CLASSICAL CLASSICAL INDIAINDIA

Mauryan Empire (321–185 B.C.E.)Mauryan Empire (321–185 B.C.E.)

Ashoka (273–232 B.C.E.)Ashoka (273–232 B.C.E.)

Gupta Empire (320–550 C.E.)Gupta Empire (320–550 C.E.)

III. Intermittent Empire: The Case of IndiaIII. Intermittent Empire: The Case of India

A.A. The Aryan Controversy: The Aryan Controversy: After the decline of the Indus civilization, a wave of Indo-After the decline of the Indus civilization, a wave of Indo-Europeans came into India. There is still much debate on the nature of their history. Did they Europeans came into India. There is still much debate on the nature of their history. Did they invade suddenly? Peacefully and slowly migrate? Were they always there?invade suddenly? Peacefully and slowly migrate? Were they always there?

B.B. Political fragmentation and cultural diversity, but a distinctive religious tradition: Political fragmentation and cultural diversity, but a distinctive religious tradition: Despite the numerous small states and meager imperial tradition and despite the numerous Despite the numerous small states and meager imperial tradition and despite the numerous languages and cultural traditions, there were several distinct and significant religious traditions languages and cultural traditions, there were several distinct and significant religious traditions that formed a common core that outsiders would come to call that formed a common core that outsiders would come to call ““Hinduism.Hinduism.””

C.C. Mauryan Empire (321–185 B.C.E.): Mauryan Empire (321–185 B.C.E.): This first Indian empire may have been inspired by This first Indian empire may have been inspired by contact with Persia and the Hellenistic kingdoms. While impressive in size and power (50 contact with Persia and the Hellenistic kingdoms. While impressive in size and power (50 million subjects and 600,000 infantry soldiers, 30,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots, and 9,000 war million subjects and 600,000 infantry soldiers, 30,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots, and 9,000 war elephants), this empire was not as long lived as Rome or Han.elephants), this empire was not as long lived as Rome or Han.

D.D. Ashoka (r. 273–232 B.C.E.): Ashoka (r. 273–232 B.C.E.): The most famous Indian emperor of the age was at first a great The most famous Indian emperor of the age was at first a great conqueror but later converted to Buddhism, adopting a moralistic tone and erecting numerous conqueror but later converted to Buddhism, adopting a moralistic tone and erecting numerous pillars and rocks carved with his edicts.pillars and rocks carved with his edicts.

E.E. Gupta Empire (320–550 C.E.): Gupta Empire (320–550 C.E.): It was well over half a millennium before another state It was well over half a millennium before another state equaled the first empire. The Gupta Empire saw a flourishing of art, architecture, and literature, equaled the first empire. The Gupta Empire saw a flourishing of art, architecture, and literature, as well as commerce and the sciences.as well as commerce and the sciences.

F.F. Great civilizational achievements without a central state: Great civilizational achievements without a central state: Despite a significant imperial Despite a significant imperial tradition due to political fragmentation and conflict, South Asia was home to the growth of a tradition due to political fragmentation and conflict, South Asia was home to the growth of a significant long-distance trade network, major spiritual movements, and recorded impressive significant long-distance trade network, major spiritual movements, and recorded impressive work in astronomy. work in astronomy.

RISE OF MAURYAN RISE OF MAURYAN EMPIREEMPIRE

The “Golden Age”The “Golden Age” Ganges RepublicsGanges Republics Prior to Alexander, kshatriyan Prior to Alexander, kshatriyan

republics dominated, vied for republics dominated, vied for powerpower

Magadha was one of the most Magadha was one of the most dominantdominant

Western Intrusions Western Intrusions Intrusions of Persians (520 Intrusions of Persians (520

B.C.E.) and Alexander (327 B.C.E.) and Alexander (327 B.C.E.)B.C.E.)

