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Classical Civilization: India

3. Classical Civilization: India. 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.

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Classical Civilization: India

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  1. 3 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, 1000-600 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 (1500-1000 and 1000-600 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 (269-232 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 • 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 Influence • 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

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