CLASSICAL CLASSICAL INDIAINDIAFROM THE FROM THE MAURYANS MAURYANS

TO THE GUPTASTO THE GUPTAS

RISE OF MAURYAN RISE OF MAURYAN EMPIREEMPIRE

Ganges RepublicsGanges Republics Prior to Alexander, kshatriyan (noble/warrior) republics Prior to Alexander, kshatriyan (noble/warrior) republics

dominated, vied for powerdominated, vied for power Magadha (see next slide) was one of the most dominantMagadha (see next slide) was one of the most dominant

Western Intrusions Western Intrusions Intrusions of Persians (520 B.C.E.) and Alexander (327 Intrusions of Persians (520 B.C.E.) and Alexander (327

B.C.E.)B.C.E.) Persians established Indus satrapy Persians established Indus satrapy Alexander’s withdrawal left a political vacuum Alexander’s withdrawal left a political vacuum Magadha kingdom filled the vacuumMagadha kingdom filled the vacuum

Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya The founder of the Mauryan empire The founder of the Mauryan empire Overthrew the Magadha kingdom in 321 B.C.E. Overthrew the Magadha kingdom in 321 B.C.E. Conquered the Greek state in Bactria, Selecuid control of Conquered the Greek state in Bactria, Selecuid control of

Indus Indus Chandragupta's empire embraced all of northern IndiaChandragupta's empire embraced all of northern India

Chandragupta's government Chandragupta's government Government procedures devised by Kautalya, the advisor of Government procedures devised by Kautalya, the advisor of

the empire the empire The political handbook, The political handbook, ArthashastraArthashastra, outlined administrative , outlined administrative

methodsmethods (see slide 4) (see slide 4)

First 1 1/2 hrs. after sunrise Receive reports on defence, revenue, expenditure

Second 1 1/2 hrs. after sunrise Public audiences, to hear petitions of city & country people

Third 1 1/2 hrs. after sunrise & Last 1 1/2 hrs. before noon

Receive revenues & tributes; appoint ministers and other high officials & allot tasks to them

First 1 1/2 hrs. after noon Write letters & dispatches, confer with councillors, receive secret information from spies

Second 1 1/2 hrs. after noon Personal: recreation, time for contemplation

Third 1 1/2 hrs. after noon & Last 1 1/2 hrs. before sunset

Inspect & review forces; Consult with Chief of Defence

First 1 1/2 hrs. after sunset Interview with secret agents

Second 1 1/2 hrs. after sunset Personal: bath, meals, study

Third & Fourth 1 1/2 hrs. after sunset & First 1 1/2 hrs. after midnight

Retire to the bed chamber to the sound of music, sleep

Second 1 1/2 hrs. after midnight After waking to the sound of music, meditate on political matters & on work to be done

Third 1 1/2 hrs. after midnight Consult with councilors, send out spies

Last 1 1/2 hrs. before sunrise Religious, household & personal duties, meetings with his teacher, adviser on rituals, purohitas, personal physician, chief cooks & astrologer

ASHOKAASHOKA Ashoka Maurya (reigned 268-232 B.C.E.) Ashoka Maurya (reigned 268-232 B.C.E.)

Chandragupta's grandson, Chandragupta's grandson, The high point of the Mauryan empire The high point of the Mauryan empire Conquered the kingdom of Kalinga, 260 B.C.E.Conquered the kingdom of Kalinga, 260 B.C.E. Ruled through tightly organized bureaucracy Ruled through tightly organized bureaucracy Established capital at Pataliputra Established capital at Pataliputra Policies of encouraging agriculture and trade Policies of encouraging agriculture and trade Converted to BuddhismConverted to Buddhism

Established a tolerant rule of righteousnessEstablished a tolerant rule of righteousness Sent out missionaries to Sri Lanka, SE Asia, Central AsiaSent out missionaries to Sri Lanka, SE Asia, Central Asia

Decline of the Mauryan Empire Decline of the Mauryan Empire Ashoka died in 232 B.C.E. Ashoka died in 232 B.C.E. Suffered from acute financial and economic Suffered from acute financial and economic

difficulties difficulties High cost for maintaining army and bureaucrats High cost for maintaining army and bureaucrats Debasing the currency, not a effective resolution Debasing the currency, not a effective resolution

The empire collapsed by 185 B.C.E.The empire collapsed by 185 B.C.E.

