1. Classical Civilization: India Chapter 3

2. Advantages Closer to other civilizations Closer to other civilizations Influenced by Middle Eeast Influenced by Middle Eeast Forced to react and adapt Forced to react and adapt Topography Topography Protected by Himalaya/Hindu Kush Mountains Protected by Himalaya/Hindu Kush Mountains Peninsular subcontinent Peninsular subcontinent Did create difficulty in political unity Did create difficulty in political unity Major River systems – Indus, Ganges Major River systems – Indus, Ganges

3. Regions Mountainous North Mountainous North Herding societies/agriculture difficult Herding societies/agriculture difficult Southern Deccan Southern Deccan Monsoon climate Monsoon climate Lavish agriculture Lavish agriculture Problems with separate regions Problems with separate regions Economic diversity Economic diversity Racial differences Racial differences Language difference Language difference

4. Formative Period Aryan migrants Aryan migrants Hunters/herders Hunters/herders Knowledge passed down through epics Knowledge passed down through epics Written in Sanskrit Written in Sanskrit The Vedas The Vedas Mahabharata Mahabharata Ramayana Ramayana Upanishads Upanishads Settlement Settlement Villages/communal living Villages/communal living Patriarchal societies Patriarchal societies

5. The Caste System BRAHMIN (Priests) KSHATRIYA (Rulers/Warrior/Governing) VAISYAS (Traders/Farmers) SUDRAS (Common Laborers) UNTOUCHABLES

6. The Caste System Most rigid of all classic civilizations Most rigid of all classic civilizations Castes are hereditary Castes are hereditary Intermarriage forbidden – punishable by death Intermarriage forbidden – punishable by death Untouchable status could be achieved by offending family, breaking law, etc. Untouchable status could be achieved by offending family, breaking law, etc. Cleaning up garbage/animal waste Cleaning up garbage/animal waste Transporting the dead Transporting the dead Beggars Beggars Subgroups Subgroups Hinduism – Reincarnation, changing cast Hinduism – Reincarnation, changing cast

7. Early Hinduism Aryans brought polytheistic deities to India Aryans brought polytheistic deities to India Upanishads Upanishads Hymns Hymns Sacrificial rituals Sacrificial rituals Sacred Animals – monkey/cattle Sacred Animals – monkey/cattle Brahmin caste enforced ritual Brahmin caste enforced ritual Unifying divine force, seek union with that force Unifying divine force, seek union with that force

8. Political Structure Sixteen major states Sixteen major states Monarchies Monarchies Republics Republics Ruled by warriors/priests Ruled by warriors/priests Frequent Invasion, eras marked by invasions Frequent Invasion, eras marked by invasions Chandragupta Mauryan –Mauryan dynasty, 322 BCE Chandragupta Mauryan –Mauryan dynasty, 322 BCE First unified subcontinent First unified subcontinent

9. Mauryan Dynasty Large armies Large armies Developed bureaucracy Developed bureaucracy Highly autocratic; relied on military for power Highly autocratic; relied on military for power Government based on ruler’s personal style Government based on ruler’s personal style Ashoka Ashoka Grandson of Chandragupta Grandson of Chandragupta Influence by nature/spiritualism Influence by nature/spiritualism Rapid, violent expansion Rapid, violent expansion Converted to Buddhism Converted to Buddhism Trade networks improved, built roads Trade networks improved, built roads

10. Ashoka’s Pillars

11. The Guptas Come to power 320 CE Come to power 320 CE No powerful single rulers, great impact No powerful single rulers, great impact Negotiate with local princes Negotiate with local princes Did not rely on militarism to extended empire Did not rely on militarism to extended empire Political stability/peace/prosperity Political stability/peace/prosperity Gold Age Gold Age Supported university, arts, literature Supported university, arts, literature Powers shared and delegated between the empire and the smaller kingdoms Powers shared and delegated between the empire and the smaller kingdoms Local rulers, autonomy Local rulers, autonomy

13. Political Institutions Varied by region Varied by region Strong kings/princes Strong kings/princes Aristocratic assemblies Aristocratic assemblies Not an elaborate political culture Not an elaborate political culture Little theory Little theory Kautilya – how to maintain power Kautilya – how to maintain power Civil service seen as unimportant Civil service seen as unimportant Buddhism not cohesive with political affairs Buddhism not cohesive with political affairs

