1. CLASSICAL INDIA

2. I. After Harappa & Mohenjo Daro
1500 B.C.E. - fall of the Indus River Valley Civilization (Harappa & Mohenjo Daro)
1500 – 500 B.C.E. - nomadic Aryan invaders move in, begin building new civilization closer to Ganges river
Based on rigid social structures and the emerging Hindu religion

3. II. Politics Less cohesive than classical China's political culture
Diverse political ideas based on regionalism
Different types of gov't in different areas
Monarchies, assemblies of priests/warriors common
Warfare between regions very common
BIG changes
327 B.C.E. - Alexander the Great invades, provokes regional leaders
322 B.C.E. - Chandragupta Maurya seizes power along the Ganges river, unites many of the kingdoms, begins Mauryan dynasty
Borrows from Alexander the Great:
Large, powerful armies to keep peace
Autocratic (absolute) rule
Large bureaucracy for establishing law and order

4. II. continued...
Asoka
Considered greatest emperor of ancient India
known for religious tolerance, military exploits
After death, invaders and political unrest immediately begin to unravel the Mauryan empire
Kushans, an invading group from the north, take over
Leaders adopt Buddhism – leads to backlash against Buddhism in India
Gupta dynastybegins after removal of Kushans
Under Gupta dynasty, longest period of political stability
Promoted uniform law code
Supported higher education and arts
Considered “golden age” of Indian history

5. III. Economy Agriculture based Focus on trade and merchant activity
Most of population were farming peasants
Focus on trade and merchant activity
Merchants held high status
Trade within India and outside thanks to sea routes
Rise of early banking system
Rivaled China in terms of technological advancement
Early understanding of chemistry
Early adopters of steel
Cloth manufacturing – cashmere, calico

6. IV. Social Structure
Indian life based on strict hierarchy of the caste system
5 main social classes (varnas)
Brahmins – priests
Kshatriyas – warrior/governing class
Vaisyas – traders & farmers
Sudras – common laborers
Untouchables – confined to jobs like hauling trash and dead bodies

7. IV. continued... Caste system becomes hereditary (passed to children)
Marriage between castes forbidden, punishable by death
Caste system assigned people occupations
Gender relations
Patriarchal - husbands & fathers dominant figures
Women had little rights
Arranged marriages normal