State, Society and the Quest for Salvation Ch. 9

The Fortunes of Empire in Classical India

The Mauryan Dynasty and the Temporary Unification of India Chandragupta’s Government Kingdom of Magdha Chandragupta Maurya Ashoka Maurya Grandson of Chandragupta Represents high point of Mauryan Empire, r. 268-232 BCE Expanded empire to include all of Indian subcontinent except for south Much better known as a governor than conqueror Religious conversion after the gruesome battle of Kalinga in 262 BCE. Dedicated his life to Buddhism. Built extensive roads. Provided laws through edicts that he put on stone Encouraged Buddhist values Agriculture integral to wealth Most significant remaining kingdom after Alexander’s departure Central Ganges plain Economic strength Agriculture Trade in Ganges valley, Bay of Bengal Dominated surrounding regions in north-eastern India Took advantage of power vacuum left by Alexander Overthrew Magadha rulers Expanded kingdom to create 1st unified Indian empire Mauryan Dynasty Chandragupta’s advisor Wrote Arthashastra. A guide for the king and his ministers Like Persia & China, built a bureaucratic administrative system. Domestic policies Network of spies Legend: Chandragupta retires to become a monk, starves himself to death

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS How did the Persian conquest set the stage for the emergence of Maurya empire? 2. What were the five major accomplishments of the emperor Ashoka?

The Maurya Empire

The Mauryan Dynasty and the Temporary Unification of India Decline of the Mauryan Empire Economic crisis follows death of Ashoka High costs of bureaucracy, military not supported by tax revenue Frequent devaluations of currency to pay salaries Regions begin to abandon Mauryan Empire Disappears by 185 BCE

The Emergence of Regional Kingdoms and the revival of Empire Bactrian Rule in NW India Kushan Empire The Gupta Dynasty Local rulers form series of kingdoms Helps maintain stability India in NW falls under Alexander’s Greek speaking heirs Thriving commercial center linking China and Meditterranean Cross cultural interaction 2nd c. nomadic raiders end Bactrian rule Notable conqueror Kanishka Ruled empire which included modern day Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan and N India Also facilitated commerce Allowed safe travel across the Silk Road Served as cultural intermediaries Pro-Buddhism Based state in Magdha Dynasty started thanks to Chandra Gupta’s prior alliance building Successors: Samudra Gupta and Chandra Gupta II Est. tributary alliances Left local ruling to allies of various regions Led to a reason for decline

GUPTA DYNASTY

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 3. How did the Gupta administrative practices differ from those of Maurya? 4. How did India fit in to the trade along the Silk Road?

The Emergence of Regional Kingdoms and the revival of Empire Science and Mathematics Gupta Decline Gupta declines in the 5th century due to invasion by the White Huns this cost resources and weakened them Gupta dynasty remained only in name Rulers came in and out Plastic surgery techniques Earth sphere that rotates on its axis Included a symbol for zero Calculated the value of pi Created Arabic numerals

Economic Development and Social Distinctions

Towns and Trade Towns and Manufacturing Long Distance Trade Trade on the Indian Ocean Many towns in NW India Addressed the needs of those living in an agricultural society Also provided for the wealthy decorative items Trade was active esp. along the Ganges river Roads also facilitated trade India helped to link China, SW Asia, and Meditterranean Persia and India also traded due to the roads that were created Sea trade benefitted from the rhythms of the monsoon winds Recognition of winds was important Traveled to Indonesia and SE Asian mainland

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 5. In what ways did the development of trade and manufacturing impact the caste system?

Family Life and the Caste System Gender Relations Social Order Castes and Guilds Wealth and Social Order Although the caste recognized the brahmins and kashitriyas as at the top of the social structure the wealth gained by the vaishyas and sudras gave them more influence and prominence as that seen in the former two The idea of caste seemed to conflict with this new wealth Strong patriarchal families Several generations often lived together Mahabharata & Ramayana-portrayed women as weak and devoted to their husbands Gupta dynasty child marriage was common Women dominated domestic affairs Guilds formed- Guilds were groups of people working in the same field Lived in the same area, socialized and cared for each other Jati-subcastes Jati served to organize over themselves Could be expelled from jati community Still maintained caste Brahmins very much enforced this

Religions of Salvation in Classical India

Jainism and the Challenge to the Established Social Order Vardhamana Mahavira Jainist Ethics Appeal of Jainism First appeared in 7th c. Semi-legend Mahavira left home at age of 12 to seek out escaping the cycle of incarnation Jains-those who followed Jina/Mahavira. Inspirations came from Upanishads Believed everything possesses a soul In terrestrial state they experience physical and psychological suffereing Purification of selfish behavior then you have release of incarnation Jainists practiced ahisma, non-violence Very demanding Believed all occupations involved killing Jainism not a practical religion Appeal was there due to a contradiction to the classes Did not recognize social hierarchies Always appealed to a small minority

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 6. What are the fundamental beliefs of Jainism? What has been its long term impact? Why did it never become as popular as other major religions?

Early Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama Gautama’s Search for Enlightenment The Buddha and his Followers Live a good life Parents did not want him to experience suffering Went out and saw an old seek man and was informed that all men grow “old and weak” Seeing misery and a monk he saw the monk as noble Became a monk wanted to seek the phenomena and end of suffering Turning of the Wheel of Law Wore yellow robes Begged for food Left everything to find spiritual enlightenment Practice meditation and asceticism to no avail Sat under a tree, 49 days and received enlightenment He learned how to end suffering

Early Buddhism Appeal of Buddhism Ashoka’s Support Buddhist Doctrine: The Dharma Four Noble Truths-all life involves suffering, desire is the cause of suffering, elimination of desire is the elimination of suffering Noble Eightfold Path-lead balanced moderate lives, rejecting devotion to luxury Moderate lifestyle, reflection, contemplation, discipline This would lead to salvation and attain nirvana (spiritual independence) Dharma-basic doctrine Did not recognize caste or jati Appealed to lower classes and merchants Language more recognizable Holy sites that were also well known Stupa sites also popular Lay people helped provide for them financially Ashoka joined after seeing the violence of Kalinga More probable sought it as a key to unity in a large emire

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 7. What was the popular appeal of Buddhism? How does it compare and contrast to Hinduism?

Mahayana Buddhism Development of Buddhism The Spread of Mahayan Buddhism Nalanda Followers began to see Buddha as divine Bodhisattvas-reached nirvana but delayed it to help others Example of spiritual excellence Began to accept gifts from the wealthy Because of this more accessible Buddhism followers called it Mahayana More appealing The most well known of the Buddhist educational facilities

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 8. How did early Buddhism evolve to Mahayana Buddhism? How did that help spread the religion?

The Emergence of Popular Hinduism Popularity of Hinduism The Epics The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Ethics Salvation existed to those who met the responsibilities of their caste Should not be materialistic Concentrate on actions 4 Principle aims: dharma-obedience to religion and laws, artha-economic well being, kama-enjoyment of pleasures, & moksha-salvation of the soul All 3 help attain moksha Story of a civil war for control of N India by two grps of cousins Vishnu-preserver of the world Hinduism will be more popular than Buddhism in India. Buddhism will not spread their faith as much as Hindus did Hindus were supported by those in political positions such as the Guptas Poetry work that sets the expectation of Hinduism and the promise of salvation

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 9. How did Hinduism evolve in India during this period 10. Why did Buddhism eventually lose popularity in India?