Impact of Centralized and Decentralized Rule in India

1. QuAesTio:What impact did India centralized and decentralized rule have on India? NuncAgEnda: Considering what you have learned about Brahmanism (Early Hinduism) and Jainism, why might Jainism appeal more to some people? Why might Jainism be less appealing to some people?

2. Brahmanism • Brahmanism = Early Proto-Hinduism • All gods were seen as manifestations of Brahman, the One Supreme Power of the Universe • All souls believed to be part of one universal soul, called Atman

3. Period of religious Reform • Sramana Beliefs • Samsara: Reincarnation, the belief that, after death, the soul is reborn into a new body • Karma: the good or bad action of a person, which affect the quality of the next life • Dharma: a person’s religious and social duties or responsibilities in life that must be fulfilled • Moksha: the goal of life, by living correctly one can be released from the cycle of rebirth and become united with Brahman • Ahimsa: non-violence

4. Jainism • Jainism taught by Mahavira (497-425 BCE) • Broke away from Vedic tradition, followed Shramana • Emphasized extreme self-denial • Extended fasting (not eating) • Some ascetics wear no clothes • Emphasized extreme ahimsa (non-violence) • Sweep floor and cover mouth to avoid killing bug; Total vegetarians

7. Buddhism • Buddhism taught by Siddhartha Guatama (480 BCE-400 BCE) • Emphasized moderate self-denial, the “Middle Way” • Believed that desires must be eliminated because they are the cause of suffering in life (Four Noble Truths) • Taught followers to follow his Eightfold Path • Rejected the caste system • Goal = Nirvana: Enlightenment and (like Moksha) release from rebirth • Earlier Stricter Form = Theravada • Later “Popular” Form = Mahayana

8. Four Noble Truths • The first sermon preached by the Buddha (563 B.C.E.-483 B.C.E.), India, fifth century B.C.E. • “The First Noble Truth is the Noble Truth of Sorrow. Birth is sorrow, age is sorrow, disease is sorrow, death is sorrow, contact with the unpleasant is sorrow, separation from the pleasant is sorrow, every wish unfulfilled is sorrow.”

9. Four Noble Truths • “The Second Noble Truth is the Noble Truth of the Arising of Sorrow; it arises from craving, which leads to rebirth, which brings delight and passion, and seeks pleasure—the craving for sensual pleasure, the craving for continued life, and the craving for power.”

10. Four Noble Truths • “The Third Noble Truth is the Noble Truth of the Stopping of Sorrow. It is the complete stopping of that craving, so that no passion remains, leaving it, being emancipated from it, being released from it, giving no place to it.”

11. Four Noble Truths • “The Fourth Noble Truth is the Noble Truth of the Way that Leads to the Stopping of Sorrow. It is this noble eightfold path; that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration”

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18. The Swastika has been used as a decorative element in various cultures since at least the Neolithic, and is found on a man's tunic depicted in a Roman mosaic at the Villa Romana del Casale in Sicily. It also appears on a mosaic floor at the Lullingstone Roman Villa in Kent, England. It is known most widely as an important symbol long used in Indian religions, denoting "auspiciousness." It was adopted as such in pre-World War I-Europe and later, and most notably, by the Nazi Party and Nazi Germany prior to World War II. In many Western countries, the swastika has been highly stigmatized because of its use in and association with Nazism. It continues to be commonly used as a religious symbol in Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. The name "swastika" comes from the Sanskrit "suasti" meaning "well being." Pictured is the Hindu god Ganesh with a swastika in the background.

23. Maurya Empire 322 to 185 BCE

24. Maurya Empire 322 to 185 BCE

26. Maurya Empire 322 to 185 BCE • Greeks under Alexander the Great conquered Western India, but quickly lost it • Northwest India weakened • Rulers from Eastern India near Ganges river conquer the weakened West, uniting North

27. Chandragupta Maurya (Mauryan Emperor) First Emperor, very tough Created an centralizedbureaucracy Highly paranoid, many spies to keep an eye on governors, all femalepersonal guard force Gave up rule, becamea Jain monk, died ofstarvation

28. Emperor Ashoka Grandson of Chandragupta Maurya Fought bloody war to conquer Deccan Plateau, many slaughtered, Ashoka horrified Converted to Buddhism, promoted Ahimsa Edicts of Ashoka: Ashoka had stone pillars set up across India, offering moral advice and promising a just government. Spread Buddhism throughout South Asia by sending missionaries (preachers of religion) Expanded Empire to all of India

30. Edicts of Ashoka

31. They were also written on natural rock walls

32. Ashoka helped to spread Buddhism

34. Southern Tamil Kingdoms • 184 BCE: Mauryan Empire collapsed due to infighting • Regional kingdoms ruled different parts of India (much more common political reality in Indian history) • In the Deccan Plataeu to the South, several Tamil Kingdoms ruled, known for their maritime (over water) trade with Southeast Asia and their Tamil language poetry

35. Kushan Empire • In the North, the Kushans, Central Asian nomads, were pushed from their homeland by other nomadic groups, and migrated to Northern India, which they conquered and ruled along with Afghanistan and part of Central Asia • Like the Parthians, they settled but kept the nomadic style • They adopted Mahayana Buddhism and helped to spread it to Central and East Asia through the Silk Road

40. Ashoka and Kushans spread Buddhism

42. Ashoka helped to spread Buddhism

44. Gupta Empire 320 to 550 CE • Chandra Gupta I conquers across North India, creates Gupta Empire • Decentralized rule, ruling through local rulers (client kings) who pledge allegiance and pay tribute, but rule for themselves and not on behalf of emperor • Pros of Decentralized • Cheaper than Centralized • More flexibility at local level • Cons of Decentralized • Emperor has less control • Greater risk of rebellion

45. Gupta Empire 320 to 550 CE • Supported Classical Hinduism over Buddhism • Supported the Bhakti (devotion) movement, focused on devotion and worship of one or a few gods • Many people focus on either Vishnu or Shiva as their main god • Built Hindu temples • New holy texts become important, like Bhagavad Gita • Golden Age of art, medicine, science, math, and literature • Most Important = Hindu Decimal System! Gave us our modern numbers and calculation method! • Conquered by nomadic White Huns in 550 CE

46. Trimurti = Hindu “Trinity” of Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Preserver), and Shiva (Destroyer) Classical Hinduism • What began as Vedic Religion, and further developed, by influence from Sramana, into Brahminism, underwent further changes from influence of Jainism and Buddhism to become “Classical” or “Popular” Hinduism. • Various different sects of Hinduism with different philosophies and prefered gods. • Epic Poems (Mahabharata & Ramayana) took on religious elements • Bhagavad Gita became a popular text for religious instruction and reflection

47. Classical Hinduism • Hinduism, as a polytheistic religion, tends to be very diverse in beliefs and practices, with various sects and denominations so different from each other that they would seem like separate religions from a monotheistic perspective, yet they are all embraced as part of Hinduism. • Four largest sects of Hinduism today developed during this period: • Vaishnavism – Believe Vishnu is the Surpeme God and other gods are subordinate to him or his avatars (manifestations) • Shaivism– Believe Shiva is the Surpeme God and other gods are subordinate to him or his avatars (manifestations) • Shaktism– Believe Devi is the SurpemeGoddess, other goddesses are her manifestations and gods are subordinate to her • Smarta– Vishnu, Shiva, Ganesha, Surya and Devi are all worshipped as equally important

49. Indian Decimal System

50. Rock Cut Temples