Classical India
1000 BCE – 500 CE
What made this a great civilization?
Click for Mauryan Empire video clip
How did geography influence
Indian civilization?
• India’s location prompted greater contact
and influences from the Middle East and the
Mediterranean.
• Physical barriers did provide a general
isolation that led the subcontinent to
develop unique culture and promote internal
diversity.
• The subtropical climate and dependence
upon monsoons affected the survival of
development of culture as well.
Can you identify features
affecting India’s development?
What were the Vedic and Epic
Ages?
• Aryan invasion from central Asia affected
the agriculture, culture and social structure
of what had once been ancient India along
the Indus River Valley.
• Vedic Age 1500-1000 BCE, sacred books the
Vedas written in sanskrit provide knowledge
of this period.
• Epic Age 1000 – 600 BCE, additional stories
added expand Indian culture via the
Mahabharata, the Ramayana, and the
Upanishads.
Caste System develops during
the Vedic and Epic Ages
• Based on
establishing a
relationship
between Aryan
conquerors and
indigenous people.
• Social classes:
varnas and jati
• Citizens were born
into and married
within the same
varna (caste)
The Caste System
Women do not fit into
the system.
Brahmans
(priests)
The ruling
classes were
in the top 2
levels.
Kshatriyas
(warriors/governing)
Vaisyas
(merchants, traders, farmers)
Sudras
(common laborers)
Untouchables
(unclean work)
Aryans bring a religion
• Origins of modern day Hinduism
• No single founder and no central holy figure
• Brahma = everything, manifestations
include Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the
destroyer
Hinduism continued…
• In seeking union with Brahma known
as Moksha, it may take many lifetimes
thus reincarnation
– Reincarnation = souls are reborn into
new human or animal forms
• Reincarnation is affected dharma and karma
– Dharma = moral path and duty
– Karma = how a person lives their life and fulfills
dharma
Bathing on the Ganges at Varanasi
Ashes going into the Ganges River
Buddhism arises from Hinduism
• Siddhartha Gautama = Buddha, the
enlightened one
• Rejected caste system and wanted answers
to why people suffer
• Four Noble Truths
–
–
–
–
All people suffer
People suffer due to earthly desires
People can end suffering by eliminating desires
Eliminate desires by following the Eightfold
Path
Buddha and the Eightfold Path
Fill in the Eight Fold Path on your
Notes using the picture below.
Buddhism continued…
• Nirvana = freedom from reincarnation,
not a place but a state of existence
• Buddhism diffuses (spreads)
throughout Asia
• Stupas were built to house remains of
Buddhist holy people, serve as prayer
sites and house monks
Empires and Political
Institutions
• Two major empires united large parts
of India but the role of local and
regional governments dominated India
leaving no solid political institutions.
1. Mauryan Empire, 322 BCE –
232 BCE
• Chandragupta Maurya, first ruler to unify much of
the subcontinent
• Autocratic ruler, who kept a large army and
established a large bureaucracy including a postal
system.
• Grandson, Ashoka extended Mauryan conquests
enlarging the empire and expanded roads and
services for his people.
• Ashoka converted to Buddhism and sponsored
missionaries thus supporting its diffusion (spread).
• Rock Edicts, laws supporting Buddhism were
carved on stone pillars and placed throughout
empire.
2. Gupta Empire, 320 CE – 535
CE
• Two centuries of Gupta Rule using negotiation with
princes and intermarrying families brought
Classical India the longest period of political
stability.
• Gupta empire rulers claimed divine appointment to
secure power.
• Favored the Hindu religion which help set up its
dominance in India.
• Set up a demanding taxation system.
• Sanskrit was emphasized as the language of the
educated people – but no single language was
imposed.
• Supported a vast university system - Nalanda (one
of the first in the world).
Science and Math in Classical
India
• Indian numbering system (Arabic due to
Europeans importing it from Arab trade)
• Concept of Zero
• Developed the decimal system
• Concept of negative numbers
• Calculated value of pi
• Calculated length of solar year
• Calculated circumference of the earth
• Inoculation against Small Pox
• Practice of sterilization
Patriarchy in Classical India
• Fathers and Husbands were dominate
• Indian laws supported males
• Arranged marriages ensured economic
links and created little voice/choices
for girls
Economy of Classical India
• India developed extensive internal and
maritime trade
• High quality goods were traded out of
India such as iron/steel, cotton,
cashmere, dyes, precious metals, etc.