7.2 Trade Spreads Indian
Religions and Culture
Buddhism and Hinduism Change

Traditional Hindu and Buddhist
Beliefs
• Hinduism blends Aryan beliefs and other
beliefs; polytheistic—believes in many
gods.
• To Buddhists, desire causes suffering,
but suffering can be overcome.
Buddhism and Hinduism Change

A More Popular Form of Buddhism
• Belief in bodhisattvas develops—
potential Buddhas who save humanity
• Mahayana sect—Buddhists accepting
new doctrines of worship and salvation.
• Theravada sect—Buddhists who follow
original teachings of Buddha
• Wealthy Buddhist merchants build
stupas—stone structures over relics
Buddhist Denominations
and Schools
Buddhism
Hinayana
Mahayana
“The Lesser Vehicle”
(Theravada)
“The Greater Vehicle”
Vadjrayana
Zen (7th Century C.E., China
Vietnam, Korea, Japan)
Tantric Buddhism
(6th-7th Century India)
Tibetan (Tibet)
Shingon (Japan)
Pure Land
(begins 13th Century Japan)
Yogacara (4th Century C.E.)
Madhyamaka
Tiantai
(China, Korea, Japan)
Tendai (Japan)
Nichiren
(Japan)
A Buddha image from Nepal
A “stupa”
Buddhism and Hinduism Change

A Hindu Rebirth
• Hinduism is remote from people by time
of Mauryan Empire
• Hinduism moves toward monotheism;
gods are part of one divine force



Brahma—creator of the world
Vishnu—preserver of the world
Shiva—destroyer of the world
Brahma
Vishnu
Shiva
Achievements of Indian Culture

Literature and the Performing Arts
• Kalidasa—poet and dramatist, one of
India’s greatest writers
• His skillful and emotionally stirring plays
are still popular
• Madurai writing accademies create
literature; 2,000 Tamil poems survive
• Drama and dance troupes gain
popularity and travel widely
Achievements of Indian Culture

Astronomy, Mathematics, and
Medicine
• Ocean trade leads to advances in
astronomy
• Indian astronomers in Gupta Empire
prove that the world is round.
• Mathematicians develop the idea of zero
and decimal system
• Doctors write medical guides and make
advances in surgery
The Spread of Indian Trade

India’s Valuable Resources
• India has spices, diamonds, precious stones,
and good quality wood
The Spread of Indian Trade

India’s Valuable Resources
• India has spices, diamonds, precious
stones, and good quality wood

Overland Trade, East and West
• Trade routes called Silk Roads connect
Asia and Europe
• Indians build trading posts to take
advantage of the Silk Roads
The Spread of Indian Trade

Sea Trade, East and West
• Indian merchants carry goods to Rome
by sea
• Merchants trade by sea with Africa,
Arabia, China, Southeast Asia
The Spread of Indian Trade

Effects of Indian Trade
• Increased trade leads to rise in banking
• Bankers lend money to merchants,
careful of degree of risk
• Increased trade spreads Indian culture
to other places
• Trade brings Hinduism, Buddhism to
other lands