CLASSICAL INDIA FROM THE MAURYANS TO THE GUPTAS

RISE OF MAURYAN EMPIRE Ganges Republics Ganges Republics Prior to Alexander, kshatriyan (noble/warrior) republics dominated, vied for power Prior to Alexander, kshatriyan (noble/warrior) republics dominated, vied for power Magadha (see next slide) was one of the most dominant Magadha (see next slide) was one of the most dominant Western Intrusions Western Intrusions Intrusions of Persians (520 B.C.E.) and Alexander (327 B.C.E.) Intrusions of Persians (520 B.C.E.) and Alexander (327 B.C.E.) Persians established Indus satrapy Persians established Indus satrapy Alexander’s withdrawal left a political vacuum Alexander’s withdrawal left a political vacuum Magadha kingdom filled the vacuum Magadha kingdom filled the vacuum Chandragupta Maurya Chandragupta Maurya The founder of the Mauryan empire The founder of the Mauryan empire Overthrew the Magadha kingdom in 321 B.C.E. Overthrew the Magadha kingdom in 321 B.C.E. Conquered the Greek state in Bactria, Selecuid control of Indus Conquered the Greek state in Bactria, Selecuid control of Indus Chandragupta's empire embraced all of northern India Chandragupta's empire embraced all of northern India Chandragupta's government Chandragupta's government Government procedures devised by Kautalya, the advisor of the empire Government procedures devised by Kautalya, the advisor of the empire The political handbook, Arthashastra, outlined administrative methods (see slide 4) The political handbook, Arthashastra, outlined administrative methods (see slide 4)

First 1 1/2 hrs. after sunriseReceive reports on defence, revenue, expenditure Second 1 1/2 hrs. after sunrisePublic audiences, to hear petitions of city & country people Third 1 1/2 hrs. after sunrise & Last 1 1/2 hrs. before noon Receive revenues & tributes; appoint ministers and other high officials & allot tasks to them First 1 1/2 hrs. after noonWrite letters & dispatches, confer with councillors, receive secret information from spies Second 1 1/2 hrs. after noonPersonal: recreation, time for contemplation Third 1 1/2 hrs. after noon & Last 1 1/2 hrs. before sunset Inspect & review forces; Consult with Chief of Defence First 1 1/2 hrs. after sunsetInterview with secret agents Second 1 1/2 hrs. after sunsetPersonal: bath, meals, study Third & Fourth 1 1/2 hrs. after sunset & First 1 1/2 hrs. after midnight Retire to the bed chamber to the sound of music, sleep Second 1 1/2 hrs. after midnightAfter waking to the sound of music, meditate on political matters & on work to be done Third 1 1/2 hrs. after midnightConsult with councilors, send out spies Last 1 1/2 hrs. before sunriseReligious, household & personal duties, meetings with his teacher, adviser on rituals, purohitas, personal physician, chief cooks & astrologer

ASHOKA Ashoka Maurya (reigned B.C.E.) Ashoka Maurya (reigned B.C.E.) Chandragupta's grandson, Chandragupta's grandson, The high point of the Mauryan empire The high point of the Mauryan empire Conquered the kingdom of Kalinga, 260 B.C.E. Conquered the kingdom of Kalinga, 260 B.C.E. Ruled through tightly organized bureaucracy Ruled through tightly organized bureaucracy Established capital at Pataliputra Established capital at Pataliputra Policies of encouraging agriculture and trade Policies of encouraging agriculture and trade Converted to Buddhism Converted to Buddhism Established a tolerant rule of righteousness Established a tolerant rule of righteousness Sent out missionaries to Sri Lanka, SE Asia, Central Asia Sent out missionaries to Sri Lanka, SE Asia, Central Asia Decline of the Mauryan Empire Decline of the Mauryan Empire Ashoka died in 232 B.C.E. Ashoka died in 232 B.C.E. Suffered from acute financial and economic difficulties Suffered from acute financial and economic difficulties High cost for maintaining army and bureaucrats High cost for maintaining army and bureaucrats Debasing the currency, not a effective resolution Debasing the currency, not a effective resolution The empire collapsed by 185 B.C.E. The empire collapsed by 185 B.C.E.

