1. Chapter Six

2. The Indian Subcontinent Monsoon – seasonal wind

3. The Vedic Age 1500 to 500 B.C.E. A people called the Aryans migrate to India and clash with Dravidians Vedas are religious texts that provide historical information about the interactions Development of Iron allow migration to the fertile Ganges river valley; fertile soil and monsoon rains Upanishads – religious texts of Aryan and Dravidian beliefs blended together Aryans use the Caste System to stay in power

4. The Vedic Age 1500 to 500 B.C.E. Varna – Social classes of India Brahmin – priests and scholars Kshatriya – warriors and officials Vaishya – merchants, artisans, land owners Shudra – peasants and laborers The untouchables – leather tanning, waste removal Jati – birth groups; determines jobs, marriage, friends Only through good karma could you move between classes Eventual goal was moksha, or release from this world

6. Challenges to the Old Order: Jainism and Buddhism Not everyone accepted the rigid social classes Some moved into the forest and through meditation attempted to achieve moksha (release from the earth) Jainists believed in ultra non violence, and sometimes starved to death Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha) created Buddhism Four Noble Truths to guide your life Life is suffering  suffering arises from desire  solution to suffering lies in curbing desire  desire can be cured by Eightfold Path – right views of life

7. The Evolution of Hinduism Vedic religion becomes Hinduism in fourth century C.E. Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva become main deities Today four main sects of Hinduism with different beliefs Most believe that all gods are manifestations of supreme being (some believe Buddha was incarnation of Vishnu) Through adherence to good karma and reincarnation, one can achieve moksha, release from this world

8. The Mauryan Empire, 324 – 184 B.C.E. India’s first centralized empire and largest for almost 1600 years Ashoka is the third and most notable ruler Extends the boundaries of the empire After a particularly bloody battle, converts to Buddhism Posts his message of nonviolence and tolerance throughout empire on carved pillars and stones Empire continues on for 40 years after Ashoka’s death Roads and towns created by the Mauryan Empire allows India to remain prosperous without empire

9. The Gupta Empire, 320-550 C.E. Smaller and less powerful than the Mauryan Empire Local governors were allowed great autonomy Mostly interested in tribute of surrounding areas rather than conquest and control First example of a “theater-state” A state that acquires prestige and power by developing attractive cultural forms and staging elaborate public ceremonies Developed the concept of zero and “Arabic” numerals Women were marginalized in India as well and lost nearly all rights (father, husband, son) Women married at 6 or 7; sati - expectation of widows

10. The Gupta Empire, 320-550 C.E. Smaller and less powerful than the Mauryan Empire Local governors were allowed great autonomy Mostly interested in tribute of surrounding areas rather than conquest and control First example of a “theater-state” A state that acquires prestige and power by developing attractive cultural forms and staging elaborate public ceremonies Developed the concept of zero and “Arabic” numerals Women were marginalized in India as well and lost nearly all rights (father, husband, son) Women married at 6 or 7; sati - expectation of widows

11. Climate and resources enabled Southeast Asia to support large human populations Located on the trade and pilgrimage routes between China and India, Southeast Asia came under strong Hindu and Buddhist influence Shrewd rulers used Indian knowledge and personnel to enhance their power and prestige Funan rose to prominence between the first and sixth centuries C.E. by controlling the trade route across the Malay Peninusla