Aryan Migration

they were an Indo-European nomadic people who created a new Indian society

pastoral depended on their cattle.

warriors horse-drawn chariots.

Sanskrit

writing

The Vedas 1200 BCE-600 BCE.

written in SANSKRIT.

Hindu core of beliefs:

hymns and poems.

religious prayers.

magical spells.

lists of the gods and goddesses.

Rig Veda oldest work.Rig Veda oldest work.

Caste SystemCaste System

This is a ridged social structure thatThis is a ridged social structure that

determined a person’s occupation anddetermined a person’s occupation and

economic potential.economic potential.

In the past it was based on skin color.In the past it was based on skin color.

Varna (Social Hierarchy)

ShudrasShudras

VaishyasVaishyas

Kshatriyas Kshatriyas

UntouchablesUntouchables

BrahminsBrahmins

The Caste System

The mouth?

The arms?

The legs?

The feet?

WHO IS…

What is a JATI?

BrahminsBrahmins

KshatriyasKshatriyas

VaishyasVaishyas

ShudrasShudras

The Vedic Age

The foundations for Hinduism were

established!

ChandraguptaChandragupta: : 321 321 BC-298 BCBC-298 BC

ChandraguptaChandragupta: : 321 321 BC-298 BCBC-298 BC

§ Unified northern India.Unified northern India.

§ Defeated the PersianDefeated the Persian general general SeleucusSeleucus..

§ Divided his empire intoDivided his empire into provinces, then districts provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law for tax assessments and law enforcement. enforcement.

§ He feared assassination [like SaddamHe feared assassination [like Saddam Hussein] Hussein] food tasters, slept in food tasters, slept in differentdifferent rooms, etc. rooms, etc.

§ 301 BC 301 BC gave up his throne & became gave up his throne & became a Jain. a Jain.

The Maurya The Maurya EmpireEmpire

The Maurya The Maurya EmpireEmpire

324 BC – 183 BC324 BC – 183 BC

KautilyaKautilyaKautilyaKautilya§ Chandragupta’s advisor.Chandragupta’s advisor.

§ Brahmin caste.Brahmin caste.

§ Wrote Wrote The Treatise onThe Treatise on Material Gain Material Gain or the or the ArthashastraArthashastra..

§ A guide for the king and his A guide for the king and his ministers:ministers:

Ø Supports royal power.Supports royal power.

Ø The great evil in society is The great evil in society is anarchyanarchy..

Ø Therefore, a single authority is Therefore, a single authority is needed to employ force when needed to employ force when necessary! necessary!

Asoka (304 – 232 Asoka (304 – 232 BC)BC)

Asoka (304 – 232 Asoka (304 – 232 BC)BC)§ Religious conversion Religious conversion

after the gruesome after the gruesome battle of battle of KalingaKalinga in in 262 BC. 262 BC.

§ Dedicated his life to Dedicated his life to Buddhism. Buddhism.

§ Built extensive roads.Built extensive roads.

§ ConflictConflict how to balance how to balance Kautilya’sKautilya’s methods of keeping methods of keeping powerpower and Buddha’s demands to and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless become a selfless person?person?

AsokAsoka’s a’s

EmpiEmpirere

AsokAsoka’s a’s

EmpiEmpirere

Asoka’s law Asoka’s law codecode

Asoka’s law Asoka’s law codecode§ Edicts scattered inEdicts scattered in

more than 30 places more than 30 places in India, Nepal, in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan. Pakistan, & Afghanistan.

§ Written mostly inWritten mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic. Greek and Aramaic.

§ 10 rock edicts.10 rock edicts.

§ Each pillar [Each pillar [stupastupa] is 40’-50’ high.] is 40’-50’ high.

§ Buddhist principles dominate his Buddhist principles dominate his laws.laws.

One One of of

AsokAsoka’sa’sStStupasupas

One One of of

AsokAsoka’sa’sStStupasupas

WomenWomenUnder Under

ananAsokaAsokatreetree

WomenWomenUnder Under

ananAsokaAsokatreetree

Turmoil & a power Turmoil & a power Vacuum:Vacuum:

220 BCE – 320 CE220 BCE – 320 CE

Turmoil & a power Turmoil & a power Vacuum:Vacuum:

220 BCE – 320 CE220 BCE – 320 CE

Tamils

Tamils

The Maurya Empire is divided into many The Maurya Empire is divided into many kingdoms.kingdoms.

