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Chapter 9

State, Society, and the Quest for Salvation in India. Chapter 9. Learning objectives for Chapter 9. Explain the rise and fall of the Mauryan dynasty. Compare and contrast the emergence of regional kingdoms and the revival of empire in India.

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Chapter 9

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  1. State, Society, and the Quest for Salvation in India Chapter 9

  2. Learning objectives for Chapter 9 • Explain the rise and fall of the Mauryan dynasty. • Compare and contrast the emergence of regional kingdoms and the revival of empire in India. • Explain the rise of towns and trade across India during the classical period. • Explain important aspects of family life and the caste system. • Compare and contrast the features of classical Indian salvation religions. • Discuss the emergence and impact of popular Hinduism.

  3. The Mauryan and Gupta empires321 BCE - 550 CE

  4. India Before the Mauryan Dynasty • 520BCE: Persian Emperor Darius conquers north-west India • Introduces Persian ruling pattern • 327:Alexander of Macedon(Alexander the Great) destroys Persian Empire in India • Troops mutiny, departs after 2 years • Political power vacuum  no significant figure to claim rule after Alexander’s death

  5. Kingdom of Magadha • Most significant remaining kingdom after Alexander’s departure • Central Ganges plain • Economic strength • Agriculture • Trade in Ganges valley, Bay of Bengal • Dominated surrounding regions in north-eastern India

  6. Chandragupta Maurya • Took advantage of power vacuum left by Alexander • Overthrew Magadha rulers • Expanded kingdom to create 1st unified Indian empire  Mauryan Dynasty

  7. Chandragupta’s Government • Relied on tutelage of chief advisor Kautalya • Recorded in Arthashastra, manual of political statecraft • Foreign policies, economics • Domestic policies • Network of spies • Legend: Chandragupta retires to become a monk, starves himself to death  true?

  8. Ashoka Maurya • Grandson of Chandragupta • Represents high point of Mauryan Empire, r. 268-232 BCE • Expanded empire to include all of Indian subcontinent except for south • Positive rulership integrated Indian society • Much better known as a ruler than as a conqueror

  9. Decline of the Mauryan Empire • Economic crisis follows death of Ashoka • High costs ofbureaucracy, military not supported by tax revenue • Frequent devaluations of currency to pay salaries • Regions begin to abandon Mauryan Empire • Disappears by 185 BCE

  10. Regional Kingdom: Bactria • Northwestern India • Ruled by Greek-speaking descendants of Alexander’s campaigns • Intense cultural activity accompanies active trade

  11. Regional Kingdom: Kush • Northern India/Central Asia • C. 1-300 CE • Maintained silk road network

  12. The Gupta Dynasty • Based in Magadha • C. 320 CE: Founded by Chandra Gupta no relation to Chandragupta Maurya • CHANDRA GUPTA I: The “Great King of Kings” • Slightly smaller than Mauryan Empire • Highly decentralized leadership

  13. Gupta Decline • Frequent invasions of White Huns, 5th c. CE • Gupta Dynasty disintegrates along regional fault lines • Smaller local kingdoms dominate until Mughal Empire founded in 16th c.

  14. Economy: Towns and Manufacturing • Manufactured goods in big demand • Developed in dense network of small workshops • Trade intense, capitalizes on trade routes across India

  15. Long-Distance Trade • Persian connection since Cyrus, Darius • Massive road-building projects under Persian rule • Alexander extends trade west to Macedon • Trade routes through Kush mountains, the silk roads

  16. Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin • Seasonal sea trade expands • Impact of monsoons • Spring/summer winds blow from southwest • Fall/winterwinds blow from northeast • Trade from Asia to Persian Gulf and Red Sea, Mediterranean

  17. Society: Gender Relations • Patriarchy entrenched • Child marriage common (8-year-old girls married to men in 20s) • Women encouraged to remain in private sphere

  18. Social Order • Caste system from Aryan times • Brahmins (priests) • Kshatriyas (warriors, aristocrats) • Vaishyas (Peasants, merchants) • Shudras(serfs)

  19. Castes and Guilds • Increasing economic diversification challenges simplistic caste system • Jatisformed: guilds that acted as sub-castes • Enforced social order • “Outcastes” forced into low-status employment

  20. Wealth and the Social Order • Upward social mobility possible for Vaishyas, Shudras • Wealth challenges varna for status

  21. Religions of Salvation in Classical India • Social change generated resentment of caste privilege • e.g., Brahmins free from taxation • 6th-5th c. BCE: New religions and philosophies challenge status quo • Charvakas: atheists • Jainists, Buddhists

  22. Jainism • Founded by VardhamanaMahavira, 540-468 BCE • Abandoned privileged family to lead ascetic life • Promotes 7th c. movement based on Upanishads • Emphasis on selfless living, concern for all beings

  23. Ahimsa • AHIMSA: Principle of extreme non-violence key to Jainist thought • Jainists sweep earth, strain water, use slow movements to avoid killing insects • Ahimsa continues to inspire modern movements Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr.

