HIS 105 Chapter 4

1. HIS 105Chapter 4 Iran, India, and Inner Asia 600 B.C.E. - 200 C.E.

2. Iranian Achaemenids and Mauryan India • In both areas there were: • Sophisticated bureaucracies • Professional armies • Strong communication systems • New cultural, political, and religious developments

3. Iran • Found in SW Asia in the middle of east-west trade routes • As a consequence, cities flourished • Iranians were descendents of Aryan peoples who settled there in 1100 B.C.E. • 2 major groups of Aryans there: • The Medes • The Persians

4. Achaemenids • Powerful Persian clan in 7th century B.C.E. • Took over the Medes by 550 B.C.E. • Cyrus the Great was the Persian or Achaemenid ruler at the time • Allowed for local rule and former practices in the newly captured territory • Little disruption for the people

5. Cyrus the Great

6. Religion • Emphasis on “right” moral order • Monotheistic ; god named Ahura Mazda • Zarathustra (Zoroaster) was a trained priest and religiuos reformer • Wanted moral reform in an age of materialism, power grabbing, and ethical indifference • Asked followers to worship Ahura Mazda, do good, and overcome evil • Said there would be a final judgment

7. His religion was called Zoroastrianism • It perhaps influenced Judaism, Christianity, and Islam -- also monotheistic • Zoroastrianism was wiped out when Islam entered • It is still practiced in western India

8. Zarathustra

9. First Iranian Empire (550-330 B.C.E.)The Achaemenids & Cyrus the Great • During the rise of this Persian power, Cyrus I ruled • Iran moved toward greatness under Cyrus the Great (r.559-530 B.C.E.), grandson of CyrusI • Cyrus the Great expanded Persian territory: took Assyria, Cilesia, Lydia, and defeated the last Babylonian king • When he continued his battle for territory eastward, he was killed

10. Cambyses ( r. 529-522 B.C.E.), his successor took Egypt • Darius I succeeded Cambyses (r. 521-486 B.C.E.) • Under his rule the Achaemenid Empire reached its furthest extent • Territory extended from Egypt to southern Russia to the Indus Valley After Darius, the Achaemenids lost power and control

11. Cambyses & Darius

12. Achaemenid Government • It was a stable government until the 3rd century B.C.E. • The king was called Shahanshah or “King of Kings” • Ahura Mazda would bless the king (divine rule) • Achaemenids showed tolerance of other cultures and religions • They established Pax Achaemenica

13. Governors in the provinces were called Satraps • Taxes were collected • Emphasis on rule of law • Had a good highway system • Helped trade • Helped army • Helped couriers

14. Economy • Coin system • Standard wages • Basic occupation was agriculture • Serfs and slaves made up most of the labor force

15. India • First true Indian Empire was established by Chandragupta Maurya (r. 321-297 B.C.E.) • After Alexander the Great’s victories in NW India and the defeat of small kingdoms, there was a need for new Indian leadership • Chandragupta Maurya provided that leadership • He re-conquered NW India taking it from the Greeks left by Alexander

16. Chandragupta

17. Chandragupta began conquering territory along the Ganges plain • Chandraguta was succeeded by his son, Bindusara (r. 297-272 B.C.E.) who extended the boundaries further south • Bindusara was succeeded by his son, Ashoka (r. 272-232) who completed the conquests • His reign was one of political unity, prosperity, and rich culture

18. Bindusara & Ashoka

19. He became a Buddhist • He stopped his conquests after seeing te suffering he caused • Ashoka then worked to promote the welfare of his people • He built roads and hospitals • Promoted vegetarianism • Would not sanction war or animal slaughter

20. Brahmans were no longer his political advisors, and they did not like losing their power • Local warrior elite were also losing their power • However, many people benefited: • Merchants • Artisans • Buddhist monks and nuns • Women

21. Ashoka’s reign was followed by weaker rulers • The empire divided chaos followed • Brahmans pushed to take back power • Brahmans persecuted Buddhists and pushed them to the fringes of society and brought back Hinduism

22. Brahman Recovery • Brahmans and kings with Brahman advisors began to take power in northern India as other weak leaders fell • Practices of the Buddhists made them vulnerable to the Brahman push • Buddhists isolated themselves in monasteries • They were supported by the wealthy and lived in luxury • They lost touch with ordinary people

23. Brahmans tried to make Hinduism more appealing to the Indian people by incorporating some Buddhist gods and by stressing a more personal relationship with their gods • Brahmans also opened temples to people of all castes • Women could act as singers and poets • They created more ceremonies • Hindus adopted Buddhists’ idea of salvation

24. New rulers promoted Hinduism • As a result, Buddhism slowly died out • The Mauryas: • Had centralized bureaucracy • Had good communications, civil and military organization, tax collection, and a secret service • Had trade and productive cities • Encouraged cultural development • Had some contact with the West