Lecture 7

1. Lecture 7 Hist 100 World Civilization I Instructor: Dr. Donald R. Shaffer Upper Iowa University

2. Lecture 7China: Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) • Spelled Qin, but pronounced “Chin” • A short, but enormously influential dynasty • Shih Huang-di, the leader of Qin, conquered the other warring states and brought most of modern China under central authority for the first time • Crushed the power of the nobility • Imposed a standard Chinese written language • Standardized units of measure • Sponsored major public works projects • Great Wall of China: meant to shield China from northern invaders Shih Huang-di “First Emperor”

3. Lecture 7China: Han Dynasty (206 BCE- 220 CE) • The cruelty of the Qin system brought its downfall soon after the death of Shih Huang-di • Qin replaced by new dynasty of Liu Bang, a petty Qin official • Han kept Qin centralization, but made it less cruel • They also expanded China’s territory further and established trade and diplomatic contacts as far away as Roman Syria • Confucianism established as the central government philosophy • Paper invented and Mandarin system established as meritocracy

4. Lecture 7Vedic India: The Aryans (1) • An Indo-European group that entered India through the northwest corridor about 1500 BCE • This group highly influential in Indian history • Vedas • Most of what we know of the Aryans comes from the Vedas, ancient texts written in Sanskrit • As a historical source they are probably about as reliable as the Bible, but better than nothing

5. Lecture 7Vedic India: The Aryans (2) • Aryans use of bronze and horses gave them superiority over the native population • They gradually spread their influence through much of the subcontinent, except the far south • They intermixed with the existing population creating a new culture in the process • This culture established much of the basic structure of subsequent civilizations in India, especially its caste system

6. Lecture 7India: Caste System (1) • Caste: a hereditary group of social equals who share the same religion, pursue a specific trade or occupation, and avoid extensive contact with members of other castes • Purpose seemed initially to differentiate the Aryans from other Indians • Some fluidity at first, but over time the system became more rigid and sub-castes even began to develop

7. Lecture 7India: Caste System (2) • The Castes • Brahmans • Kshatriya • Vaishya • Shudra • Pariahs (“Untouchables”) • The caste system helped to stabilize Indian society • Negative aspects • Made it impossible for people of talent to rise, stifling innovation • Also gave the highest castes a monopoly on political power • India got stability, but at a high cost Early 20th century depiction of the extremes of the caste system

8. Lecture 7Early Indian Religion • Brahmanism: religion as practiced by the Aryans came to emphasize the importance of ritual • Some Brahmans found these rituals futile and retreated from civilization on spiritual quests • Asceticism • Samsara • Kharma • Wheel of Life • Moshka • Indian religion became another important stabilizing element, as it helped the lower castes accept their place in society Asceticism remains an important element of Indian religion

9. Lecture 7Indian Religious Traditions: Hinduism • Early Indian religion eventually evolved into Hinduism • It is the oldest surviving religion to retain large numbers of adherents • It is probably more correct though to speak of Hinduism more as a philosophy than a religion • Not a doctrinaire religion • The goal of Hinduism was correct conduct (Dharma) to rise in status through subsequent lives • Believed in many gods, each of which personified aspects of Brahma, the creator God An ancient Hindu temple on the island of Bali in Indonesia

10. Lecture 7Indian Religious Traditions: Jainism • Another religious tradition founded in ancient India (by VardhamanaMahavira) • Accepted ideas of karma and rebirth, but believed also embraced animism • The universe and everything in it composed of souls and matter • For souls to be happy they must rid themselves of matter • Practical implication: asceticism, vegetarianism, and non-violence

11. Lecture 7Indian Religious Traditions: Buddhism • Arguably, India’s greatest contribution to world religion • Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, who became known as the “Buddha” or the “Enlightened One.” • Came to believe that through meditation one could achieve enlightement • Four Noble Truths • The Eightfold Path • Nirvana • The religion spread across Asia, becoming more important outside India than inside • Theravada • Mahayana Different depictions of the Buddha

12. Lecture 7India: Persian Invasion • After the Aryan invasions, India suffered no more incursions until the Persians invaded India in the 6th century BCE • The Persians took over the Indus Valley bringing India into contact with the peoples of the Persian Empire • Persian contributions • Administrative • Indians adopted Aramaic script • Persians brought in coins and a monetary economy The ancient Persian Empire at its height

13. Lecture 7India: Mauryan Empire • Persian rule in Indus Valley ended in 326 BCE by Alexander the Great • Alexander left his Indian conquests unorganized, creating a power vacuum • Into to this vacuum stepped Chandragupta, leader of a small state in the Ganges • Conquered his rivals one by one, until most of India fell under his control • Mauryan expansion continues until reign of his grandson, Ashoka • Mauryan state collapses in about 232 BCE

14. Lecture 7India: Gupta Empire • A series of small kingdoms succeeded the Mauryans until the emergence of the Gupta Empire in the 4th century CE (about 320 CE) • It seems to have started in the Bengal region and sought to recreate the Mauryan kingdom • The Gupta domains never extended as deep into southern India, but it lasted longer (until about 600 CE) and saw some of Indians greatest contributions to world civilization • Especially in mathematics. • Indians created “Arabic” numerals and the concept of zero