1 / 25

Classical Civilization: India

3. Classical Civilization: India. Classical Civilization: India. The Framework for Indian History: Geography and a Formative Period Patterns in Classical India Political Institutions Religion and Culture Economy and Society Indian Influence and Comparative Features.

katell-martin
Download Presentation

Classical Civilization: India

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. 3 Classical Civilization: India

  2. Classical Civilization: India • The Framework for Indian History: Geography and a Formative Period • Patterns in Classical India • Political Institutions • Religion and Culture • Economy and Society • Indian Influence and Comparative Features

  3. Classical Civilization: India

  4. The Framework for Indian History: Geography and a Formative Period Period of Aryan Incursions • Buddhists and brahmans shape society • Gupta dynasty emerges • Peak of artistic, intellectual achievement • Distinct from Chinese developments

  5. The Framework for Indian History: Geography and a Formative Period Formative influences • Geography • Open to influences from the Middle East • Alexander the Great • Himalayas • Isolating, but passable • Mountainous northern areas • Deccan • Semitropical climate • Monsoon rains

  6. The Framework for Indian History: Geography and a Formative Period The Great Epics • Aryans • Indo-European pastoralists • Into Asia Minor, Europe, Iran from 2000s B.C.E. • Sanskrit epics of the Vedic Age • Rig-Veda • 1028 hymns • Epic Age, 1000-600 B.C.E. • Mahabharata, Ramayana • The Upanishads

  7. The Framework for Indian History: Geography and a Formative Period Society and Religion in the Vedic and Epic Ages (1500-1000 and 1000-600 B.C.E.) • Caste system • Varnas • Warriors, brahmans, traders and farmers, laborers • Untouchables added later • Brahmans replace warriors at the top during the Epic Age • Religion elaborated • Upanishads record developments

  8. Patterns in Classical India End of formative era, c.600 B.C.E. • From c. 600 to c. 300 B.C.E. plains divided among rulers • Sixteen major states • 327 B.C.E., Alexander the Great

  9. Patterns in Classical India The Mauryan Dynasty • Chandragupta Maurya, 322 B.C.E. • Autocratic rule • Ashoka (269-232 B.C.E.) • Grandson of Chandragupta • Conversion to Buddhism • Becomes pacific, vegetarian • Infrastructure: roads, hospitals, inns • Opposed by Brahmins • Kushans follow end of Mauryan rule

  10. India at the Time of Ashoka

  11. Patterns in Classical India The Guptas • Collapse of Kushan state by 220 C.E. • Autocratic rule • Guptas • From 320 C.E. • Long period of stable rule • Overthrown by Huns in 535 C.E.

  12. The Gupta Empire

  13. Political Institutions Consistent tradition of regionalism • Attempts to hold large areas • Mauryan rulers rely on armies • Guptas create taxation system, claim divine sanction • In general simple political culture • Kautilya is an exception • Chandragupta’s chief minister • Treatise on politics

  14. Political Institutions Social organization • Caste system becomes more rigid • Yet social mobility existed • Rulers could rise from lower castes • No slavery

  15. Religion and Culture Hinduism • Origins in Vedic and Epic Eras • No single founder, develops gradually • Fluid, adaptable • Brahmans • Develop abstract aspects of gods • Upanishads • Tension between ritual and spirituality • Brahmans versus gurus

  16. Religion and Culture Hinduism (cont’d) • Brahma – holy essence • Different paths for a good life • Yoga • Brahmans’ ritual • Personal devotion • Dharma • Moral law • Not prescriptive

  17. Religion and Culture Buddhism • Siddhartha Gautama, born c. 563 B.C.E. • Takes to wandering life, asceticism • Four Noble Truths • Escape suffering by renouncing worldly things • Achievement of nirvana • Spread through work of monks • Conversion of Ashoka • Opposed by brahmans

  18. Religion and Culture Arts and Sciences • Literature • Strong traditions of storytelling • Drama • University center under Guptas • Some borrowing from Greeks • Aryabhatta

  19. Religion and Culture Arts and Sciences (cont’d) • Mathematics • Originated “Arabic” system, including zero • Negative numbers, square roots • Architecture – stupas • Lively murals

  20. Economy and Society Society • Caste system influences many aspects of life • Status of women diminishes • Yet, stress on loving relationships • Children indulged in early years

  21. Economy and Society Economy • Strong manufacturing • Textiles • Steel • Guilds, selling from shops • Trade • Greater status than in China • Trade with East Asia, Middle East, Roman Empire, Southeast Asia

  22. Indian Influence and Comparative Features Influence • Indian Ocean a hub for contacts • Buddhism carried to China • Influence on Greeks and Romans

  23. Indian Influence and Comparative Features China and India Compared • Chinese restraint versus Indian sensuality • Sciences • Chinese prefer the practical • Indians interested in mathematics • Popular worldviews • Hindu peasants had more local control • Indian merchants more important

  24. Global Connections:India and the Wider World Open to influence • Buddhism, spread both east and west • India especially influential in southeast Asia • Most open among classical civilizations

  25. Eurasian and African Trading Goods and Routes

More Related