SS2 - History of India

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The History of India

Lecture for SS2 Asian Studies, prepared by Martin Benedict Perez, PSHS Main Campus

First Part in a Lecture on Empires

SY 2010/11



I. Preface: From Harappa to Buddha

II. The First Empires

A. The Maurya: The roots of the Indian state

B. The Kushans: India at the center of the world

III. The Golden Age

A. The Gupta: Golden Age in the North

B. The Cholans: Golden Age in the South

IV. Islam in India

A. The Mughals: The Age of Opulence

OUTLINE OF THE PRESENTATION



BASIC PERIODIZATION

500BCE

1

500

1000

MAURYA KUSHAN GUPTA CHOLAN MUGHAL

321 – 184 BCE

100 - 300

320 - 550

871 - 1279

1526 - 1707



History played out

differently in the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the

north and in the Deccan

plateau to the south.

The north was open to

foreign intrusion, and

the south would play a

larger role later on asmaritime trade

intensified.

SOUTH ASIA



SOUTH ASIA



THE FIRST EMPIRESThe Maurya and the Kushans



INDIA BY THE END OF THE AXIAL AGE

Around 1500BCE, a

foreign people – theAryans – migrated into

the Indus River Valley.

From 1000 to 500BCE,

the Indo-Aryan

populations moved

further eastward intothe rest of the Indo-

Gangetic Plain.



INDIA BY THE END OF THE AXIAL AGE

According to Vedic

literature, sixteen ‘greatrealms’ emerged to

compete for supremacy.

The power of the

Kshatriya increased, andthe rights of the

common man

diminished.

This was the political

situation during the

time of the Buddha.



The approximateextent of the

Magadha state in

the 5th century

BCE.

THE MAURYA (321 – 184 BCE)



The NandaEmpire at its

greatest extent

under Dhana

Nanda circa 323

BCE.




The MauryaEmpire when it

was first founded

by Chandragupta

Maurya circa 320

BCE, after

conquering the

Nanda Empire

when he was only

about 20 yearsold.




Chandraguptaextended the

borders of the

Maurya Empire

towards Seleucid

Persia after

defeating Seleucus

circa 305 BCE.




Chandraguptaextended the

borders of the

empire southward

into the Deccan

Plateau circa 300

BC.





Chanakya, the King Maker.

“The Indian Machiavelli”



Chandragupta Maurya was schooled by Chanakya who wrote the

Arthashastra.

“In the happiness of his subjects lies the king's

happiness, in their welfare his welfare. He shall

not consider as good only that which pleaseshim but treat as beneficial to him whatever

pleases his subjects.”

Kautilya also favors an autocratic welfare state, and

believes that no kingdom can survive without a good and efficient

economy.




The Arthashastra also talks about the Rajarishi as the ideal leader:

1. Has self-control, having conquered the inimical temptations of

the senses;

2. Cultivates the intellect by association with elders;

3. Keeps his eyes open through spies;

4. Is ever active in promoting the security & welfare of the people;5. Ensures the observance (by the people) of their dharma by

authority & example;

6. Improves his own discipline by (continuing his) learning in all

branches of knowledge; and7. Endears himself to his people by enriching them & doing good to

them.




THE FIRST EMPEROR OF INDIA

1. Established government bureaucracy2. Controlled economic activity in mines,

forests, pearl fisheries, and salt fields.

3. Operated farms, shipyards, and arsenals.

4. Maintained a formidable military:600,000 infantry; 30,000 cavalry; 9,000

elephants.

5. Constructed and improvement of

infrastructure such as roads and

irrigation.

6. Funded his works through a land tax (1/4

to 1/2 of crops produced).




Ashoka is most

popularly known

as the patron of Buddhism





“All people are my

children, and just as Idesire for my children

that they should obtain

welfare and happiness,

both in this world andthe next, so do I desire

the same for all people.”




TUPA (from Sanskrit: m., सत पू , stūpa, Pāli: थ ुप "thūpa", literally meaning "heap") is a

und-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used byddhists as a place of worship. The Great Stupa at Sanchi, India,established by Ashoka theat (4th –1st century BC).

Dhamek Stupa in Sarnath,northeastern India is the oldStupa in existence.



THE SPREAD OF BUDDHISM



Mahayana

Emphasizes faith and belief in the

Buddha and the bodhisattva (future

Buddha) as compassionate gods.

Mahayana Buddhists see nirvana as a

place that can be won in the afterlife.

Though Mahayana Buddhism deviates

from the original vision of the Buddha(“When you see the Buddha, kill the

Buddha”), this has become the most

popular form of Buddhism.


The Great Statue of BuddhaAmitabha in Kamakura, Japan



Theravada

(Doctrine of the Elders)Closest to the original vision of

the Buddha, their focus is on

individual salvation and the

importance of monastic life.


Vajrayana

(Diamond Vehicle or True Word Sect)

Stresses the importance of a close

relationship between a guru and disciples

(symbolized by the Dalai Lama)



This is a rough timeline of the development of the

different schools/traditions:

Timeline: Development and propagation of Buddhist traditions (ca. 450 BCE –

ca. 1300 CE)

450 BCE[178]

250 BCE 100 CE 500 CE 700 CE 800 CE 1200 CE[179]

India

EarlySangha

Early Buddhist schools

Mahayana Vajrayana

Sri Lanka &

Southeast Asia

Theravada

Buddhism

Central Asia

Greco-Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism

Silk Road Buddhism

East Asia Chán, Tendai, Pure Land, Zen,

Nichiren

Shingon

450 BCE 250 BCE 100 CE 500 CE 700 CE 800 CE 1200 CE

Legend: = Theravada tradition = Mahayana traditions = Vajrayana traditions



AFTER THE MAURYA

After the death of Ashoka,

the Maurya lost theirterritories and north India

dissolved into a number of

smaller states ruled by local

dynasties.