Persians established Indus Persians established Indus satrapy satrapy

Alexander’s withdrawal left a Alexander’s withdrawal left a political vacuum political vacuum

Magadha kingdom filled the Magadha kingdom filled the vacuumvacuum

Chandragupta Maurya The founder of the Mauryan empire overthrew the Magadha kingdom in 321 B.C.E. •Conquered the Greek state in Bactria, Selecuid control of Indus •Chandragupta's empire embraced all of northern India

Chandragupta's government Government procedures devised by Kautalya, the advisor of the empire •The political handbook, Arthashastra, outlined administrative methods

MAURYAN EMPIRE: MAURYAN EMPIRE: ASHOKAASHOKA Ashoka Maurya (reigned Ashoka Maurya (reigned

273-232 B.C.E.) 273-232 B.C.E.) Chandragupta's Chandragupta's

grandson, grandson, The high point of the The high point of the

Mauryan empire Mauryan empire Conquered the kingdom Conquered the kingdom

of Kalinga, 260 B.C.E.of Kalinga, 260 B.C.E. Ruled through tightly Ruled through tightly

organized bureaucracy organized bureaucracy Established capital at Established capital at

Pataliputra Pataliputra Policies of encouraging Policies of encouraging

agriculture and trade agriculture and trade Converted to BuddhismConverted to Buddhism

Established a tolerant rule Established a tolerant rule of righteousnessof righteousness

Sent out missionaries to Sri Sent out missionaries to Sri Lanka, SE Asia, Central AsiaLanka, SE Asia, Central Asia

The most famous Mauryan emperor is Ashoka ( 273–232 b.c.e.).Ashoka was shaken by the carnage in a brutal war of expansion in the south so he converted to Buddhism. His Buddhist policies of government are preserved in edicts that were inscribed on rocks and pillars at various points throughout his empire.(Pg 153-154 – The Rock Edicts)

Like other Ashokan pillars this is inscribed with accounts of Ashoka's political achievements and instructions to his subjects on proper behavior. These pillars are the earliest extant examples of Indian writing and a major historical source for the Mauryan period.

Decline of the Mauryan Decline of the Mauryan Empire Empire

Ashoka died in 232 B.C.E. Ashoka died in 232 B.C.E. Suffered from acute financial Suffered from acute financial and economic difficulties and economic difficulties High cost for maintaining High cost for maintaining army and bureaucrats army and bureaucrats

Debasing the currency, not Debasing the currency, not an effective resolution an effective resolution

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

THE GUPTASTHE GUPTAS320 – 550 C.E.320 – 550 C.E.

The Gupta Dynasty After Mauryans, India was controlled by

regional kingdoms The Gupta state rose to power in Magadha Chandra Gupta founded the new dynasty Gupta dynasty was relatively decentralized Officially supported revival of Hinduism as

state faith Era seen as the Golden Age of Hinduism

Like the Mauryan rulers, the Guptas controlled iron deposits, established state monopolies, and collected a 25 percent agricultural tax.

However, they were never as strong as the Mauryan Empire.

Gupta Government Power

The Guptas used their army to control the The Guptas used their army to control the core of their empire, but provincial core of their empire, but provincial administration was left to governors who administration was left to governors who often made their posts into hereditary and often made their posts into hereditary and subordinate kingdoms and kinship groups.subordinate kingdoms and kinship groups.

The Gupta Empire had a king that was the center of the administration. The different groups were divided into several provinces and each were sub-divided into several series of districs. The villiages were organized under rural bodies and consisted of the headman and villiage elders. In the cities, there was a council that had several offices like the president of city corperation and chief representative of guild merchants.- The Gupta Empire had a Monarchy government.

Gupta DeclineGupta Decline

Because the Gupta did not have Because the Gupta did not have sufficient military force, they exercised sufficient military force, they exercised power as a “theater-state,” power as a “theater-state,” redistributing profits and luxury goods redistributing profits and luxury goods from trade and dazzling its dependents from trade and dazzling its dependents with elaborate ceremonies in return for with elaborate ceremonies in return for gifts and other favors.gifts and other favors. Invasion of White Huns weakened the

empire After 5th century C.E., Gupta dynasty ruled

in name only

Lack of Gupta EvidenceLack of Gupta Evidence We have very little archaeological data We have very little archaeological data

and few contemporary accounts from and few contemporary accounts from which to learn about the politics, society, which to learn about the politics, society, and culture of the Gupta period. and culture of the Gupta period.

We know that the court supported We know that the court supported mathematics and astronomy and that mathematics and astronomy and that Gupta mathematicians invented our Gupta mathematicians invented our “Arabic” numerals and the concept of “Arabic” numerals and the concept of “zero.” “zero.”

