Spiritual leaders called gurus or sages
Polytheistic & pantheistic – “god is all”
Main beliefs:
Brahman – is the entire universe (pantheism)
Lesser gods over see different aspects of life
Karma - actions in this life that affect the next
Dharma - the religious and moral duties of an individual
Caste system

10. V. continued...
Buddhism
Founded by Siddhartha Guatama (Buddha)
was an Indian Prince who lived in luxury and comfort
One day he left the palace and saw an old man, a sick man, and a dead man
Realized life is full of suffering
Meditated until he became enlightened

11. V. continued... Buddhism continued...
4 noble truths:
All life is full of suffering, pain, and sorrow (misery).
The cause of suffering is desire for things such as riches, power and long life.
The only cure for suffering is to overcome desire.
The way to overcome desire is to follow the 8-fold path.

12. V. continued... Some main beliefs:
It is important to live a moral life
Enlightenment is achieved through meditation
The ultimate goal is nirvana - union with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth.

13. V. concluded. Hinduism & Buddhism shared beliefs
Karma, reincarnation – keeping people bound to the earth
Emphasize compassion and non-violence
Emphasize meditation and renouncing worldly things in order to reach the spiritual afterlife