THE GUPTASTHE GUPTAS The Gupta Dynasty The Gupta Dynasty

After Mauryans, India was controlled by regional After Mauryans, India was controlled by regional kingdoms kingdoms

The Gupta state rose to power in Magadha The Gupta state rose to power in Magadha Chandra Gupta founded the new dynasty Chandra Gupta founded the new dynasty Gupta dynasty was relatively decentralizedGupta dynasty was relatively decentralized Officially supported revival of Hinduism as state faithOfficially supported revival of Hinduism as state faith Era seen as the Golden Age of Hinduism Era seen as the Golden Age of Hinduism

Gupta decline Gupta decline Invasion of White Huns weakened the empire Invasion of White Huns weakened the empire After 5th century C.E., Gupta dynasty ruled in name After 5th century C.E., Gupta dynasty ruled in name

only only Large regional kingdoms dominated political life in Large regional kingdoms dominated political life in

India India

The area of the White The area of the White HunsHuns

ECONOMICS AND ECONOMICS AND SOCIALSOCIAL Towns and manufacturingTowns and manufacturing

Towns dotted the India countryside after 600 B.C.E. Towns dotted the India countryside after 600 B.C.E. Towns provided manufactured products and luxury goods Towns provided manufactured products and luxury goods

Long-distance tradeLong-distance trade Invasions by Persian empires helped to build extensive trade networks Invasions by Persian empires helped to build extensive trade networks Trade with China through the silk roads of central Asia Trade with China through the silk roads of central Asia Trade in the Indian Ocean basin, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Mediterranean Trade in the Indian Ocean basin, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Mediterranean

basinbasin Spread Buddhism and Hinduism throughout Indian Ocean basin Spread Buddhism and Hinduism throughout Indian Ocean basin

Social and gender relationsSocial and gender relations Strong patriarchal families; subordination of women to men Strong patriarchal families; subordination of women to men Child marriage placed women under control of old men Child marriage placed women under control of old men

Development of caste systemDevelopment of caste system New social groups of artisans, craftsmen, and merchants appeared New social groups of artisans, craftsmen, and merchants appeared Individuals of same trade or craft formed a guild; guilds were subcastes, Individuals of same trade or craft formed a guild; guilds were subcastes,

jatis jatis Functions of guilds: social security and welfare systems Functions of guilds: social security and welfare systems

Wealth and social orderWealth and social order Trade and industry brought prosperity to many Trade and industry brought prosperity to many vaishyasvaishyas and and shudrasshudras Old beliefs and values of early Aryan society became increasingly irrelevant Old beliefs and values of early Aryan society became increasingly irrelevant

JAINISMJAINISM Vardhamana Mahavira Vardhamana Mahavira

Born in north India, 540 B.C.E. Born in north India, 540 B.C.E. Left family, searching for salvation from cycle of reincarnation Left family, searching for salvation from cycle of reincarnation Gained enlightenment, taught an ascetic doctrine Gained enlightenment, taught an ascetic doctrine His disciples began to lead a monastic life His disciples began to lead a monastic life Mahavira became Mahavira became JinaJina, the "conqueror," and followers, , the "conqueror," and followers, JainsJains

Jainist doctrine and ethicsJainist doctrine and ethics Inspired by the Upanishads Inspired by the Upanishads Everything in the universe possessed a soul Everything in the universe possessed a soul Striving to purify one's selfish behavior to attain a state of bliss Striving to purify one's selfish behavior to attain a state of bliss The principle of The principle of ahimsaahimsa, nonviolence toward all living things , nonviolence toward all living things Believed that almost all occupations entailed violence of some kind Believed that almost all occupations entailed violence of some kind Too demanding, not a practical alternative to the cult of the Too demanding, not a practical alternative to the cult of the

brahminsbrahmins Appeal of Jainism Appeal of Jainism

Social implication: Individual souls equally participated in ultimate Social implication: Individual souls equally participated in ultimate reality reality

The Jains did not recognize social hierarchies of caste and The Jains did not recognize social hierarchies of caste and jatijati Became attractive to members of lower castes Became attractive to members of lower castes The ascetic tradition continues to today The ascetic tradition continues to today

EARLY BUDDHISMEARLY BUDDHISM Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 B.C.E.)Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 B.C.E.)

Born in 563 B.C.E. to the Kshatriya casteBorn in 563 B.C.E. to the Kshatriya caste Witnessed miseries of the human condition Witnessed miseries of the human condition Gave up his comfortable life and began searching for Gave up his comfortable life and began searching for

enlightenment enlightenment Intense meditation and extreme asceticism Intense meditation and extreme asceticism Received enlightenment under the bo tree and became Buddha Received enlightenment under the bo tree and became Buddha

The Buddha and his followers The Buddha and his followers "Turning of the Wheel of the Law," 528 B.C.E. "Turning of the Wheel of the Law," 528 B.C.E. Organized followers into a community of monks (“the sangha”)Organized followers into a community of monks (“the sangha”) Traveled throughout north India, bringing enlightenment to Traveled throughout north India, bringing enlightenment to

othersothers Buddhist doctrine: The Buddhist doctrine: The dharmadharma

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths All life involves suffering All life involves suffering Desire is the cause of suffering Desire is the cause of suffering Elimination of desire brings an end to suffering Elimination of desire brings an end to suffering The Noble Eightfold Path brings the elimination of desireThe Noble Eightfold Path brings the elimination of desire

