State, Society, and the Quest for Salvation in India

1. State, Society, and the Quest for Salvation in India

2. Empire in Classical India • Between 1500 – 600 B.C.E. a series of Aryan Kingdoms consolidated into several regional kingdoms • However, India never established a tradition of one large, centralized state as seen in China.

3. The Mauryan Dynasty • Chandragupta Maurya – Assumed power after Alexander the Great left India. • Mauryans expanded their empire into present-day Afghanistan and well into central and eastern India by 321 B.C.E. • Harsh rule, much like the Qin dynasty of China • Ashoka – Grandson of Chandragrupta • Became ruler of India in 268 B.C.E. and converted to Buddhism which gave the religion a lift in the region. • Mauryan empire collapsed in 185 BCE because it could no longer sustain the cost of the military and central administration.

4. Emergence of Regional Kingdoms and the Revival of Empire • Many small, successful kingdoms succeeded the Maurya for the next 400 years until the Gupta came to power in 320 C.E. • Ruled a lot like the early Persian (left local affairs up to local rulers) • Created stability for 200 years until Hun invasions split the empire and once again India became a region ruled by small kingdoms.

5. Economy and Social Distinctions • Successes in iron metallurgy and great agricultural harvests allowed for the development of urban centers and trade expansion. • Intensified the caste system • Expansive trade with China in the east, Persia in the west, and access to the Indian Ocean • Led to the creation of numerous towns which served as market places to distribute goods.

6. Family Life and the Caste System • Although the ideal was to live with extended families, most Indians lived with nuclear family • Women subordinate to men • High frequency of child brides betrothed to men in their twenties • Women still played big role in domestic affairs

7. Religions and Salvation in Classical India • Fifth and Sixth centuries BCE • New religions emerged that offered the hope of salvation for the dispossessed. • Millions of converts rejected Hinduism that was promoted by the brahmin caste.

8. Jainism • Hindu religion that eschewed all forms of violence. • So strict that few people outside Jainist monks were able to follow its tenents. • Did not follow the rules of the caste though so it was a fairly popular religion. • Influenced people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.

9. Early Buddhism • Founder – Siddhartha Gautama • Came from well to do high caste family without much exposure to the problems of the real world. • As a grown up became a wandering monk contemplating the nature of suffering. • Eventually, under a bo tree he discovered enlightenment and became: • Buddha – the enlightened one • Then began preaching his ideas and soon attracted many followers dedicated to him and his teachings.

10. Early Buddhism • The Four Noble Truths • All life has suffering • Desire is the cause of suffering • To eliminate desire will bring an end to suffering • The only way to eliminate is to follow the Noble Eightfold Path

11. Early Buddhism • The Noble Eightfold Path – The eight paths to enlightenment • Right belief • Right resolve • Right speech • Right behavior • Right occupation • Right effort • Right contemplation • And right meditation

12. Early Buddhism • Eightfold Path and Four Noble Truths constitute the Dharma – Basic Teachings of Buddhism • Nirvana – When faithful adherents to Buddhism eliminate desire and attain spiritual independence as an escape from the cycle of reincarnation.

13. Early Buddhism • Became enormously appealing because it was not caste based and members of the lower caste had the same access to Nirvana as members of the higher castes. • Spread quickly throughout much of central Asia.

14. Popular Hinduism • Mahabharata, Ramayana, and BhagavadGita – Epics of Hinduism that reinforced the Caste system and emphasized the active life. • Reopened Hinduism to the common people who were accustomed to the caste system and gradually Hinduism overtook Buddhism. • By the time Islam was introduced to India after 1000 C.E., there were virtually no Buddhists other than monks in India.