One kingdom in central

South Asia, the Savatahana,

established its own empire

that would last for 400 years.



THE KUSHANS (100 – 300)

Originating from Chinese

Central Asia, the Kushans (alsoYuezhi), built an empire

supported by the Silk Road.

They had diplomatic ties with

Rome, Persia, and Han China.

Their art was a synthesis of

Buddhist and Hellinistic (Greek)

styles.

The spread of Buddhism also

intensified.




Gandharan Art




Left: Carving that depicts Kushan robes

Above: Gold coins depicting Kanishka,the greatest king of the Kushans



Silk Routes, over-land and over-sea




THE GOLDEN AGEThe Gupta and the Cholans



THE GUPTA (320 – 550)



THE GUPTA (320 – 550)

Nālandā (Hindi/Sanskrit/Pali: नालदंा ) is the name of an ancient

center of higher learning in Bihar, India. The site of Nalanda islocated in the Indian state of Bihar, about 55 miles south east ofPatna, and was a Buddhist center of learning from 427 to 1197 C






THE GUPTA (320 – 550)



THE GUPTA (320 – 550)

G A



THE GUPTA (320 – 550)



The Ajanta Caves ( Ajiṇṭhā leni;

Marathi: अजंठा लेणी ) in Maharashtra,India are comprised of 31 rock-cutcave monuments which date from the2nd century BC. The caves includepaintings and sculptures consideredto be masterpieces of both Buddhist

religious art

THE GUPTA



THE GUPTA (320 – 550)

THE GUPTA



THE GUPTA (320 – 550)

THE GUPTA



THE GUPTA (320 – 550)

THE GUPTA



THE GUPTA (320 – 550)

THE GUPTA



Key Cultural Advancements

1. Indian culture was crystallized. Fromarchitecture to poetry, expressions

were very rich and detailed.

2. Art forms were plentiful: the

Panchatantra, the sanskrit drama,architecture, sculpture, and so on.

3. The cults of Vishnu and Shiva became

very popular.

4. Buddhists patronized education,

leading the Gupta to become thecenter of learning at that time.

THE GUPTA (320 – 550)

THE CHOLANS



THE CHOLANS (871 – 1279)

THE CHOLANS (8 1 12 9)




The Cholan is just one example of

the many states and empires that

occupied South India.

Nonetheless, it is perhaps the most

prominent empire of the Tamil.

There have been mentions of the

Cholans as early as 300BCE in the

works of Asoka.

But it was during the 9th century thatthey achieved new heights as an

empire. A tower of the Thanjavur temple

dedicated to Shiva

THE CHOLANS (871 1279)




The Meenakshi Temple in

Madurai, the oldest city inSouth India.









Madhura Meenakshi Temple





The Cholan, at

its height, was

a cultural

superpower in

Southeast

Asia.





Built in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat is a fusion of Khmer

architecture and South Indian style. It is dedicated to Vishnu.





Built in the 14th century, Pura Bekasih is the most prominent Hindu temple in Bali.

In mostly Muslim Indonesia, Bali is 93% Hindu.



PART THREE

ISLAM IN INDIAThe Mughals

ISLAM ENTERS INDIA



712 – 850: Muslim raiders from

Persia are stopped by theRajputs

997 – 1030: Mahmud of Ghazni

raided India and destroyed andlooted temples

1210 – 1526: The Delhi

Sultanate and its various

dynasties implemented amonetary system, and required

non-Muslims to pay jizyah

ISLAM ENTERS INDIA

ISLAM ENTERS INDIA



HINDUISM ISLAM

Fundamental beliefs

Complete freedom of belief Strictly monotheistic;

Brahman is the supreme

being with many

manifestations

There is only one God (Allah)

and Muhammad is His

prophet

Society and culture

Bhakti (devotion) can be

personal

Worship is congregational

Deities are rendered

through idols

God has no face; no idols or

images

Duties and social status are

ascribed by caste

Social status is defined by

birth; duties are in the 5pillars; egalitarian

Government Brahmin and Kshatriya are

separate

The state is theocratic (ruled

by God)

ISLAM ENTERS INDIA

SIKHISM



Sikhism was founded by Guru

Nanak in the last 15th century as asynthesis of Hinduism and Islam.

He preached:

1. The unity of God

2. The brotherhood of man

3. The refection of caste

4. The futility of idol worship.

SIKHISM

THE MUGHALS (1526 – 1707)



Founded by Babur in 1526.

Akbar the Great has one of

the longest reigns in history

(1543 - 1605).

THE MUGHALS (1526 1707)




Highlights of Mughal administration during the reign of Akbar

1. Implemented the mansabdari system where officials were

paid salaries.

2. Appointed Hindus to positions of power, particularly as

zamindars (tax collectors).

3. Abolished the jizya.

4. Not just tolerated other faiths, but showed genuine

interest in them.

5. Had a personal approach to government and would visitthe provinces personally.

Under Akbar’s rule, Mughal India was a truly Indian empire.





Completed in 1648, the Taj Mahal was built by

Shah Jahan for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

1526 to 1707





Aurangzeb’s reignbegins the decline of

Mughal India.

He was an orthodoxMuslim who reinstituted

the jizyah and attempted

to conquer the Deccan.

He is notorious for

reversing the gains under

his predecessors.





The Mughals aspired to make India

a jewel in the East. Theyaccomplished it, but at great

expense.

Trading towns in the coastal areas

were unchecked, local rulers were

left to fend for themselves, and a

deep animosity began to brew

between Hindu and Muslim.

This left them ripe for the taking,

an opportunity not to be missed by

the British empire.




END OF THE

PRESENTATION

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