International Trade International Trade Routes during the Routes during the

GuptasGuptas

International Trade International Trade Routes during the Routes during the

GuptasGuptas

Gupta Empire:Gupta Empire: 320 ad – 320 ad – 528 ad528 ad

Gupta Empire:Gupta Empire: 320 ad – 320 ad – 528 ad528 ad

Gupta RulersGupta RulersGupta RulersGupta Rulers§ Chandra GuptaChandra Gupta II

v r. 320 – 335 CEr. 320 – 335 CE

v “ “Great King of Great King of Kings”Kings”

§ Chandra Gupta IIChandra Gupta II

v r. 375 - 415 CEr. 375 - 415 CE

v Profitable trade Profitable trade withwith the Mediterranean the Mediterranean world! world!

§ Hindu revival.Hindu revival.

§ Huns invade – 450 Huns invade – 450 CECE

Fa-Hsien: Life in Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta IndiaGupta India

Fa-Hsien: Life in Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta IndiaGupta India§ Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along

the the Silk Road and visited India in the 5c. Silk Road and visited India in the 5c.

§ He was following the pathHe was following the path of the Buddha. of the Buddha.

§ He reported the people to He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of be happy, relatively free of government oppression, and government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and inclined towards courtesy and charity. Other references in charity. Other references in the journal, however, indicate the journal, however, indicate that the caste system was that the caste system was rapidly assuming its basic features, rapidly assuming its basic features, includingincluding "untouchability," the social isolation of a "untouchability," the social isolation of a lowestlowest class that is doomed to menial labor. class that is doomed to menial labor.

Chandra Gupta Chandra Gupta 1111

Chandra Gupta Chandra Gupta 1111

Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:4c4c

Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:4c4c

spices

spices

spicesspices

gold & gold &

ivoryivory

gold & gold & ivoryivory

rice & rice & wheatwheathorseshorses

cotton goods

cotton goods

cotton goods

cotton goodssilkssilks

KalidasaKalidasaKalidasaKalidasa

§ The greatest of Indian poets.The greatest of Indian poets.

§ His most famous play was His most famous play was ShakuntalaShakuntala..

§ During the reign of Chandra Gupta During the reign of Chandra Gupta II. II.

GuptGuptaa

ArtArt

GuptGuptaa

ArtArt

Greatly influenced Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & Southeast Asian art &

architecture.architecture.

MedicineMedicineMedicineMedicine LiteratureLiteratureLiteratureLiterature

MathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematicsAstronomyAstronomyAstronomyAstronomy

PrintedPrintedmedicinal medicinal

guidesguides

1000 1000 diseasesdiseasesclassifiedclassified

PlasticPlasticSurgerySurgery

C-sectionsC-sectionsperformeperforme

dd

InoculatioInoculationsns

500 healing500 healingplants plants

identifiedidentified

DecimalDecimalSystemSystem

ConceptConceptof Zeroof Zero

PI = 3.1416PI = 3.1416

KalidasKalidasaa

SolarSolarCalendarCalendar

The The earthearth

is roundis round

GuptaGuptaIndiaIndia

Gupta Gupta AchievemeAchieveme

ntsnts

Gupta Gupta AchievemeAchieveme

ntsnts

The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptasGuptas

The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptasGuptas§ Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c

signaledsignaled the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even thoughthough at first, the Guptas defeated them. at first, the Guptas defeated them.

§ After the decline of the Gupta empire, After the decline of the Gupta empire, northnorth India broke into a number of separate India broke into a number of separate HinduHindu kingdoms and was not really unified again kingdoms and was not really unified again untiluntil the coming of the Muslims in the 7c. the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.

§ QUESTIONQUESTION:: Is the best literature and art written as Is the best literature and art written as the civilization is on the rise, at its the civilization is on the rise, at its height, or in its decline? height, or in its decline?

BhartrhariBhartrhariBhartrhariBhartrhari§ 5c India court poet and 5c India court poet and philosopher.philosopher.

Knowledge is man's crowning Knowledge is man's crowning mark,mark,A treasure secretly buried,A treasure secretly buried,The source of luxury, fame, and The source of luxury, fame, and bliss,bliss,A guru most venerable,A guru most venerable,A friend on foreign journeys,A friend on foreign journeys,The pinnacle of divinity.The pinnacle of divinity.Knowledge is valued by kings Knowledge is valued by kings beyond wealth--- beyond wealth---When he lacks it, a man is a When he lacks it, a man is a brute.brute.