Ancient Civilizations of South Asia

1. Indus River Valley2. Aryan Civilization3. Maurya Empire4. Gupta Dynasty

Indus River Valley 2600-1700 B.C.• Part of Afghanistan, Pakistan and

north-western India. • Two major cities were

Harappa and the Mohenjo-Daro• They were farmers, traders• Farmers:

grew wheat, barley, melons, and datesfirst to grow cottonfirst to weave fiber fromcotton

• Merchants:traded cotton, cloth, grain, and ivory

Ruins of Mohenjo-Daro Jewelry of Mohenjo-Daro

Ancient Indus River Valley Stone Writing Tablets

Indus River Valley• Technology

Developed a writing systemConcept of zeroNumber system used todayMetals - bronze, silver, goldbuilt homes out of brick and stonecanalsdrainage systems, wells and water storage systems systems of weights potteryjewelry game pieces, chess, and toys

• Decline of civilizationflooding, economy, invasions

Public Well Drainage System

Aryan Civilization 1700 ˜300 B.C.E.

"noble ones" or the "superior ones”

Nomadic peoples - fierce warriors Invaded northwest India 1750 BC Came from steppes of central Asia and Iran

through the Khyber Pass First settled in Indus River Valley later

settled in Ganges River Valley. Divided into tribal kingdoms – Jana and

were ruled by chiefs. Horse and herding culture Established Vedas and Caste system:

Foundation of Hinduism Feudal Kingdoms spread through India:

ruled by Brahmins (Priests)

Aryan Civilization

Technologyiron oreintroduced riceuse of iron weaponsintroduced the horse

Aryan Temple

Arian Swastika

Sanskrit writing

The Vedas 1200 BCE-600 BCE.

written in SANSKRIT.

Hindu core of beliefs:

hymns and poems.

religious prayers.

magical spells.

lists of the gods and goddesses.

Rig Veda oldest work.Rig Veda oldest work.

Social Hierarchy

ShudrasServants/Serfs

VaishyasMerchants

KshatriyasWarriors

Pariahs [Harijan] UntouchablesPariahs [Harijan] Untouchables

BrahminsPriests

Maurya Empire321-185 B.C.E.First Indian empire Largest empire to rule the

Indian subcontinentGreat political and military

empireFounded by Aryan

descendantsMaurya was the first

emperor- accepted Jainism

Maurya Sandstone

Maurya Empire Asoka “the Great” - was one of the

emperors Accepted Buddhism Allowed Hinduism Unified the government Ended indentured and forced labor Conservation of wildlife Elephants in battle, as weapons

and vehicles from 325-185 BCE Known for their sculptures Sandstone carvings

Asoka

Elephant Army

Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)Asoka (304 – 232 BCE) Religious conversion after the gruesome battle of Kalinga in 262 BCE.

Dedicated his life to Buddhism.

Built extensive roads.

Conflict how to balance Kautilya’s methods of keeping power and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless person?

Asoka’s law codeAsoka’s law code Edicts scattered in more than 30 places in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan.

Written mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic.

10 rock edicts.

Each pillar [stupa] is 40’-50’ high.

Buddhist principles dominate his laws.

Gupta Dynasty

• 320 -500 A.D.• Most rulers were

Hindu• “Golden Age”

peace law and order cultural achievement

Chandragupta: 321 BCE-298 BCEChandragupta: 321 BCE-298 BCE

Unified northern India.

Defeated the Persian general Seleucus.

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.

301 BCE gave up his throne & became a in.

Gupta RulersGupta Rulers Chandra Gupta I

320 – 335 CE “Great King of Kings”

Chandra Gupta II 375 - 415 CE Profitable trade with

the Mediterranean world!

Hindu revival.

Huns invade – 450 CE

KautilyaKautilya Chandragupta’s advisor.

Brahmin caste.

Wrote The Treatise on Material Gain or the Arthashastra.

A guide for the king and his ministers:

Supports royal power.

The great evil in society is anarchy.

Therefore, a single authority is needed to employ force when necessary!

International Trade Routes during the Guptas

International Trade Routes during the Guptas

Extensive Trade: 4cExtensive Trade: 4c

spices

spices

gold &

ivory

gold & ivory

rice & wheathorses

cotton goods

cotton goodssilks

Gupta

Art

Gupta

Art

Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & architecture.

Medicine Literature

MathematicsAstronomy

Printedmedicinal

guides

1000 diseasesclassified

PlasticSurgery

C-sectionsperforme

d

Inoculations

500 healingplants

identified

DecimalSystem

Conceptof Zero

PI = 3.1416

Kalidasa

SolarCalendar

The earth

is round

GuptaIndia

Gupta Achieveme

nts

Gupta Achieveme

nts

The Decline of the GuptasThe Decline of the Guptas

Invasion of the White 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.