14. Limitations of Indian Government Local governments; diversity Local governments; diversity Caste system Caste system Strong regulation of social life and behavior, government/laws unnecessary Strong regulation of social life and behavior, government/laws unnecessary Actually promoted tolerance Actually promoted tolerance Slavery avoided Slavery avoided

15. Characteristics of Culture Hinduism/Buddhism unifies people Hinduism/Buddhism unifies people Survived invasion; adapted Survived invasion; adapted Continuity of culture despite political shifts Continuity of culture despite political shifts

16. Hinduism Origins in Vedic and Epic ages Origins in Vedic and Epic ages Rig-veda – creation hymn Rig-veda – creation hymn No single founder, no central holy figure No single founder, no central holy figure Grew gradually Grew gradually Ritualistic ceremonies performed by Brahmins Ritualistic ceremonies performed by Brahmins Mysticism Mysticism Artha – political and economic goals Artha – political and economic goals Karma – fortune and luck Karma – fortune and luck Adaptable, tolerant Adaptable, tolerant

17. Hinduism - Brahmanism Elaborate leadership Elaborate leadership Scholars Scholars Nature of gods altered from nature to abstract Nature of gods altered from nature to abstract Ex. Varuna (sky to right and wrong) Ex. Varuna (sky to right and wrong) Epic poems stress gentle and generous behavior Epic poems stress gentle and generous behavior Upanishads down play importance of wealth Upanishads down play importance of wealth Each person’s soul part of the universe Each person’s soul part of the universe

18. Spread Satisfying rules of conduct Satisfying rules of conduct Incorporated previous and future religions Incorporated previous and future religions Easily adaptable; many possible paths of worship Easily adaptable; many possible paths of worship Caste system Caste system

19. Rituals and Mysticism Goal is to seek union with Brahman, who is manifested in the many Goal is to seek union with Brahman, who is manifested in the many Vishnu – preserver Vishnu – preserver Shiva – destroyer Shiva – destroyer Gurus Gurus Reincarnation Reincarnation Soul travels depend on reincarnation Soul travels depend on reincarnation Meditation/yoga Meditation/yoga Prayer Prayer Refrain from beef Refrain from beef Cremation Cremation Destruction of the human vessel aids in reincarnation Destruction of the human vessel aids in reincarnation

20. Ethics Serve family Serve family Earn a living Earn a living Serve in army when necessary Serve in army when necessary Do duty in all things Do duty in all things i.e. ok to kill family according to Bhagavad-Gita i.e. ok to kill family according to Bhagavad-Gita No written ethical codes like say The Ten Commandments No written ethical codes like say The Ten Commandments

21. Buddhism Developed around 563 BC Developed around 563 BC Siddhartha Gautama Siddhartha Gautama The Enlightened One, or Buddha The Enlightened One, or Buddha Differences from Hinduism Differences from Hinduism Disagreed with caste system Disagreed with caste system Worldly desires lead to pain Worldly desires lead to pain Destruction of desire leads to nirvana Destruction of desire leads to nirvana Does not require ritual or priests Does not require ritual or priests

22. Art and Literature Literature Literature More on human life, entertainment More on human life, entertainment Epic poetry Epic poetry “The Laws of Love” “The Laws of Love” Romantic adventures Romantic adventures Art Art Stupa Stupa Stylized (unrealistic) Stylized (unrealistic) Celebratory of nature and religion Celebratory of nature and religion

23. Science and Math Science Science State Supported university –astronomy and medicine State Supported university –astronomy and medicine Religion against dissections Religion against dissections Bone setting, plastic surgery, sterilization Bone setting, plastic surgery, sterilization Mathematics Mathematics Concept of zero Concept of zero Decimal system Decimal system Negative numbers Negative numbers Square roots Square roots Pi Pi

24. Societal Norms Castes separate Castes separate Different punishments for crimes depending on caste Different punishments for crimes depending on caste Patriarchal hierarchy Patriarchal hierarchy Arranged marriages Arranged marriages Wife worship husband as a god Wife worship husband as a god Suttee Suttee Children indulged and then expected to work hard Children indulged and then expected to work hard

25. Economy One of the first chemical industries, steel One of the first chemical industries, steel Textile trade Textile trade Cotton, calico, cashmere Cotton, calico, cashmere Tamil traders Tamil traders Cotton, silk, dyes, drugs (opium), gold, ivory Cotton, silk, dyes, drugs (opium), gold, ivory Most lived subsistence lives – enough to live on Most lived subsistence lives – enough to live on