1. Classical Civilization: India3
Classical Civilization:
India

2. Classical Civilization: India
The Framework for Indian History: Geography and a Formative Period
Patterns in Classical India
Political Institutions
Religion and Culture
Economy and Society
Indian Influence and Comparative Features

3. Classical Civilization: India

4. The Framework for Indian History: Geography and a Formative Period
Period of Aryan Incursions
Buddhists and brahmans shape society
Gupta dynasty emerges
Peak of artistic, intellectual achievement
Distinct from Chinese developments

5. The Framework for Indian History: Geography and a Formative Period
Formative influences
Geography
Open to influences from the Middle East
Alexander the Great
Himalayas
Isolating, but passable
Mountainous northern areas
Deccan
Semitropical climate
Monsoon rains

6. The Framework for Indian History: Geography and a Formative Period
The Great Epics
Aryans
Indo-European pastoralists
Into Asia Minor, Europe, Iran from 2000s B.C.E.
Sanskrit epics of the Vedic Age
Rig-Veda
1028 hymns
Epic Age, B.C.E.
Mahabharata, Ramayana
The Upanishads

7. The Framework for Indian History: Geography and a Formative Period
Society and Religion in the Vedic and Epic Ages
( and B.C.E.)
Caste system
Varnas
Warriors, brahmans, traders and farmers, laborers
Untouchables added later
Brahmans replace warriors at the top during the Epic Age
Religion elaborated
Upanishads record developments

8. Patterns in Classical India
End of formative era, c.600 B.C.E.
From c. 600 to c. 300 B.C.E. plains divided among rulers
Sixteen major states
327 B.C.E., Alexander the Great

9. Patterns in Classical India
The Mauryan Dynasty
Chandragupta Maurya, 322 B.C.E.
Autocratic rule
Ashoka ( B.C.E.)
Grandson of Chandragupta
Conversion to Buddhism
Becomes pacific, vegetarian
Infrastructure: roads, hospitals, inns
Opposed by Brahmins
Kushans follow end of Mauryan rule

10. India at the Time of Ashoka

11. Patterns in Classical India
The Guptas
Collapse of Kushan state by 220 C.E.
Autocratic rule
Guptas
From 320 C.E.
Long period of stable rule
Overthrown by Huns in 535 C.E.

12. The Gupta Empire

13. Political Institutions
Consistent tradition of regionalism
Attempts to hold large areas
Mauryan rulers rely on armies
Guptas create taxation system, claim divine sanction
In general simple political culture
Kautilya is an exception
Chandragupta’s chief minister
Treatise on politics

14. Political Institutions
Social organization
Caste system becomes more rigid
Yet social mobility existed
Rulers could rise from lower castes
No slavery

15. Religion and Culture Hinduism Origins in Vedic and Epic Eras
No single founder, develops gradually
Fluid, adaptable
Brahmans
Develop abstract aspects of gods
Upanishads
Tension between ritual and spirituality
Brahmans versus gurus

16. Religion and Culture Hinduism (cont’d) Brahma – holy essence
Different paths for a good life
Yoga
Brahmans’ ritual
Personal devotion
Dharma
Moral law
Not prescriptive

17. Religion and Culture Buddhism Siddhartha Gautama, born c. 563 B.C.E.
Takes to wandering life, asceticism
Four Noble Truths
Escape suffering by renouncing worldly things
Achievement of nirvana
Spread through work of monks
Conversion of Ashoka
Opposed by brahmans

18. Religion and Culture Arts and Sciences Literature
Strong traditions of storytelling
Drama
University center under Guptas
Some borrowing from Greeks
Aryabhatta

19. Religion and Culture Arts and Sciences (cont’d) Mathematics
Originated “Arabic” system, including zero
Negative numbers, square roots
Architecture – stupas
Lively murals

20. Economy and Society Society
Caste system influences many aspects of life
Status of women diminishes
Yet, stress on loving relationships
Children indulged in early years

21. Economy and Society Economy Strong manufacturing Trade Textiles Steel
Guilds, selling from shops
Trade
Greater status than in China
Trade with East Asia, Middle East, Roman Empire, Southeast Asia

22. Indian Influence and Comparative Features
Indian Ocean a hub for contacts
Buddhism carried to China
Influence on Greeks and Romans

23. Indian Influence and Comparative Features
China and India Compared
Chinese restraint versus Indian sensuality
Sciences
Chinese prefer the practical
Indians interested in mathematics
Popular worldviews
Hindu peasants had more local control
Indian merchants more important

24. Global Connections: India and the Wider World
Open to influence
Buddhism, spread both east and west
India especially influential in southeast Asia
Most open among classical civilizations

25. Eurasian and African Trading Goods and Routes