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A Comprehensive History of India Lecture – 5 December 4, 2011 Empire Building

A Comprehensive History of India Lecture – 5 December 4, 2011 Empire Building. Maharaj Mukherjee. Time Line Studied So Far. Early Inhabitants of India? Hunter Gatherers – 15000 Years ago Earliest Civilization in the World? Fertile Crescent – 10000 Years ago

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A Comprehensive History of India Lecture – 5 December 4, 2011 Empire Building

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  1. A Comprehensive History of IndiaLecture – 5December 4, 2011Empire Building Maharaj Mukherjee

  2. Time Line Studied So Far • Early Inhabitants of India? • Hunter Gatherers – 15000 Years ago • Earliest Civilization in the World? • Fertile Crescent – 10000 Years ago • Earliest Civilization in India – City States • Indus Valley Civilization – 5000 - 6000 Years ago • Arrival of Aryans • 3500 - 4000 Years ago • Time of Ramayana – City States • 3000 - 3500 Years ago • Time of Mahabharata – Start of Empire Building • 2700 - 3000 Years ago • Time of Buddha and Mahavira • 2500 Years ago or about 600 BC • Empire Building 500 BC onwards

  3. Food For Thought

  4. Focus on Universal Values Eight Fold Path of Buddhism: 1. Right View 2. Right Intention 3. Right Speech 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration THE JAIN CODE OF CONDUCTThe five vratas (vows): • Non-violence in thought, word and deed, • To seek and speak the truth, • To behave honestly and never to take anything by force or theft, • To practice restraint and chastity in thought, word and deed, • To practice non-acquisitiveness. These same set of values are the glues for most societies in the world Why???

  5. Growth of Human Society • Family • A group of related people • Any dispute is resolved by the head of the family • Interest of the family • Tribes – • Mostly a collection of families of related people • No division of labor • Any dispute is resolved by the tribe head’s man/woman • Interest of the tribes – start of a value system • City States: • One or two cities with villages around it • People have different skills • Rulers, Teachers, Traders, Farmers • People belong to same language or culture • Resolving dispute is done by Rule of Law • Needs well established value system

  6. Growth of Human Society • Empires: • Several states dominated by a single state • Diverse cultures, languages and practices • Rule of Law • Based on Values This is where we are now in our story Nation This is where we are now in 2011

  7. British Mughala Maurya Gupta Harsha Sultaan Pala Nanda SaatVahana Kushana Rashtrakuta Chola

  8. Aryan Migration to India and Europe The Persian Empire – 500 BC The Greek Civilization – 400 BC

  9. The Persian Empire • The First Empire in the World • Peak Time Around 500 BC • Extended from Indus Valley to Greece • Capital at Parsua • Also known as Parthian Empire

  10. Persian Civilization’s Influence on Indian History • World’s First Codified Justice System • Influence on Current Indian Justice system: • Indian justice system was originally modeled after the Persian system • Words borrowed from Persian: • Ukil – Lawyer • Dalil – Documents • Hakim – The Judge • Hazir – Being Present in Court • In More Recent Times: • Persians are one of the last migrants to India • They helped build the city of Bombay • The Tata Group has a strong contribution to Indian industrialization

  11. The Greek Civilization Around 500 BC Greeks and Persians fought many wars • Greek Contributions to the World (400 BC – 200 BC) : • Philosophers and Thinkers: • Socrates, Plato, Aristotle • Mathematicians and Scientists • Euclid, Archimedes Suggested Class Projects: Learn about the Greek Thinkers and their contributions.

  12. Time of Alexander (350 BC) • The Greek Prince to completely vanquish the Persian Empire and Build a Greek Empire in its Place at the age of 23. • But his empire completely broke up after his death. • Extended from Indus Valley to Greece Many Later Indian Empires were built based on the principles and techniques of both Greek and Persian Empires The Greek Invasion Opened Door for Trade between Europe and India Indian Art, Literature and Science were influenced by Greek Thinking Many Greeks kept record of their Indian adventures

  13. The Mauryan Empire • Founded by Chandra Gupta Mauyra • Around 300 BC • Extended by his Grand Son Ashoka • The most influential Emperor in Indian History • Mauryan Empire Covered Almost the whole of India and Beyond • Their Capital was Patali Putra – The Present Day Patna, Bihar • India as a Nation is still influenced by the principles of this era.

  14. The Mauryan Empire

  15. Chandra Gupta Maurya • His origin is completely unknown • He learned war techniques from Greeks and had many Greek soldiers and generals in his army • He also sent his ambassadors to many Greek kingdoms • He has his trusted advisor Chanakya (also known as Kautilya) • Chankya authored the book of Artha-Sashtra • Elaborate principles of how an empire to be ruled and protected • At his later life he converted to Jainism and left his empire to his son Bindusar (Father of Ashoka)

  16. Ashoka – Priya DarshiAshoka – The Handsome • Came to power after some struggle • Later on converted to Buddhism • He set his empire on a principle of welfare and benefits for his subjects • He followed the principle of balance as ordained in the Buddhist Principles • He extended his physical empire to almost whole of India and beyond. • But his actual influence was felt all over the world – through the spread of Buddhist Principles

  17. Spread of Buddhism • Buddhism spread across the world more in time of Ashoka than in any other time in the history • He sent his own son and daughter to spread the word of Buddha

  18. Influence of Ashoka in Modern India Indian Flag – At the Center there is the Dharma Chakra or the Chakra of Ashoka • Seal of India • Ashoka Stambha (The Piller of Ashoka)

  19. Quiz • What was the first empire of the World? • The Persian Empire • Who vanquished the Persian Empire and Built a Greek Empire in its Place? • Alexander • How far did the Persian and the Greek Empire extend to? • From the Indus Valley to Greece • Who founded the Maurya Empire? • Chandra Gupta Maurya • Who is the most influential emperor of Indian History? • Ashoka Priya Darshi • What is the grand seal of India? • Ashoka Stambha or the Piller of Ashoka • What is in the Center of the Indian Flag? • The Dharma Chakra or the Ashoka Chakra

  20. Project for Parents and Students • Think and Discuss: • Why did the Persian Empire and the Mauryan Empire lasted for more than 300 years and the Greek empire built by Alexander did not last more than a decade?

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