India & Southeast Asia
The Vedic Age 1500-500 BCE
Aryas v.Dasas Varna Class Structure =
1. Brahmin (Priests/Scholars)2. Kshatriya (Warriors)3. Vaishya (Merchants)4. Shudra (Peasant/Laborers)5. Untouchables (Demeaning
work)
Jati = Subdivision of the 4 main Varna (Caste) Rules (Jobs, duties, interaction
among Jati groups)
Role of Women Worship via sacrifice Study, participate in rituals,
own property
Jainism, Buddhism & Hinduism Jainism
Founded by Mahavira 540-468BCE
Nonviolence to all living things Buddhism (563-483 BCE)
Founder: Siddhartha Gautama The Four Noble Truths /
Eightfold Path to Enlightenment 2 Sects = Mahayana (new) &
Theravada (old) Hinduism ‘What the Indians Do’
Reformed Vedic Religion Devotion to the gods: Vishnu
(North) or Shiva (South) & Devi (Goddess)=Creative/Destructive
Pilgrimage to holy sites/shrines Dominant Regional Religion
The Mauryan Empire 324-184 BCE Formed from Kingdom of Magadha
Strategic Geographic Location Agricultural & Iron Resources
Mauryan Government Capitol: Pataliputra Large Army 25% Agricultural Tax State Monopolies (mines, ships,
weapons) Notable Leaders
Founder: Chandragupta Maurya Ashoka = Buddhism becomes state
religion (Buddhist empire!) Era of Political Fragmentation
(500yrs) Greco-Bactrian influence (NW) Literary Achievements (Sanskrit) Merchants became religious patrons 3 Tamil kingdoms = ‘Classical
Period’
The Gupta Empire 320-550 CE Kingdom of Magadha-Chandra Gupta
Controlled Central & Northern India
Copied Mauryan Govt. Structure Except: Weak military & theatre-state
Gupta Culture Trade with SE Asia Literacy / Mathematics Arabic
numerals & concept of zero Women = No right to own land,
treated like Shudra, married young, social status determined treatment
Religion = Hinduism / Tolerant Collapse = Military Spending (Huns)
Southern India Remained Independent Warrior Kingdoms (Pallavas & Cholas)
Southeast Asia 50-600 CE
3 Geographic Zones Indochina Mainland Malay Peninsula Islands
Natural Resources & Agriculture Fertile soil / Several Growing
Seasons Domestic Animals / Agricultural
Products Swidden = Slash & Burn
agriculture Migrations
Malay peoples from Southern China
First Major State = Funan 1st thru 6th Century Mekong Delta (Rice Bowl)