Classical India Aryans ~ Maurya ~ Gupta
Indian Geography • Himalayas – tallest mountains in the world • Ganges River – sacred river fed by the snow of the Himalayas • Indus River – drier than Ganges • Deccan Plateau – relatively dry • Coasts – historically the most populated
Monsoons Summer – warm moist wind from the southwest Winter – cold, dry wind from the northeast
Aryans • War-like people from southern Russia invaded the Indus Valley around 1500BCE. • Superior technology: horses, chariots, bronze weapons. • Brought herds of cattle, goats, and sheep. • There is a vague reference to the conquest of city dwellers in Aryan oral tradition.
Indo-European Languages
Vedic Age 1500-500BCE • Aryans created a new civilization along the forested Ganges River. • Abandoned nomadic life to become farmers. • Mingled with Dravidians (Indus Valley people they conquered). • Knowledge of Aryans came from Vedas – a collection of prayers, hymns, and religious teachings that were first memorized and recited by Aryan priests.
Aryan Society • Lived in tribes (groups of related families) led by rajahs (warrior chiefs). • Advised by council of elders (heads of families). • Warfare continued as different tribes battled for control.
Aryan Culture • Loved feasting, music, chariot races, dice games, and cattle. • Wealth was measured in cows and bulls. • Word for war meant “more cattle.” • Later, the slaughter of cattle was forbidden, but they were used for milk, plowing, and transportation. • Polytheistic • Developed the Sanskrit language.
Caste System aka Varna • Four Castes • Brahmins – priests • Kshatriyas – warriors • Vaisyas – herders, farmers, artisans, and merchants • Sudras – farmworkers, servants, laborers • They were Dravidians. • Outcastes (Untouchables or Pariahs) had unclean occupations . Began as children of upper castes with Sudras or non-Hindus.
Brahmins = mouth Kshatriyas = arms Vaisyas = thighs Sudras = feet
Maurya Empire • 321-183BCE • Well-administered government • Governors supervised tax collecting, road repair, justice, and defense. • Brutal, yet efficient, secret police ensured honesty of governors. • Pataliputra had schools, libraries, parks, temples, and palaces.
Asoka (ruled 269-232BCE) • Expanded Maurya Empire to its greatest size. • After 100,000 were slaughtered in a battle, he converted to Buddhism and ruled by moral example. • Promoted peace and religious tolerance. • Sent out missionaries.
Bollywood Version
Gupta Empire • Golden Age of peace and prosperity • Great advances in the arts and sciences • Concept of zero • Decimal System • Hindu-Arabic Numerals replaced Roman numerals in the 700s • Medicine included plastic surgery and bone setting.
Indian Culture • Rajah – local ruler who controlled many villages • Headman – wealthy farmer ran the village • Extended (joint) family – dominated by eldest male included several generations in the same home • Patriarchal
Status of Women • In early Aryan society women had decent status – declined later. • At marriage, women joined husband’s family – dowry was expected. • Widows encouraged to commit suttee –suicide by throwing themselves on their husband’s funeral fire. • Polygamy common in higher castes.
India Today • Even today, three-fourths of Indians in villages ranging from several hundred to a couple thousand families separated by caste. • Many homes are one-story mud huts of one or several rooms. • One quarter of the population lives in urban areas. • Many live in slums. • One of every six people on the planet lives in India.
