Chapter 3, Classical Civilization: India, 56-75
Classical India
I. Indian Geography
A. Closer and more contact with Western civilizations than with China
B. Indian Subcontinent separated from the rest of Asia
C. Geographic and Cultural divisions made political unity difficult—What
were the words we learned that helped describe this?
D. Important agricultural regions along two major rivers
1. Indus (NW) and Ganges (NE)—quick—show me where they are!
2. Herding in the mountainous north
3. Trading along the coastal south
II. India’s Formative Years
1. Following the fall of the Indus RVC, there was a revival of a new Indian
Civilization (Roughly 1500-600 BCE)
2. Also called the Vedic Age (1500-1000) and Epic Age (1000-600)
3. Indo-European Aryan migrants accept aspects of the culture of the
subcontinent while infusing some of their cultural traits (Syncretism)
4. Aryans encouraged close village organization
5. Families were patriarchal with close extended family relationships
6. Development of the caste system
A. Aryan Social Classes: Varnas
1. Warrior and Governing Class: Kshatriyas
2. Priestly Class: Brahmin
3. Traders and Farmers: Vaisyas
4. Common Laborers: Sudras
5. Later...an untouchable caste: Dalits
6. Caste System. Caste System
B. Caste System
A.Originally a way for varied races to coexist
B. Detailed rules for each caste governing: Marriage, jobs, & social habits.
C. Original castes divided into hundreds of subgroups called Jati
D. Indian Religions
1. Aryans brought a polytheistic religion w gods possessing human
qualities regulating nature
2. Later evolves into Hinduism (1) No one founder, but an evolution
over centuries
3. Hinduism
4. Most unifying aspect of Indian Culture
5. (1)Much variety within the faith
6. (2)Never displaced minority religions
7. (3)No single founder or central holy figure
8. (4)Adaptable to changing times and tolerant of divergent faiths
9. (5)Brahma (holy essence) formed everything worldly and
manifested in gods (a) Vishnu: The Preserver. Shiva: The
Destroyer
1. (6) Life is devoted to seeking union with Brahma (a) This may take many
lifetimes-Reincarnation
2. 3. Buddhism a) Siddhartha Gautama: Indian prince who questioned the
3. Fairness of life w/ so much poverty and misery. (1)
Lived as a Hindu mystic
fasting and torturing his body (2) After 6 years, he ‘found truth’ becoming
the Buddha, the enlightened one.
4. (a) Denial of the caste system (b) Belief that the material world causes
pain through frustrations (c) Destruction of the concept of self leads to
Nirvana-a world beyond existence (d)
Not a ceremonial religion,
emphasis on self control
5. b) Buddhism will never have a large permanent following in India
6. c)
More influential through its missionary efforts in East and Southeast Asia
7. III. Politics in Classical India A. At the conclusion of the Epic Age, India was
divided into
8. Regional states B. Invasions from the North (Alexander the Great in 327)
9. Lead to Chandragupta Maurya seizing and consolidating
10. power to form the Mauryan Dynasty (321-185 BCE) a)
First rulers to
unify much of the Subcontinent b) Large armies, large bureaucracy,
Autocratic rule
11. 2. Chandragupta Maurya’s grandson Ashoka even more influential
12. a) Extended Mauryan conquests b) Converted to Buddhism while still
honoring Hinduism c)
Sent Buddhist missionaries out of the empire
4. Following Ashoka, the empire weakens with new invaders C. The
Guptas
1.
Large Empire (But smaller than the Maurya) beginning in 320 CE
(Fall in 535 CE)
a) Negotiated with local leaders and intermarried to bring
political unity
13. b) Claimed to be appointed by the gods, favored Hinduism c) No National
language promoted d) Spread unified legal codes, road building and unified
14. cultural activity (1) Golden Age of Indian History
15. e) Overrun by the Huns (Nomadic invaders from the North) in 535 CE.
16. IV. Political Institutions A. Regionalism and diversity in political forms B.
Ashoka’s Rock and Pillar Edicts
1. Spread morals of Buddhism throughout nation C. Caste system becomes the
most rigid social framework
17. of all classical civilizations
18. V. Technological Innovations A. Advances in Astronomy and Medicine B.
Circumference of the earth C. Indian Numbering system (Arabic numerals)
19. VI. Culture A. Lively, colorful art B. Importance of higher education and
scientific inquiry C. Tolerant of religions and outside cultures
20. VII. Influences A. Indian Ocean: Most important linkage point among
21. civilizations B. Indian Classical civ. had no major Indian Ocean
22. competition.
23. VIII. China vs. India
24. A. : Differences 1. Art: Lively vs. Restrained 2.Primary religion vs. varied
religions/philosophies 3. Caste System vs. Political structure 4. Emotional
reactions vs. restrained behavior 5. Influenced by trade vs. new territorial
expansion.
25. B. Similarities 1. Large peasant classes 2. Close-knit villages 3. Land owners
w/ power 4. Patriarchal systems
26. Day 1—post reading to page 64—
27. Have students compare and contrast Classical India & China
28. Discuss regionalism v. concentration, centralization, and diffusion.
29. Discuss vocabulary
Part II— Chapter 3, Classical Civilization: India, 64-75
Please read and reflect on the following piece from the Aryan epic, The Rig-Veda
When they divided the original Man
into how many parts did they divide him?
What was his mouth, what were this arms,
what were his thighs, and his feet called?
The Brahman was his mouth, of his
arms was made the warrior.
His thighs became the vaisya, of
his feet the sudra was born.
Compare and contrast the Mauryan dynasty with the Gupta:
Mauryan:
Chandragupta Maurya
Ganges
First to unify much of the subcontinent
Borrowed from Persia?
a. Large armies
b. Chariots and elephants borne troops
c. “substantial bureaucracy—postal service—think about it—a postal
service back then??
Maurya Dynasties:
I. Chandragupta
a. highly autocratic—“relying on the ruler’s personal and military power.”
b. Know this style—“Hellenistic kingdoms described Chandragupta’s life . .
Read quote together on page 61
What kind of evidence is this?
c. read “Such drastic precautions paid off. Chandragupta finally
designated his rule to a son and became a religious ascetic, dying
peacefully at an advanced age.”
II. Ashoka (269-232 B.C.E.)—governor of provinces—
lavish lifestyle
1. Brutal warrior but also compassionate—eventually converted to
Buddhism. “vigorously propagated Buddhism while still adhering to
Hinduism.”
2. Sent Buddhist missionaries to Hellenistic Middle East
3. Oversee moral welfare of the kingdom
4. Trade network—grew because of stability= growing commerce
5. The Mauryan DID not establish durable roots—Ashoka’s style did
not have lasting impact
6. Buddhism did
d. Post Ashoka-- The Mauryan Empire started to fall apart.
1. regional kingdoms reappear
2. new invaders, the Kushans—followed 100 years of political
instability
Guptas:
I. Starting in about 320 C.E
a. no individual rulers like the Mauryan
b. had greater impact
c. Bombast & pillar? Page 62
d. Negotiated with locals= expanded influence
e. Two centuries of Gupta rule gave Classical India greatest stability
f. Much smaller territory than Mauryan
g. Nomadic warriors, the Huns, topple them in 535 C.E.
h. Regional rule did not mean “great instability”—economic and cultural life
grew in regional rule as well as centralized Mauryan and Gupta rule.
Political Institutions:
*”Heading page 62: “Local and regional governments dominated in India, which
placed less emphasis on politics than other early civilizations”
a. What does that mean?
b. Read the paragraph on page 62 right after that and figure it out.
c. Talk with your mates—what?
d.