Chapter 9 Empire in Classical India Large regional kingdoms but none with hegemony over others Learned administration methods from Persians Alexander the Great invaded but within 200 years withdrew leaving political vacuum ID: 702814
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Slide1
State, Society, and the Quest for Salvation in India
Chapter 9Slide2
Empire in Classical India
Large regional kingdoms, but none with hegemony over others
Learned administration methods from Persians
Alexander the Great invaded, but within 200 years, withdrew leaving political vacuumKingdom of Magadha became wealthy, conquered others and gained economic controlSlide3
Chandragupta Maurya
-> foundation for empire (centralized, unified)
Relied on advisor: bureaucracy, spies, control of trade and agriculture, foreign relations
Abdicated to become ascetic monk297 BCE: succeeded by son, expandedSlide4
Ashoka
Maurya
268-232 BCE: grandson,
Ashoka ruledconquered Kalinga
(who controlled trade routes) – very bloody
Good at governing:
bureaucracy,
cosmopolitan capital (
Pataliputra
),
stone and pillar edicts, well-integrated (stable and rich – irrigation agriculture and trade roads with shade, wells, and inns)Slide5
Decline of the Mauryan
Empire
232 BCE:
Ashoka died and empire declined within 50 yearsEconomic problems: bureaucrats’ salaries too high, currency debasedSlide6
Regional Kingdoms &
Revival of Empire
Kingdoms re-formed, while NW was under control of Greek-speaking Bactrian kingdom
Acted as middlemen between China and Mediterranean trade through Taxila
Kushans
invaded and took over Bactria, forming an empire
Facilitated trade between India and silk roads by keeping the peaceSlide7
The Gupta Dynasty
Chandra Gupta laid foundations for empire through family alliances and formed kingdom
Expanded, forming and empire (took over some, form tributary alliances with others)
Smaller than Maurya with different organizationMore decentralized (local admin. And basic policy left to regional allies)
Created period of stability
and prosperitySlide8
Gupta Decline
Invasion of White Huns (C. Asian nomads)
Fought them at first, but at high cost
Established kingdoms throughout N and W India Gupta continued as name was used by regional leaders-> back to regional kingdomsSlide9
Economic Development: Towns & Trade
Towns: marketplaces for manufactured goods and luxury items
Trade along rivers,
Ashoka’s roads, and sea routes (monsoon winds(
Increased as other empires developed more manufacturing (Persia, Greece, China)
Exports: cotton, aromatics, black pepper,
pearls,
gems
Imports: horses and bullion (W), silk (E),
spices (SE Asia)Slide10
Family Life
Strong patriarchal families and social order
Nuclear families
Women were subordinate (weak-willed, emotional)Increased in C.E. -> child marriageSlide11
Caste System
With increase in trade, new groups formed who didn’t fit system (merchants and artisans)
Formed guilds who lived together in neighborhoods, socialized, intermarried =
jatiJati organized courts to deal with members (could be expelled -> low, unclean)
Jati
took on role of central government
Wealth challenged social order as lower groups prospered through trade and industrySlide12
Religions of Salvation in Classical Indi
Importance of
brahmins
decreased and resentment increased-> emergence of new religions and philosophies in 6th and 5
th
centuries BCESlide13
Jainism
Founder =
Vardhamana
Mahavita: left home, ascetic, enlightenmentDisciples formed monastic order and spread his messageDoctrine from Upanishads: everything has a soul, suffering, be pure from selfish behavior (ahimsa) to be released
Difficult, because all
occupations involve violenceSlide14
Jainism (cont.)
Appeal: no social hierarchy -> popular with low castes, plus merchants, scholars, etc. who did little violence
Never became too popular, but influenced Hinduism, Buddhism, Gandhi, MLK, Jr
.Slide15
Early Buddhism
534 BCE: Siddhartha Gautama became ascetic in search of enlightenment and explanation of suffering
Through meditation and extreme asceticism, received it and became the Buddha
Gave sermons (Deer Park) and attracted followers organized in monastic orderSlide16
Early Buddhism (cont.)
Doctrine: 4 noble truths
All life involves suffering
Desire causes sufferingElimination of desire will eliminate sufferingEliminate desire by following the Eightfold Path (right behavior, etc.)
Eventually, escape cycle of reincarnation -> nirvanaSlide17
Early Buddhism
Appeal:
No caste system, less emphasis on asceticism
Used vernacular languageFocal points = holy sitesOrganization – monasteriesSupport of
Ashoka
(
Kalinga
, banned sacrifice, land grants, stupas and monasteries, pilgrimages, missionaries)Slide18
Mahayana Buddhism
Still, difficult to live it completely -> 3 changes made it easier
Buddha = God (devotional focus)
Boddhistava to help guide membersMonasteries accepted gifts for salvation
(also, became education centers)
=> Mahayana (the greater vehicle) (traditional = Theravada)
Spread throughout C. Asia, China, Japan, KoreaSlide19
Popular Hinduism
Based on Vedas and Upanishads
Evolved to a religion of salvation that addressed needs of ordinary people
Values found in Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Bhagavad GitaFeatured VishnuValues = fulfilling caste responsibilities,
subservience of women Slide20
Popular Hinduism (cont.)
Appeal: promise of salvation for following caste system, support of
Guptas
=> displaced Buddhism in India4 components: Dharma: obedience to lawsArtha
: pursuit of economic well-being
Kama: enjoyment of pleasure
Moksha
: salvation through balance of dharma,
artha
, and
kama)