The Noble Eightfold Path (“Setting the wheel in motion”)The Noble Eightfold Path (“Setting the wheel in motion”) Right belief, right resolve, right speech, right behaviorRight belief, right resolve, right speech, right behavior Right occupation, right effort, right contemplation, and right meditation Right occupation, right effort, right contemplation, and right meditation

Religious goal: Religious goal: NirvanaNirvana, a state of perfect spiritual , a state of perfect spiritual independenceindependence

APPEAL OF BUDDHISMAPPEAL OF BUDDHISM Appealed strongly to members of lower castes Appealed strongly to members of lower castes

Salvation without services of the brahmins Salvation without services of the brahmins Did not recognize social hierarchies of castes and Did not recognize social hierarchies of castes and jatijati

Appealed to women as all souls considered equalAppealed to women as all souls considered equal Less demanding than Jainism, more popular Less demanding than Jainism, more popular Used vernacular tongues, not Sanskrit Used vernacular tongues, not Sanskrit Holy sites and pilgrims Holy sites and pilgrims The monastic organizationsThe monastic organizations

Spread the Buddhist message, won convertsSpread the Buddhist message, won converts Could be endowed by others to support the religionCould be endowed by others to support the religion Centers of learning, good works, contemplation Centers of learning, good works, contemplation

Ashoka's support Ashoka's support Emperor Ashoka became a devout Buddhist, 206 B.C.E. Emperor Ashoka became a devout Buddhist, 206 B.C.E. Banned animal sacrifices in honor of Banned animal sacrifices in honor of ahimsaahimsa Granted lands to monasteries Granted lands to monasteries Sent missionaries to Bactria and CeylonSent missionaries to Bactria and Ceylon

VARIANTS OF VARIANTS OF BUDDHISMBUDDHISM Early Buddhism made heavy demands on Early Buddhism made heavy demands on

individuals individuals Giving up personal property Giving up personal property Forsaking the search for social standing Forsaking the search for social standing Detaching oneself from worldly pleasures Detaching oneself from worldly pleasures

Development of Buddhism Development of Buddhism Buddha gradually seen as a god by ex-Hindu’s, in ChinaBuddha gradually seen as a god by ex-Hindu’s, in China The notion of The notion of bodhisatvabodhisatva - "an enlightened being" - "an enlightened being" Monasteries began to accept gifts from wealthy individuals Monasteries began to accept gifts from wealthy individuals Buddhism became more attractive Buddhism became more attractive

The Schism of Buddhism: Was he a god or man? The Schism of Buddhism: Was he a god or man? MahayanaMahayana - "the greater vehicle" - "the greater vehicle"

Spread to Central, East Asia Spread to Central, East Asia Blended in India with Hinduism, which coopted Buddha Blended in India with Hinduism, which coopted Buddha

as a god as a god Coopted Chinese traditions and Taoist gods in ChinaCoopted Chinese traditions and Taoist gods in China

Hinayana or TheravadaHinayana or Theravada Continued to view Buddha as humanContinued to view Buddha as human Practiced in Sri Lanka, parts of India, SE AsiaPracticed in Sri Lanka, parts of India, SE Asia

Buddhism died out in India as it merged with HinduismBuddhism died out in India as it merged with Hinduism

POPULAR HINDUISMPOPULAR HINDUISM The epics The epics

MahabharataMahabharata A secular poem revised by brahmin scholars A secular poem revised by brahmin scholars Honored the god Vishnu, the preserver of the world Honored the god Vishnu, the preserver of the world

RamayanaRamayana Secular story of Rama and Sita was changed into a Hindu storySecular story of Rama and Sita was changed into a Hindu story

The The Bhagavad GitaBhagavad Gita A short poetic work within the MahabharataA short poetic work within the Mahabharata A dialogue between the god Vishnu and Prince Arjuna A dialogue between the god Vishnu and Prince Arjuna Illustrated expectations of Hinduism and promise of salvation Illustrated expectations of Hinduism and promise of salvation

Hindu ethics Hindu ethics Lower demands for achieving salvation Lower demands for achieving salvation Individuals should meet their responsibilities in detached fashion Individuals should meet their responsibilities in detached fashion Balance of Balance of dharma, artha, karmadharma, artha, karma to attain to attain moksha, moksha, endend samsara samsara

Popularity of Hinduism Popularity of Hinduism Became more popular than Buddhism; Buddhism too aesthetic Became more popular than Buddhism; Buddhism too aesthetic The Guptas helped Hinduism become the dominant religion The Guptas helped Hinduism become the dominant religion