The Mauryan Dynasty/ Temporary unification of India
-520 BCE Darius (Persia) crossed Hindu Kush mountains, conquers parts of northwestern India
-Kingdom of Gandhara in the northern part of Pakistan
-Introduced local rulers to Persian techniques of administration
Megasthenes
-Lived in India during the late 4th century and early 3rd century BCE
-Wrote Indika
-Wrote many stories
Marriage in Gupta Empire
-Child Marriages
-Young girl betrothed to men much older
-Once reached puberty officially married
Ashoka Maurya
-Reigned 268-232 BCE - Supported Buddhism
-Tightly organized bureaucracy
-Kalinga only independent region (created difficulties for Ashoka)
-Took over Kalinga in 260 BCE in bloody campaign
-Estimated 100,000 Kalingans killed & 150,000 driven from their ho
Financial Suffering
-Led to the decline of the Mauryan Empire
Moksha
-Dharma-obedience to religious and moral laws
-Artha- pursuit of economic well being and honest prosperity
-Kama- enjoyment of social and physical interactions
-Proper balance of above three would help achieve Moksha
Castes
-Brahams/Priests- Intellectual & spiritual leaders
-Kshatriya/Warriors and Aristocrats- protectors of society
-Vaishyas/Merchants,farmers,artisans-skilled producers
-Shundras-unskilled labor
-Untouchables-outside of caste system
Hinduism
-Mahabhorata-secular poem revised by brahman scholars to honor god(Vishnu), preserver of the world(Ramayana)
-Secular story of Rama and Sita
-Changed into Hindu story
The Dharma
-Four noble truths and noble eightfold path are the way to suffering
-Suffering cause desire
-Religious goal: personal salvation(nirvana), a state of perfect spiritual independence
Mahayana Buddhism
-Development between 3rd century BC and 1st century CE
-Buddha became god
-Boddhisatva- "an enlightened being"
-Monasteries accept gift from wealthy individuals
-Educational institutions promoted new faith
Hindu Ethics
-Achieve salvation through meeting caste responsibilities
-Lead honorable lives in the world
-Hinduism gradually replaced Buddhism in India
Chandragupta Maurya
-Began conquests in 320 BCE
-Laid foundation for the Mauryan empire
-Began seizin control of small, remote regions of Magadha then worked towards center
-By 321 BCE he had overthrown the ruling dynasty and consolidated his hold on the kingdon
-Moved in pu
Alexander of Macedon
-In 327 BCE, crossed the Indus River and crushed the states he found there
-Remained in India for only short time after
-Left India in 325 BCE
-Created political vacuum in northwestern India by destroying existing states then withdrawing his own force
Appeal of Buddhism
-Appealed strongly to members of lower castes
-Did not recognize hierarchies
-Less demanding then Jainism -Made it more popular
-Vernacular tongues
-Holy sites venerated by pilgrims
-Monoastic organization- ways of spreading the message
-Ashoka converted
Early Buddhism
-Siddharta Gautama (563-483 BCE) became Buddha
-Gave up comfortable life in search for cause of suffering
-Received enlightenment under the bo tree
-First sermon about 528 BCE
-Organized followers into community of monks
Pataliputra
-Thriving cosmopolitan city
-Local committee looked after foreigners
-Went to great lengths to make sure his subordinates implement his policies
-Central treasury oversaw efficient collection of taxes
-Result of his policies, the various regions of India
Chandragupta's Government
-Kautalya devised procedures for the governance of Chandragupta's realm
-Some of his advise survives in Ancient Indian political head book known as Arthashastra
-Outlined methods of administering the empire, overseeing trade and agriculture, collecting ta
Guptas
-Greek speaking Bactrians- ruled in northwest India for 2 centuries
-Kushans conquered and ruled 1-300 CE
-Emperor Kashika (78-103 CE)
-Crucial role in silk road trading
Gupta Dynasty
-Founded by Chandra Gupta (375-415 CE)
-Smaller, more decentralized than Maurya
-Invasion of white huns weakened empire
-After 5th century dynasty continued in name only
-Large regional kingdoms dominated politics
Towns and Trade
-Towns all over India countryside after 600 BCE
-Towns provided manufactured products and luxury goods
-Active marketplaces especially along Ganges
-Trade with Persia, China, Indian Ocean Basin, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Mediterranean
Family Life/ Caste System
-Patriarchal families, female subordination, child marriage -Development of Caste System
-With trade new social groups of artisans, craftsmen, and merchants appeared
-Subcastes or jati
-Vaishyas and Shundras saw unprecedented wealth
-Old Aryan beliefs and
Jainism
-Vardhamana Mahaura (Jina) founded relation in 5th century BCE
-Everything has a soul - Too demanding
-Purify oneself to attain bliss
*Ahimsa-nonviolence
- Individual souls equally participate in ultimate reality
-Jains did not recognize hierarches of cas
Bhagavad Gita
-Short poetic work: dialogue between Vishnu and warrior
-Illustrated expectations of Hinduism and promise salvation
Magadha
-Located in the central portion of the Ganges plain
-Regional kingdoms in valley of the Ganges became wealthy as worker turned forests into fields
-Trade became prominent
-During the next two centuries the kings conquered the neighboring states