Chapter 5: India’s First Empires:Cultural Cohesion in a Divided

Subcontinent (1000 BC – 500 AD)

I. Review: Aryans & the Vedic Age

Indus River Valley Civilization… Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa…

Sanskrit Writings: Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana

II. HinduismA. Origins• Oldest & most complex religions• No single founder, text, or hierarchy• No fixed dogma…• Developed and changed over 3500 years• Began w/ Aryans• 750 million: mostly in India• Regionalized…

II. Hinduism

B. Beliefs1. Universal Spirit: “God is one, but wise people know it by many names” …. Brahman, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva

II. HinduismB. Beliefs

2. Reincarnation*Atman… Moksha… Samsara* Reincarnation provides basis for caste

system3. Dharma [Ahimsa] & Karma

II. HinduismC. Caste System

1. Origins2. Social Order: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras, Untouchables3. Effect… jatis…. Govt… Caste system a social ranking based on ideas of religious purity… may have helped people accept their place/ poverty4. Women

II. HinduismD. Sacred Texts“The gods love the obscure and hate the obvious”

1. Vedas: collection of prayers & sacred verses; caste origin

2. Upanishads: philosophy of Hindu beliefs; Brahman

3. Brahamanas: instructions on rituals and sacrifice

II. HinduismD. Sacred Texts

4. Mahabharata* Includes Ramayana & Bhagavad-Gita

(“Song of God”)* Emphasizes struggle to do one’s duty

II. HinduismE. Religious Practices

1. Not eat beef or pork2. No alcohol3. Priests & gurus4. No higher or central religious authority

(hierarchy)5. Personal shrines6. Diwali : “Festival of Lights”

II. HinduismE. Religious Practices*Importance of the Ganges… Ghats“If only the bone of a person touch the water of the

Ganges, that person shall dwell in heaven.”*Importance of the Himalayas… Mt. Everest &

Yeti“The sight of the snow wipes out the sins of the

world.”

III. BuddhismA. The Enlightened One: Siddhartha

Gautama1. Life Before “Enlightenment”2. Buddha: “He Who Has Awakened”

III. Buddhism

B. Basic Principles1. Four Noble Truths (outline)• Ordinary Life is Full of Suffering.• Suffering is caused by Selfish Desires.• End suffering: end selfish desires.• Way to end desire is to follow Eightfold

Path.

III. Buddhism: Eightfold Path (Sheet)

III. Buddhism

B. Basic Principles: Sacred Texts• Tripitaka: “Three Baskets of Wisdom”

III. BuddhismC. Comparison w/ Hinduism

1. Buddhism accepts Hindu concepts of karma, dharma, reincarnation, nonviolence

2. Religious order: monks & nuns3. Rejects Hindu gods, rituals, priesthood

(Buddhism has no gods)4. Rejects caste system: appeals to lower

classes

III. Buddhism: Major Sects [D]

Theravada Buddhism• Followed Buddha

closest• Only dedicated to

reach nirvana• Sangha: order of

monks• Celibacy, no alcohol• Sri Lanka, SE Asia

Mahayana Buddhism• Bodhisattvas: saints• Turned to for help and

salvation• Fellow humans who

would help others achieve nirvana

• China, Tibet, Korea, Japan

III. Buddhism

D. Major SectsTibetian Buddhism• Dalai Lama• Opposition to Communist China

III. BuddhismE.Decline in Buddhism in India

Peaked w/ Asoka… why decline?1. Rulers: liked stability of Hinduism & support

of priests2. Common people: preferred stability &

rituals/ feasts of Hinduism (stable: caste system)

3. Buddhism: not appeal to women4. Final blow: Muslim invasions

*MB: blended more smoothly into Hinduism

IV. The Mauryan Empire

*Unite India… Began in North… Effect of geography

A. Candragupta Maurya1. Introduction… Aryans & Alex 2. As Founder… “Fish”3. As Ruler…

IV. The Mauryan Empire

B. Asoka and Reform1. Introduction… Deccan & Battle of Kalinga2. As Ruler

* Patalitputra… Effects on India… Missionaries

V. Kushan Empire

*Outline… Northern India… Key link on the Silk Road…Achievements

VI. The Gupta Empire

*Elements of a “Golden Age”…A. Candra Gupta I… Legitimacy B. Gupta Society

1. Government: Patalitputra: central, less harsh2. Economy: trade & agriculture3. Women: restrictions of Hinduism4. Organization of Village & Family Life: Sheet

VI. The Gupta EmpireC. The Influence of Hinduism: OutlineD. End of Gupta Rule: Outline

* White Huns

VII. Gupta’s Golden Age

Classical Civilization…A. MathematicsB. Medicine

VII. Gupta’s Golden Age

C. Architecture*Stupas… pillars… rock chambers… Ajanta caves

D. Literature*Mahabharata… Ramayana…