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Early India

Early India. AP World History. The Indus River Valley (India). India began along the Indus River, which flooded & left behind fertile soil. Seasonal monsoons caused summer rains & floods.

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Early India

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  1. Early India AP World History

  2. The Indus River Valley (India)

  3. India began along the Indus River, which flooded & left behind fertile soil Seasonal monsoons caused summer rains & floods The people were well protected on the Indian “subcontinent” by the oceans, mountains, & deserts that surrounded the Indus River Valley

  4. Lasting Contributions • Advanced cities: • Indus cities were laid out in a grid system with high walls & citadel of major buildings

  5. Lasting Contributions • Specialized Workers: • Indian society was divided by the “caste system” which divided people based on their purity in Hinduism

  6. Lasting Contributions • Government: • Little is known about Indus government other than they were ruled by kings

  7. Lasting Contributions • Religion: • Believed in a polytheistic religion called Hinduism • Hindus believe that one’s soul is reborn until moksha is achieved (reincarnation) • Moksha (enlightenment or nirvana) is the spiritual release from human form • A soul’s karma (good or bad deeds) effect reincarnation

  8. Lasting Contributions • Writing: • Indus writing has not been fully translated so much of Indus life is still a mystery • Writing contained about 400 symbols that were both pictograms & phonetic characters

  9. Lasting Contributions • Technology: • Advanced plumbing; Most houses had toilets & private bathrooms connected to underground sewer systems • Standard, oven-baked bricks

  10. Buddhism

  11. Buddhism

  12. Siddhartha Gautama(563-483 BCE) • Born in NE India (Nepal). • Raised in great luxuryto be a king. • At 29 he rejectedhis luxurious life toseek enlightenmentand the source ofsuffering. • Lived a strict,ascetic life for 6 yrs. • Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found nirvana. • Became “The Enlightened One,” at 35.

  13. The essence of Buddhism • The “middle way of wisdom and compassion.” • 2,500 year old tradition. • The 3 jewels of Buddhism: • Buddha, the teacher. • Dharma, the teachings. • Sangha, the community.

  14. What is the fundamental cause of all suffering? Desire! • Therefore, extinguish the self, don’t obsess about oneself.

  15. Four Noble Truths • There is suffering in the world. To live is to suffer. (Dukkha) • The Buddha found this out when he was young and experienced suffering and death in others.

  16. Four Noble Truths The cause of suffering is self-centered desire and attachments. (Tanha) The solution is to eliminate desire and attachments. (Nirvana = “extinction”)

  17. Four Noble Truths To reach nirvana, one must follow the Eightfold Path.

  18. Eightfold Path Nirvana • The union with the ultimate spiritual reality. • Escape from the cycle of rebirth.

  19. Religions of South Asia

  20. Buddhism in the Subcontinent

  21. Theravada Buddhism

  22. Appeal of Buddhism • Less dependence on Brahmins for ritual activities • No recognition of caste, jati status • Philosophy of moderate consumption • Public service through lay teaching • Use of vernacular, not Sanskrit

  23. A Buddhist Monastery

  24. Ashoka’s Support of Buddhism • Personal conversion to Buddhism • Disillusioned after violent war with Kalinga • Banned animal sacrifices, mandated vegetarianism in court • Material support for Buddhist institutions, missionary activities

  25. Changes in Buddhist thought • 3rd c. BCE – 1st c. CE • Buddha considered divine • Institution of Boddhisatvas (“saints”) • Charitable donations to monasteries regarded as pious activity

  26. Spread of Mahayana Buddhism • Mahayana (“greater vehicle”), newer development • India, China, Japan, Korea, central Asia • Hinayana (“lesser vehicle,” also Theravada), earlier version • Ceylon, Burma, Thailand

  27. Emergence of Popular Hinduism • Composition of epics from older oral traditions • Mahabharata • Ramayana • Emphasis on god Vishnu and his incarnations • The Bhagavad Gita: • “Song of the Lord” • Centuries of revisions, final form c. 400 CE • Dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna during civil war

  28. Hindu Ethics • Emphasis on meeting class obligations (dharma) • Pursuit of economic well-being and honesty (artha) • Enjoyment of social, physical and sexual pleasure (kama) • Salvation of the soul (moksha)

  29. Popularity of Hinduism • Gradually replaced Buddhism in India • Gupta dynastic leaders extend considerable support

  30. Classical India

  31. Indian Empires: Mauryan & Gupta

  32. Chandragupta Maurya became king of India in 321 BC, created a vast army, & conquered new lands The Mauryan Empire of India After the river valley era, India transitioned into the Mauryan Empire • Chandragupta’s empire controlled most of the Indian subcontinent Indus River Valley

  33. India: The Mauryan Empire • Chandragupta used tactics to control his empire: • Like the Persians, Chandragupta divided his empire into provinces each ruled by a local prince

  34. During his wars of expansion, Asoka converted to Buddhism The Mauryan Empire of India In 269 B.C., King Asoka took over & expanded the Mauryan Empire to its greatest extent Asoka developed new policies of tolerance & nonviolence for his empire Buddhism spread as a result of Asoka’s influence Indus River Valley

  35. The Gupta Empire After Asoka’s death, the Mauryan Empire declined & was replaced by the Gupta Empire Chandra Gupta formed the Gupta Empire in 320 A.D. & expanded the empire

  36. Classical India • India experienced a “golden age” during the Gupta Empire & became a “classical empire” • Indian astronomers were the first to discover that the earth was round • Mathematicians invented modern numerals, zero, pi, & the decimal system

  37. Merchants sold exotic spices & silks to people in the Mediterranean world

  38. Cross-cultural Exchanges on the Silk Roads

  39. Long-Distance Travel in the Ancient World • Lack of police enforcement outsied of established settlements • Changed in classical period • Improvement of infrastructure • Development of empires

  40. Trade Networks Develop • Dramatic increase in trade due to Greek colonization • Maintenance of roads, bridges • Discovery of Monsoon wind patterns • Increased tariff revenues used to maintain open routes

  41. Trade in the Hellenistic World • Bactria/India • Spices, pepper, cosmetics, gems, pearls • Persia, Egypt • Grain • Mediterranean • Wine, oil, jewelry, art • Development of professional merchant class

  42. The Silk Roads • Named for principal commodity from China • Dependent on imperial stability • Overland trade routes from China to Roman Empire • Sea Lanes and Maritime trade as well

  43. The Silk Roads, 200 BCE-300 CE

  44. Organization of Long-Distance Trade • Divided into small segments • Tariffs and tolls finance local supervision • Tax income incentives to maintain safety, maintenance of passage

  45. Cultural Trade: Buddhism and Hinduism • Merchants carry religious ideas along silk routes • India through central Asia to east Asia • Cosmopolitan centers promote development of monasteries to shelter traveling merchants • Buddhism becomes dominant faith of silk roads, 200 BCE-700 CE

  46. The Spread of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity, 200 BCE – 400 CE

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