THE GUPTAS The Gupta Dynasty The Gupta Dynasty After Mauryans, India was controlled by regional kingdoms After Mauryans, India was controlled by regional kingdoms The Gupta state rose to power in Magadha The Gupta state rose to power in Magadha Chandra Gupta founded the new dynasty Chandra Gupta founded the new dynasty Gupta dynasty was relatively decentralized Gupta dynasty was relatively decentralized Officially supported revival of Hinduism as state faith Officially supported revival of Hinduism as state faith Era seen as the Golden Age of Hinduism Era seen as the Golden Age of Hinduism Gupta decline Gupta decline Invasion of White Huns weakened the empire Invasion of White Huns weakened the empire After 5th century C.E., Gupta dynasty ruled in name only After 5th century C.E., Gupta dynasty ruled in name only Large regional kingdoms dominated political life in India Large regional kingdoms dominated political life in India

The area of the White Huns

ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL Towns and manufacturing Towns and manufacturing Towns dotted the India countryside after 600 B.C.E. Towns dotted the India countryside after 600 B.C.E. Towns provided manufactured products and luxury goods Towns provided manufactured products and luxury goods Long-distance trade Long-distance trade Invasions by Persian empires helped to build extensive trade networks Invasions by Persian empires helped to build extensive trade networks Trade with China through the silk roads of central Asia Trade with China through the silk roads of central Asia Trade in the Indian Ocean basin, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Mediterranean basin Trade in the Indian Ocean basin, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Mediterranean basin Spread Buddhism and Hinduism throughout Indian Ocean basin Spread Buddhism and Hinduism throughout Indian Ocean basin Social and gender relations Social and gender relations Strong patriarchal families; subordination of women to men Strong patriarchal families; subordination of women to men Child marriage placed women under control of old men Child marriage placed women under control of old men Development of caste system Development of caste system New social groups of artisans, craftsmen, and merchants appeared New social groups of artisans, craftsmen, and merchants appeared Individuals of same trade or craft formed a guild; guilds were subcastes, jatis Individuals of same trade or craft formed a guild; guilds were subcastes, jatis Functions of guilds: social security and welfare systems Functions of guilds: social security and welfare systems Wealth and social order Wealth and social order Trade and industry brought prosperity to many vaishyas and shudras Trade and industry brought prosperity to many vaishyas and shudras Old beliefs and values of early Aryan society became increasingly irrelevant Old beliefs and values of early Aryan society became increasingly irrelevant

JAINISM Vardhamana Mahavira Vardhamana Mahavira Born in north India, 540 B.C.E. Born in north India, 540 B.C.E. Left family, searching for salvation from cycle of reincarnation Left family, searching for salvation from cycle of reincarnation Gained enlightenment, taught an ascetic doctrine Gained enlightenment, taught an ascetic doctrine His disciples began to lead a monastic life His disciples began to lead a monastic life Mahavira became Jina, the "conqueror," and followers, Jains Mahavira became Jina, the "conqueror," and followers, Jains Jainist doctrine and ethics Jainist doctrine and ethics Inspired by the Upanishads Inspired by the Upanishads Everything in the universe possessed a soul Everything in the universe possessed a soul Striving to purify one's selfish behavior to attain a state of bliss Striving to purify one's selfish behavior to attain a state of bliss The principle of ahimsa, nonviolence toward all living things The principle of ahimsa, nonviolence toward all living things Believed that almost all occupations entailed violence of some kind Believed that almost all occupations entailed violence of some kind Too demanding, not a practical alternative to the cult of the brahmins Too demanding, not a practical alternative to the cult of the brahmins Appeal of Jainism Appeal of Jainism Social implication: Individual souls equally participated in ultimate reality Social implication: Individual souls equally participated in ultimate reality The Jains did not recognize social hierarchies of caste and jati The Jains did not recognize social hierarchies of caste and jati Became attractive to members of lower castes Became attractive to members of lower castes The ascetic tradition continues to today The ascetic tradition continues to today

EARLY BUDDHISM Siddhartha Gautama ( B.C.E.) Siddhartha Gautama ( B.C.E.) Born in 563 B.C.E. to the Kshatriya caste Born in 563 B.C.E. to the Kshatriya caste Witnessed miseries of the human condition Witnessed miseries of the human condition Gave up his comfortable life and began searching for enlightenment Gave up his comfortable life and began searching for enlightenment Intense meditation and extreme asceticism Intense meditation and extreme asceticism Received enlightenment under the bo tree and became Buddha Received enlightenment under the bo tree and became Buddha The Buddha and his followers The Buddha and his followers "Turning of the Wheel of the Law," 528 B.C.E. "Turning of the Wheel of the Law," 528 B.C.E. Organized followers into a community of monks (“the sangha”) Organized followers into a community of monks (“the sangha”) Traveled throughout north India, bringing enlightenment to others Traveled throughout north India, bringing enlightenment to others Buddhist doctrine: The dharma Buddhist doctrine: The dharma The Four Noble Truths The Four Noble Truths All life involves suffering All life involves suffering Desire is the cause of suffering Desire is the cause of suffering Elimination of desire brings an end to suffering Elimination of desire brings an end to suffering The Noble Eightfold Path brings the elimination of desire The Noble Eightfold Path brings the elimination of desire The Noble Eightfold Path (“Setting the wheel in motion”) The Noble Eightfold Path (“Setting the wheel in motion”) Right belief, right resolve, right speech, right behavior Right belief, right resolve, right speech, right behavior Right occupation, right effort, right contemplation, and right meditation Right occupation, right effort, right contemplation, and right meditation Religious goal: Nirvana, a state of perfect spiritual independence Religious goal: Nirvana, a state of perfect spiritual independence

