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Ancient India: Harappan Civilization to Gupta Empire

Explore the rise and fall of the Harappan Civilization, the dark age that followed, and the revival of civilization in the Ganges River Valley with the Mauryan and Gupta Empires. Discover the rich traditions of Hinduism, the teachings of Gautama the Buddha, and the achievements in science and mathematics.

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Ancient India: Harappan Civilization to Gupta Empire

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  1. HARRAPAN CIVILIZATION • Harappa and Mohenjodaro • Encompassed most of modern-day Pakistan • Lasted approx. 1000 years (2500-1500 BC) • Grew barley and wheat • Used copper, and later, bronze tools • Engaged in trade with Egypt • Had a writing system

  2. MOHENJODARO

  3. THE DARK AGE • Aryans from southern Russia invade India around 1500 BC and completely destroy Harappa and Mohenjodaro • India plunged into “Dark Age” • 1500-1000 BC • Cities abandoned • Writing forgotten • People reverted to a Neolithic lifestyle

  4. REVIVAL OF CIVILIZATION • Ganges River Valley • Half Aryan/half Harappan people • Evolved city-states

  5. CASTE SYSTEM • Originally just four castes • Warriors • Priests • Merchants/large landowners • Small farmers/manual laborers • System was not originally particularly rigid • Contained opportunity for mobility • Intermarriage between castes was allowed • System became increasingly complex and rigid as time went on • Hundreds of castes • No social contact between them • At bottom, were the “untouchables”

  6. MAURYAN EMPIRE • 16 city-states in Ganges river valley by 600 BC • Each ruled by a “raja” • City-state of Magada gradually grows in power at the expense of the others • Conquered entire Ganges valley and beyond • Created Mauryan Empire (321-185 BC) • Founded by Chandragupta Maurya

  7. ASHOKA (I) • Mauryan Empire reached peak during reign of Ashoka • Grandson of Chandragupta Maurya • 268-231 BC • Began reign as military conqueror but had change of heart • Converted to Buddhism • Vowed to rule in a gentle way • No offensive military operations • Put welfare of his subjects before his own ambitions

  8. ASHOKA (II) • Engaged in public works projects designed to provide jobs and improve the lives of his people • Dug thousands of public wells • Built rest areas for travelers • Constructed thousands of public hospitals • Encouraged economic activity • Presided over true “Golden Age” • Within 50 years of his death, the Mauryan Empire collapsed • Invasions of northern barbarians • Shattered unity and India reverted to old pattern of numerous, warring small states

  9. GUPTA EMPIRE • Chandra Gupta I, ruler of Magada, conquers Ganges River Valley and northern India • Process of conquest continued by son and grandson • Results in creation of Gupta Empire • 300-450 AD • First 100 years was era of expanding power, growing prosperity, and cultural achievement • Empire eventually collapsed with the invasion of the White Huns • Disintegrated into numerous petty kingdoms

  10. ACHIEVEMENTS • Several writing systems • Elaborate literature • Mostly religious in terms of subject matter • Invention of modern number system • Called “Arabic numerals” in West • Use of number which represents nothing (zero) • Invention of decimal system • Invention of foundation of algebra • Discovered that the earth was a rotating sphere

  11. HINDUISM(I) • Originally polytheistic • Over time, three of the most important gods merged together to create a three-part monotheistic deity called Brahman • Brahma (creator) • Vishnu (protector) • Shiva (destroyer • Brahma permeates everything in the universe • Every living thing is therefore related • All living things have souls

  12. HINDUISM (II) • Reincarnation • Each soul is reborn in the body of some other creature over and over again • A person’s actions (karma) determines the form of that person’s reincarnation • “good karma”—rewarded by improvement in status in reincarnation • “bad karma”—punished by degradation of status in reincarnation • Human existence is an endless round of suffering • “Wheel of suffering” • No escape except through meditation • Only temporary

  13. GAUTAMA THE BUDDHA • Gurus appear around 600 BC who argued that Hinduism had become too materialistic and that people should be more spirtual • Foremost guru was Gautama the Buddha • Means “Enlightened One” • Search for permanent escape from wheel of suffering • Argued that desire for material goods causes suffering

  14. ACHIEVEMENT OF NIRVANA • Eight-step process to escape wheel of suffering • Included non-violence, rejection of selfish desires, cultivating compassion and honesty, cleansing mind of evil thoughts, etc. • Nirvana—permanent escape from the wheel of suffering • Attainment of permanent peace and tranquility

  15. BUDDHA’S LIFE • Buddha practiced what he preached • Only owned simple robe, walking stick, and wooden bowl • Always slept outside and walked everywhere he went • Presented his creed in a simple language • Treated all persons equally • Many people attracted to him as a result • Millions of converts across Asia

  16. BUDDHIST TRADITIONS • Buddhism ultimately split into two “traditions” • HINAYANA (Little Vehicle) • Buddha was just a great man • MAHAYANA (Big Vehicle) • Largest of the two • Buddha was human incarnation of Brahma; Buddha was a god • Led to worship of Buddha, creation of idols, elaborate rituals, and temples

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