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Chapter 5: India’s First Empires:Cultural Cohesion in a Divided
Subcontinent (1000 BC – 500 AD)
I. Review: Aryans & the Vedic Age
Indus River Valley Civilization… Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa…
Sanskrit Writings: Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana
II. HinduismA. Origins• Oldest & most complex religions• No single founder, text, or hierarchy• No fixed dogma…• Developed and changed over 3500 years• Began w/ Aryans• 750 million: mostly in India• Regionalized…
II. Hinduism
B. Beliefs1. Universal Spirit: “God is one, but wise people know it by many names” …. Brahman, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
II. HinduismB. Beliefs
2. Reincarnation*Atman… Moksha… Samsara* Reincarnation provides basis for caste
system3. Dharma [Ahimsa] & Karma
II. HinduismC. Caste System
1. Origins2. Social Order: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras, Untouchables3. Effect… jatis…. Govt… Caste system a social ranking based on ideas of religious purity… may have helped people accept their place/ poverty4. Women
II. HinduismD. Sacred Texts“The gods love the obscure and hate the obvious”
1. Vedas: collection of prayers & sacred verses; caste origin
2. Upanishads: philosophy of Hindu beliefs; Brahman
3. Brahamanas: instructions on rituals and sacrifice
II. HinduismD. Sacred Texts
4. Mahabharata* Includes Ramayana & Bhagavad-Gita
(“Song of God”)* Emphasizes struggle to do one’s duty
II. HinduismE. Religious Practices
1. Not eat beef or pork2. No alcohol3. Priests & gurus4. No higher or central religious authority
(hierarchy)5. Personal shrines6. Diwali : “Festival of Lights”
II. HinduismE. Religious Practices*Importance of the Ganges… Ghats“If only the bone of a person touch the water of the
Ganges, that person shall dwell in heaven.”*Importance of the Himalayas… Mt. Everest &
Yeti“The sight of the snow wipes out the sins of the
world.”
III. BuddhismA. The Enlightened One: Siddhartha
Gautama1. Life Before “Enlightenment”2. Buddha: “He Who Has Awakened”
III. Buddhism
B. Basic Principles1. Four Noble Truths (outline)• Ordinary Life is Full of Suffering.• Suffering is caused by Selfish Desires.• End suffering: end selfish desires.• Way to end desire is to follow Eightfold
Path.
III. Buddhism: Eightfold Path (Sheet)
III. Buddhism
B. Basic Principles: Sacred Texts• Tripitaka: “Three Baskets of Wisdom”
III. BuddhismC. Comparison w/ Hinduism
1. Buddhism accepts Hindu concepts of karma, dharma, reincarnation, nonviolence
2. Religious order: monks & nuns3. Rejects Hindu gods, rituals, priesthood
(Buddhism has no gods)4. Rejects caste system: appeals to lower
classes
III. Buddhism: Major Sects [D]
Theravada Buddhism• Followed Buddha
closest• Only dedicated to
reach nirvana• Sangha: order of
monks• Celibacy, no alcohol• Sri Lanka, SE Asia
Mahayana Buddhism• Bodhisattvas: saints• Turned to for help and
salvation• Fellow humans who
would help others achieve nirvana
• China, Tibet, Korea, Japan
III. Buddhism
D. Major SectsTibetian Buddhism• Dalai Lama• Opposition to Communist China
III. BuddhismE.Decline in Buddhism in India
Peaked w/ Asoka… why decline?1. Rulers: liked stability of Hinduism & support
of priests2. Common people: preferred stability &
rituals/ feasts of Hinduism (stable: caste system)
3. Buddhism: not appeal to women4. Final blow: Muslim invasions
*MB: blended more smoothly into Hinduism
IV. The Mauryan Empire
*Unite India… Began in North… Effect of geography
A. Candragupta Maurya1. Introduction… Aryans & Alex 2. As Founder… “Fish”3. As Ruler…
IV. The Mauryan Empire
B. Asoka and Reform1. Introduction… Deccan & Battle of Kalinga2. As Ruler
* Patalitputra… Effects on India… Missionaries
V. Kushan Empire
*Outline… Northern India… Key link on the Silk Road…Achievements
VI. The Gupta Empire
*Elements of a “Golden Age”…A. Candra Gupta I… Legitimacy B. Gupta Society
1. Government: Patalitputra: central, less harsh2. Economy: trade & agriculture3. Women: restrictions of Hinduism4. Organization of Village & Family Life: Sheet
VI. The Gupta EmpireC. The Influence of Hinduism: OutlineD. End of Gupta Rule: Outline
* White Huns
VII. Gupta’s Golden Age
Classical Civilization…A. MathematicsB. Medicine
VII. Gupta’s Golden Age
C. Architecture*Stupas… pillars… rock chambers… Ajanta caves
D. Literature*Mahabharata… Ramayana…