We also have the Chinese monk Faxian’s We also have the Chinese monk Faxian’s description of his journey through Gupta description of his journey through Gupta India.India.

Gupta ReligionGupta Religion

The Gupta period, while dominated The Gupta period, while dominated by Hinduism, was characterized by by Hinduism, was characterized by religious toleration and saw the religious toleration and saw the development of the classic form of development of the classic form of Hindu temples with exterior Hindu temples with exterior courtyard, inner shrine, and wall courtyard, inner shrine, and wall decorations.decorations.

Gupta DeclineGupta Decline During the Gupta period, women lost the During the Gupta period, women lost the

right to inherit and own property and to right to inherit and own property and to participate in key rituals, and were participate in key rituals, and were treated like the lowest varna (Shudra). treated like the lowest varna (Shudra).

They were married very young, and in They were married very young, and in some places a widow was required to burn some places a widow was required to burn herself on her husband’s funeral pyre. herself on her husband’s funeral pyre.

Among the few ways to escape this low Among the few ways to escape this low status was to join a religious community, status was to join a religious community, to be a member of an extremely wealthy to be a member of an extremely wealthy family, or to be a courtesan.family, or to be a courtesan.

ECONOMICSECONOMICS

In 550 c.e the Gupta empire In 550 c.e the Gupta empire collapsed under the financial burden collapsed under the financial burden of defense against the Huns. Harsha of defense against the Huns. Harsha (r. 606–647 c.e), whose kingdom is (r. 606–647 c.e), whose kingdom is described by the Chinese pilgrim described by the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang, briefly reunited northern Xuanzang, briefly reunited northern India. India.

After Harsha, northern India again After Harsha, northern India again fell into political fragmentation.fell into political fragmentation.

ECONOMICSECONOMICS

Gupta India was linked to the outside world by extensive trade networks. Trade with southeast and east Asia was particularly flourishing.

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

goods Long-distance trade

Invasions by Persian empires helped to build extensive trade networks

Trade with China through the silk roads of central Asia

Trade in the Indian Ocean basin, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Mediterranean basin

Spread Buddhism and Hinduism throughout Indian Ocean basin

SOCIETYSOCIETY Social and gender relations Social and gender relations

Strong patriarchal families; Strong patriarchal families; subordination of women to men subordination of women to men

Child marriage placed women under Child marriage placed women under control of old men control of old men

Development of caste system Development of caste system Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas,

Shudras (part of Hinduism)Shudras (part of Hinduism) New social groups of artisans, New social groups of artisans,

craftsmen, and merchants appeared craftsmen, and merchants appeared Individuals of same trade or craft Individuals of same trade or craft

formed a guild; guilds were formed a guild; guilds were subcastes, jatis subcastes, jatis

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

Wealth and social order Wealth and social order Trade and industry brought Trade and industry brought

prosperity to many prosperity to many vaishyasvaishyas and and shudrasshudras

Old beliefs and values of early Aryan Old beliefs and values of early Aryan society became increasingly society became increasingly irrelevant irrelevant

Caste Caste SystemSystem

of of bothboth

EmpireEmpiress

IV. Reflections: Enduring Legacies of Second-Wave EmpiresIV. Reflections: Enduring Legacies of Second-Wave Empires

A. Mao Zedong and Qin Shihuangdi: A. Mao Zedong and Qin Shihuangdi: Leader of Communist China in Leader of Communist China in the twentieth century idealized the first emperorthe twentieth century idealized the first emperor’’s brutal path to state s brutal path to state building as a revolutionary triumph for progress.building as a revolutionary triumph for progress.

B. Ashoka in modern India: B. Ashoka in modern India: Seeking to promote an image of a Seeking to promote an image of a peaceful and tolerant India, the leaders of the new nation adopted peaceful and tolerant India, the leaders of the new nation adopted symbols of Ashokasymbols of Ashoka’’s reign in 1947.s reign in 1947.

C. British imperial and Italian fascist uses of Rome: C. British imperial and Italian fascist uses of Rome: Both the British Both the British colonial empire and Mussolinicolonial empire and Mussolini’’s Italy used the Roman Empire as a s Italy used the Roman Empire as a crucial precedent for rationalizing their rule.crucial precedent for rationalizing their rule.