APPEAL OF BUDDHISM Appealed strongly to members of lower castes Appealed strongly to members of lower castes Salvation without services of the brahmins Salvation without services of the brahmins Did not recognize social hierarchies of castes and jati Did not recognize social hierarchies of castes and jati Appealed to women as all souls considered equal Appealed to women as all souls considered equal Less demanding than Jainism, more popular Less demanding than Jainism, more popular Used vernacular tongues, not Sanskrit Used vernacular tongues, not Sanskrit Holy sites and pilgrims Holy sites and pilgrims The monastic organizations The monastic organizations Spread the Buddhist message, won converts Spread the Buddhist message, won converts Could be endowed by others to support the religion Could be endowed by others to support the religion Centers of learning, good works, contemplation Centers of learning, good works, contemplation Ashoka's support Ashoka's support Emperor Ashoka became a devout Buddhist, 206 B.C.E. Emperor Ashoka became a devout Buddhist, 206 B.C.E. Banned animal sacrifices in honor of ahimsa Banned animal sacrifices in honor of ahimsa Granted lands to monasteries Granted lands to monasteries Sent missionaries to Bactria and Ceylon Sent missionaries to Bactria and Ceylon

VARIANTS OF BUDDHISM Early Buddhism made heavy demands on individuals Early Buddhism made heavy demands on individuals Giving up personal property Giving up personal property Forsaking the search for social standing Forsaking the search for social standing Detaching oneself from worldly pleasures Detaching oneself from worldly pleasures Development of Buddhism Development of Buddhism Buddha gradually seen as a god by ex-Hindu’s, in China Buddha gradually seen as a god by ex-Hindu’s, in China The notion of bodhisatva - "an enlightened being" The notion of bodhisatva - "an enlightened being" Monasteries began to accept gifts from wealthy individuals Monasteries began to accept gifts from wealthy individuals Buddhism became more attractive Buddhism became more attractive The Schism of Buddhism: Was he a god or man? The Schism of Buddhism: Was he a god or man? Mahayana - "the greater vehicle" Mahayana - "the greater vehicle" Spread to Central, East Asia Spread to Central, East Asia Blended in India with Hinduism, which coopted Buddha as a god Blended in India with Hinduism, which coopted Buddha as a god Coopted Chinese traditions and Taoist gods in China Coopted Chinese traditions and Taoist gods in China Hinayana or Theravada Hinayana or Theravada Continued to view Buddha as human Continued to view Buddha as human Practiced in Sri Lanka, parts of India, SE Asia Practiced in Sri Lanka, parts of India, SE Asia Buddhism died out in India as it merged with Hinduism Buddhism died out in India as it merged with Hinduism

POPULAR HINDUISM The epics The epics Mahabharata Mahabharata A secular poem revised by brahmin scholars A secular poem revised by brahmin scholars Honored the god Vishnu, the preserver of the world Honored the god Vishnu, the preserver of the world Ramayana Ramayana Secular story of Rama and Sita was changed into a Hindu story Secular story of Rama and Sita was changed into a Hindu story The Bhagavad Gita The Bhagavad Gita A short poetic work within the Mahabharata A short poetic work within the Mahabharata A dialogue between the god Vishnu and Prince Arjuna A dialogue between the god Vishnu and Prince Arjuna Illustrated expectations of Hinduism and promise of salvation Illustrated expectations of Hinduism and promise of salvation Hindu ethics Hindu ethics Lower demands for achieving salvation Lower demands for achieving salvation Individuals should meet their responsibilities in detached fashion Individuals should meet their responsibilities in detached fashion Balance of dharma, artha, karma to attain moksha, end samsara Balance of dharma, artha, karma to attain moksha, end samsara Popularity of Hinduism Popularity of Hinduism Became more popular than Buddhism; Buddhism too aesthetic Became more popular than Buddhism; Buddhism too aesthetic The Guptas helped Hinduism become the dominant religion The Guptas helped Hinduism become the dominant religion