Transition to New Political and Social Structures in Ancient India

1. Ch.3. Republics and Kingdoms, New Religions Evolving political and social structures Rise of Magadha Towns and trade New religions- Buddhism and Jainism & C

2. States and cities • The 600 B.C.E was a transition to a new historical scene in north India with the establishment of kingdoms, oligarchies and chiefdoms and the emergence of towns. • Geographically the focus shifted from Indus region to Ganga basin. • Political organization as gana-sangha, chiefdom of kingdom. • Ganasangha-power was diffused- in the people- despite having been defeated a number of times they still persisted • 16 Mahajanpadas are listed in Buddhist lit. • Anga, Magadha, Vrijji, Mallas in the middle ganges • Kashi, Kosala, Vatsa- west • Kuru, Panchala, Mastya and Surasena- farther west • Kambhoja and Gandhara- North west • Avanti, Chedi- central • Assaka- Deccan • In the Vedas Magadha and Anga are described as impure lands- but Magadha was to become dominant later on • Mallas- several tribes • Varshnis- Krishna- Mahabharata

5. The second urbanization: The Ganga • Genesis of towns was not uniform • Some administrative centers: capitals of kingdoms, Rajgriha, in Magadha, Shravasti in Kosala, Kaushambi in Vatsa, Champa in Anga and Ahicchatra in Panchala. • Others grew out of markets: each surrounded or supporting a number of villages- trade rout- Ujjain • Sacred centers- Vaishali Smaller population and settlements were slower in the Ganga basin Consistent layout of the urban centers Flood walls- since many of the cities were close to water sources Grid layout- with main street running East -west Houses: Rooms built around court yard

6. Trade and urbanization • Urbanization is from surplus- so can be imagined that there was abundant trade in different produce • Surplus agriculture • Burning the forests to clear for agriculture • Specialized profession, like weaving, carpentry, etc. • Markets • Hierarchy of settlements: Grama- village; nigama- markets, nagara- political • Occupational groups- in one section of town- No attempt to imitate Harappan city plans • Towns- diverse population as well as diverse religions

7. Ganasanghas- Chiefdoms and oligarchies • Alternative polity to the kingdoms and may represent the continuation of an earlier system. • New religious systems were from the ganasanghas • Where a kingdoms are centered on the Ganga- the Ganasanghas are on the periphery of the kingdoms- tended to occupy less cultivated hilly regions- supposes that they predate the kingdoms or still in transition • Equal status to people: Some ganasanghas are formed by single clans- some by many clans. • Election system of representation- mahasammata

8. Kingdoms • Centralized government with king at its center • Ruling family- hereditary kingship • Advisory councils- Parishad and Sabha • Kings supposed to be Ksatriyas- but in Indian history no clear Ksatriya king is seen • Gramani- head of the village • Taxes: Bali, bhaga, shulka- but went to the king • Grihapathis- housholders, Karshaka- farmers • Varna and Jati becomes restricted- mobility is less • King- Shadbhagin- 1/6share holder

9. Raise of Magadha • Ajatasatru- usurped the throne in 493 B.C.E. to become king of Magadha. • Rajagriha- the capital is surrounded by hills and natural defense- strengthened it and built another fort- Pataliputra • Annexed Kosala- although the king was his uncle • Annexed Vrijji confederacy • Magadha remained powerful- big cities and resources • Copper deposits, fertile land, forest to supply wood for constructions • Mahapadmananda- and Nanda line comes to throne in 470 B.C.E. • Expansionist policy and annexed a number of kingdoms

10. North west India and Alexander • In 539 Cyrus the emperor of Persia, crossed Hindukush and annexed Kambhoja and Gandhara. • Naturally when Alexander attacked Persepolis he went further east- his campaign lasted for about 2 years. • Greek records about India: autonomous states • Philosophical interaction: in India- greeks are called Yavana- from Ionia- the term for greeks in Persian inscriptions

11. Early trade • Alexander established a number of Greek settlements in the Punjab, but none survived as towns. • Opened trade route between India and the west • Pottery, silver and precious things discovered in excavations- • Coinage replaces barter system- first systematic coinage- punchmarked coins- coins changed the trading pattern much more easy trade • Gahapatis- traders- sethis • Sanskrit-local variations of languages- Prakrit and Pali commonly spoken languages • Dharmasastras- social code composed

12. New Religions • Kutuhala shalas (place of creating curiocity) - philosophers in discussion • Several different ideas of thought- and philosophies 6 schools of Vedic philosophy and several non-Vedic schools of philosophy • Ajivikas-principle of predetermination • Charvakas- materialists • Nigranthas- ascetics

13. Buddhism and Jainism • Buddhism (566 B.C.E- 486 B.C.E): Founded by Siddhartha Gautama- Born in Lumbini (Foothills of Himalayas: Now in Nepal) to the King Sudhodhana and Maya (mother) of Sakya clan. • His mother died in childhood, so his step mother Gautami took care of him- hence known as Gautama. • Principles: 4 noble truths • 1.Sorrow 2. cause of sorrow 3. A way to end the sorrow 4. Astangamarga (8 fold way); middleway • First sermon: deer park in Sarnath • Enlightenment (nirvana): under Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya • Major teaching: Ahimsa (Nonviolence) Rejected Karma, caste, soul Monastic religion Hinayana (theravada): To south and southeast Asia Mahayana: Northward- Tibet, China, Japan

15. Jainism • Founded by Mahavira- the 24th Thirthankara but traced its origin from a long line of Ajivikas • Born Kundagrama (599 B.C.E) • Jina hood • From Jina (conquer) Jaina (conqueror) • Extreme asceticism and nonviolence • 5 principles • Jivas-particles of life-everything has soul • Cicles of life • Karmic law • Satya (truth), Ahimsa (Non violence), Asteya (non stealing), Brahmacharya (abstaining from sex), aparigraha (non attachment) • Kaivalya-liberation • Digambaras: (sky clad) naked • Swetambaras: White robes

17. Classical Hinduism • The classical texts Mahabharata and Ramayana are composed now between 700 B.C.E to 300 B.C.E. • The religion shifts from rituals to worshipping personal deities- more freedom to choose any deity and practice • Multiple beliefs and practices • Bhakti (devotion)- one’s own interaction with deity is important for moksa • Popular religion finds legitimate place in religion