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Early India
AP World History
The Indus River Valley (India)
India began along the Indus River,
which flooded & left behind fertile soil
Seasonal monsoons caused summer rains & floods
The people were well protected on the Indian “subcontinent” by the oceans, mountains, &
deserts that surrounded the Indus River Valley
Lasting Contributions• Advanced cities:
–Indus cities were laid out in a grid system with high walls & citadel of major buildings
Lasting Contributions• Specialized Workers:
–Indian society was divided by the “caste system” which divided people based on their purity in Hinduism
Lasting Contributions• Government:
–Little is known about Indus government other than they were ruled by kings
Lasting Contributions• Religion:
–Believed in a polytheistic religion called Hinduism
–Hindus believe that one’s soul is reborn until moksha is achieved (reincarnation)
–Moksha (enlightenment or nirvana) is the spiritual release from human form
–A soul’s karma (good or bad deeds) effect reincarnation
Lasting Contributions• Writing:
–Indus writing has not been fully translated so much of Indus life is still a mystery
–Writing contained about 400 symbols that were both pictograms & phonetic characters
Lasting Contributions• Technology:
–Advanced plumbing; Most houses had toilets & private bathrooms connected to underground sewer systems
–Standard, oven-baked bricks
Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)
Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE) Born in NE India
(Nepal). Raised in great luxury
to be a king. At 29 he rejected
his luxurious life toseek enlightenmentand the source ofsuffering.
Lived a strict,ascetic life for 6 yrs.
Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found nirvana.
Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35.
The essence of Buddhism
The essence of Buddhism
The “middle way of wisdom and compassion.”
2,500 year old tradition. The 3 jewels of Buddhism:
Buddha, the teacher. Dharma, the teachings. Sangha, the community.
What is the fundamental cause of
all suffering?
What is the fundamental cause of
all suffering?
Desire!Desire! Therefore, extinguish the
self, don’t obsess about oneself.
Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths
1. There is suffering in the world. To live is to suffer. (Dukkha) The Buddha found this out
when he was young and experienced suffering and death in others.
Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths2. The cause of
suffering is self-centered desire and attachments. (Tanha)
3. The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments. (Nirvana = “extinction”)
Four Noble TruthsFour Noble Truths4. To reach nirvana, one must
follow the Eightfold Path.
Eightfold PathEightfold Path
NirvanaNirvana The union with the ultimate spiritual reality.
Escape from the cycle of rebirth.
Religions of South AsiaReligions of South Asia
Buddhism in the Subcontinent
Buddhism in the Subcontinent
Theravada BuddhismTheravada Buddhism
Appeal of Buddhism
• Less dependence on Brahmins for ritual activities
• No recognition of caste, jati status• Philosophy of moderate consumption• Public service through lay teaching• Use of vernacular, not Sanskrit
23
A Buddhist Monastery
24
Ashoka’s Support of Buddhism
• Personal conversion to Buddhism• Disillusioned after violent war with Kalinga• Banned animal sacrifices, mandated
vegetarianism in court• Material support for Buddhist institutions,
missionary activities
25
Changes in Buddhist thought
• 3rd c. BCE – 1st c. CE– Buddha considered divine– Institution of Boddhisatvas (“saints”)– Charitable donations to monasteries regarded as
pious activity
26
Spread of Mahayana Buddhism
• Mahayana (“greater vehicle”), newer development– India, China, Japan, Korea, central Asia
• Hinayana (“lesser vehicle,” also Theravada), earlier version– Ceylon, Burma, Thailand
27
Emergence of Popular Hinduism
• Composition of epics from older oral traditions– Mahabharata– Ramayana
• Emphasis on god Vishnu and his incarnations• The Bhagavad Gita:• “Song of the Lord”• Centuries of revisions, final form c. 400 CE• Dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna during civil
war
28
Hindu Ethics
• Emphasis on meeting class obligations (dharma)
• Pursuit of economic well-being and honesty (artha)
• Enjoyment of social, physical and sexual pleasure (kama)
• Salvation of the soul (moksha)
29
Popularity of Hinduism
• Gradually replaced Buddhism in India• Gupta dynastic leaders extend considerable
support
30
Classical India
Indian Empires: Mauryan & Gupta
The Mauryan Empire of India
Indus River Valley
After the river valley era, India transitioned into the Mauryan Empire
Chandragupta Maurya became king of India in 321 BC,
created a vast army, & conquered new lands
Chandragupta’s empire controlled most of the Indian subcontinent
India: The Mauryan Empire • Chandragupta used tactics to control
his empire: –Like the
Persians, Chandragupta divided his empire into provinces each ruled by a local prince
The Mauryan Empire of India
Indus River Valley
In 269 B.C., King Asoka took over & expanded the Mauryan
Empire to its greatest extent
During his wars of expansion, Asoka converted to Buddhism
Asoka developed new policies of tolerance &
nonviolence for his empire
Buddhism spread as a result of Asoka’s influence
The Gupta EmpireAfter Asoka’s death, the
Mauryan Empire declined & was replaced by the Gupta Empire
Chandra Gupta formed the Gupta Empire in 320 A.D. & expanded the empire
Classical India• India experienced a “golden age” during the
Gupta Empire & became a “classical empire”–Indian astronomers were the first to
discover that the earth was round –Mathematicians invented modern
numerals, zero, pi, & the decimal system
Merchants sold exotic spices & silks to people in the Mediterranean world
Cross-cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads
Long-Distance Travel in the Ancient World
• Lack of police enforcement outsied of established settlements
• Changed in classical period– Improvement of infrastructure– Development of empires
Trade Networks Develop
• Dramatic increase in trade due to Greek colonization
• Maintenance of roads, bridges• Discovery of Monsoon wind patterns• Increased tariff revenues used to maintain
open routes
Trade in the Hellenistic World
• Bactria/India– Spices, pepper, cosmetics, gems, pearls
• Persia, Egypt– Grain
• Mediterranean– Wine, oil, jewelry, art
• Development of professional merchant class
The Silk Roads
• Named for principal commodity from China• Dependent on imperial stability• Overland trade routes from China to Roman
Empire• Sea Lanes and Maritime trade as well
The Silk Roads, 200 BCE-300 CE
Organization of Long-Distance Trade
• Divided into small segments• Tariffs and tolls finance local supervision• Tax income incentives to maintain safety,
maintenance of passage
Cultural Trade: Buddhism and Hinduism
• Merchants carry religious ideas along silk routes
• India through central Asia to east Asia• Cosmopolitan centers promote development
of monasteries to shelter traveling merchants• Buddhism becomes dominant faith of silk
roads, 200 BCE-700 CE
The Spread of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, 200 BCE – 400 CE