Technology; Set broken bones. Skin graphs. First inoculations, infecting a person with a mild form of a disease to develop immunity. Improved health care in their empire, by building free hospitals and encouraging advances in medicine. Physicians pioneered surgical procedures to set broken bones and transplant skin grafts. First to use inoculations, infecting a person with a mild form of a disease so that immunity would develop.

Developed an easy to use numerical symbols 0 through 9 (known as Arabic numerals). Mathematician and astronomer named Aryabhatta in 498 CE., developed the numerical symbols 0 through 9 that we use today. They are called Arabic numerals rather than Indian because they were introduced to Europe by Arab peoples, who learned them through trade with India.

Economics Unified currency. Unlike China, Indian economic structure gave greater latitude to merchants.

India became trading crossroads. Unlike China, India had greater contact with other societies and civlizations. India became trading crossroads. Goods pass from China to Mediterranean Sea. From Southeast Asia to West Asia (Middle East). Spices & silks silks cotton goods rice & wheat India became an important trading crossroads during this period. Silk and other goods from China passed overland through northern India to the Mediterranean Sea. Indian merchants obtained spices and gemstones from kingdoms in Southeast Asia. Indian textiles and other goods made it to Rome. horses spices gold & ivory cotton goods gold & ivory

Regular trading relations with Rome. Indian Ocean Sea Lanes connected Indian ports with East Africa, Persian Gulf, and Indonesia. Regular trading relations with Rome. How did the Monsoons aid in Indian Ocean trade? What technology did the Indians learn from the Greek and Romans? Goods were also carried in ships from ports along India’s west coast to ports on the Red Sea and along the Persian Gulf. From there, traders went overland to Egypt or the Mediterranean Sea. These Indian Ocean Sea Lanes also connected Indian ports with East Africa and Indonesia. Mauryans even had regular trading relations with the Romans. How did the Monsoons aid in Indian Ocean trade? In June winds blow eastward. In the Fall the winds blow westward. What technology did the Indians learn from the Greek and Romans? Strong ship technology.

Pariahs [Harijan]  Untouchables (non-Aryans) It served as a political institution by enforcing rules about social behavior. Like China there were sharp distinctions and great inequalities characterizing the social order. Social: Social stratification based on Caste System. (List the social levels!) Brahmins (Priest/Rulers) Kshatriyas (Warriors) Vaishyas (merchants) Over time the Aryan people became divided into groups based on occupation, wealth, or birth These division, or Varnas, were outlined in the Vadas, and include: Brahins, Kashtriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras This grouping of society led to the development of the Caste System, which still divides Indian society today. Shudras (farmers) Pariahs [Harijan]  Untouchables (non-Aryans)

Unlike China and Rome, the caste system made Indian social groups very defined more rigid. Creation of “Untouchable” class led to ended slavery.

Gupta Dynasty;(320 C.E. to 550 C.E.): Smaller than the Mauryan Empire. Governed like Mauryans. Golden Age for India The second major Indian dynasty was the Gupta Dynasty. Though the size of the empire was smaller than the Mauryans’ had been, the Gupta Ear, which began in the late third century C.E. and ended in 550 C.E., was the Golden Age for India.

Due to the India’s unparalleled cultural diversity. Like Western Europe, after the Gupta Empire collapses, India becomes politically decentralized. Due to the India’s unparalleled cultural diversity. Both regions created enduring civilizations in the absence of a consistent, encompassing imperial state. Regionalism forms one of South Asia’s historical continuities. As a result of the subcontinent’s ethnic diversity and vast number of languages, any administrative power had to make deliberate efforts to unify the country. Though the Guptas presided over an economically vibrant dynasty, they were unable to organize a highly centralized bureaucracy. Unlike Ashoka, who traveled constantly within the empire to keep close watch over its affairs, the Gupta emperors took a hand-off approach to governing. This led to growing disunity among the far-flung regions of the empire. Invasions by nomads from the northwest, the White Huns, brought the final downfall of the Gupta Dynasty. By 500 C.E., these Huns had taken over western India, which destroyed the Gupta Empire’s trade with Rome.

Any questions before the quiz on the next slide? That concludes India. Any questions before the quiz on the next slide?