  24. Appeal of Jainism • Rejected caste, jati distinctions • Obvious appeal to underprivileged groups • But asceticism too extreme to become a mass movement

  25. Early Buddhism • Siddhartha Gautama, c. 563-483 BCE • Encountered age, sickness, death, then monastic life • Abandoned comfortable life to become a monk

  26. Gautama’s Search for Enlightenment • Intense meditation, extreme asceticism • 49 days of meditation under bo tree (bodhi tree) to finally achieve enlightenment • Attained title Buddha:“the enlightened one”

  27. Basic information about Buddhism

  28. Basic information about Buddhism

  29. Basic information about Buddhism SOME FAMOUS BUDDHISTS…

  30. What is the role of the Four Noble Truths? The Buddha realized that life is ruled by The Four Noble Truths: • Life is filled with suffering. • Suffering is caused by desire. • Suffering can be ended if desire is eliminated. • To end desire, you must follow eight basic laws, called the Eightfold Path.

  31. How does the Eightfold Path lead to the end of desire? • The Wheel of Life is one of the most important symbols of Buddhism, as it represents the endless cycle of life through reincarnation and because each of its eight spokes represents one of the teachings of theEightfold Path.

  32. How does the Eightfold Path lead to the end of desire? The Eightfold Path • RIGHT VIEW:Know that suffering is caused by desire. • RIGHT INTENTIONS:Be selfless and love all life. • RIGHT SPEECH:Do not lie, or speak without cause. • RIGHT ACTION:Do not kill, steal, or commit other unrighteous acts.

  33. How does the Eightfold Path lead to the end of desire? The Eightfold Path • RIGHT LIVELIHOOD: Do not do things which promote evil. • RIGHT EFFORT:Take effort to promote righteousness. • RIGHT CONCENTRATION: Be aware of your physical actions, state of mind, and emotions. • RIGHT MINDFULNESS:Learn to meditate.

  34. What role does reincarnation play in Buddhist belief? • REINCARNATION: A stream of consciousness that links one life to the next • Ultimate goal = NIRVANANIRVANA:State of enlightenment when reincarnation ends

  35. What role does reincarnation play in Buddhist belief? • Buddhists believe in an endless cycle of reincarnation, or samsara,which is similar to beliefs of Hinduism. However, Buddhists do not believe that deities (gods) are responsible for the phenomenon.

  36. What role does reincarnation play in Buddhist belief? • In addition, the caste systemassociated with Hinduismis rejected by Buddhists who believe instead that one is reincarnated until they can achieve nirvana, best described as spiritual enlightenment.

  37. What role does reincarnation play in Buddhist belief? • The concept of reincarnation can best be illustrated using an infinity symbol:

  38. Gods? ROLE OF THE GODS • Enlightenment is sought after in place of the gods

  39. What do Buddhists hold as sacred? SACRED LITERATURE • TRIPITAKA: “Three Baskets of Wisdom” • Discipline • Discourse • Philosophy • Written teachings of Buddha • Legends told from generation to generation

  40. The Buddha and his Followers • C. 528 CE: Buddha begins teaching new doctrine • Followers owned only robes, food bowls • Life of wandering, begging, meditation • Establishment of monastic communities

  41. Buddha and his Disciples

  42. Appeal of Buddhism • Less dependence on Brahmins for ritual activities • No recognition of caste, jati status • Philosophy of moderate consumption • Public service through lay teaching  common man, not priests, teaching doctrine • Use of vernacular, not Sanskrit  the language of the day that people spoke

  43. A Buddhist Monastery

  44. How did Ashoka present positive reforms to Mauryan society? • ASHOKA: Grandson of Chandragupta • Chandragupta’s grandson ruled differently • Horrified by brutal war, he preached non-violence • Converted to Buddhism

  45. How did Ashoka present positive reforms to Mauryan society? • Tolerant of other religions • Unified the people of India and brought prosperity – brought empire to greatest heights

  46. Ashoka’s Support of Buddhism • Personal conversion to Buddhism • Disillusioned after violent war with Kalinga led to personal embrace of ahimsa • Banned animal sacrifices, mandated vegetarianism in court • Material support for Buddhist institutions, missionary activities

  47. Contributions of the Mauryan rulers • Trade flourished • Capital city of Pataliputra(on Ganges) • Schools and libraries built • Spread Buddhism • Unified India

  48. Gupta Empire (320-550 CE) • Came to rule after 500 years of the Mauryan Empire • India remained united under the Gupta Empire

  49. Gupta Empire (320-550 CE) • Northern people benefited from the geography • Himalayas kept out foreigners • Indus and Ganges Rivers provided water and fertile land • Period of peace and prosperity – “Golden Age” of ancient India

  50. Contributions of the Gupta Empire

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