Early Indian Civilizations

From Neolithic Origins to 300 CE

Agenda • Notes- Early India, Religion & Culture,

Mauryan Empire • Discussion- Laws of Manu, Hinduism &

Buddhism • Small Group- Networks of Exchange • Quiz 4 (Qin and Han)

Introduction

Israel

Egypt

Mesopotamia ChinaEarly India

Introduction- India

Introduction• Indian subcontinent produced three major religious

traditions

• India retained fundamental social stability despite political upheaval

• Functioned as matrix for networks of trade and cultural diffusion

Early India • “India”- Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan,

Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

• Geographic borders- Indian Ocean, Himalayas

• River systems- Indus and Ganges Rivers

The Indus Civilization

• 2500-1500 BCE

• Civilization appeared along Indus River

• Repeated earlier Mesopotamian pattern (Neolithic farmers- river valley- cities)

• Harappa/ Mohenjo-Daro

The Indus Civilization• Urban centers had writing system, standard

weights

• First to domesticate chickens, grow cotton for textiles

• Used copper, bronze for tools

• Trade established with Mesopotamia

3:45

Mohenjo-Daro- Artifact

• What inferences can be made about this artifact?

• For what purpose was it created?

Early Vedic Age• 1900-1000 BCE

• Arrival of the Aryans (conquerers, slow infusion)

• Put an end to Indus civilization

• Conquered, assimilated, or drove native Dravidians to southern India

Early Vedic Age• Aryans were...

• Indo-Europeans, spoke Sanskrit, used chariots

• Pastoral people, counted wealth in cattle

• Effective warriors , used horse-drawn chariots

Early Vedic Age• Aryan priests- Brahmans (high place in society)

• Gods- Indra, Agni, Varuna, Mitra

• Varnas (social classes)- Nobles, commoners, non-Aryan conquered people

Later Vedic Age• 1000-600 BCE

• Aryans had mastered iron metallurgy

• Some states were oligarchic republic

• Led by Raja (king)

• Taxes, building projects common

Later Vedic Age• Three pillars of society- village, caste, and

family

• Formation of the caste system (From Brahman to Untouchable)

• Three-generation household led by patriarch (Laws of Manu)

:56

The Laws of Manu• Read the excerpts from the Laws of

Manu.

• Discussion- Explain the importance of social classes in early India.

Religion and Culture 600-320 BCE

• The Upanishads (texts that form the basis of Hinduism) introduced new concepts

• Transmigration of the soul

• Karma, Dharma, Samsara

• Soul seeks union with Brahman

Religion and Culture 600-320 BCE

• The Jains, defenders of all beings

• Jainism, “most Indian” of non-Vedic religions

• All beings have souls, jiva

• Ahimsa, non-violence, requires respect for all forms of life

• Small numbers, very influential

Religion and Culture 600-320 BCE

• Buddhism- The Middle Way

• Gautama Buddha- experienced the “Great Awakening”

• Gave “Four Noble Truths”

• Suffering dominates experience, caused by desire, ends when nirvana is achieved, path leads to nirvana

Religion and Culture 600-320 BCE

• “The Noble Eightfold Path”

• Accept and act according to the Four Noble Truths

• Words and deeds in accordance with the Five Moral Precepts

• Importance of meditation

Religion and Culture 600-320 BCE

1. Right view or understanding

2. Right attitude- acting from love and compassion

3. Right speech- clear, truthful communication

4. Right action- non-exploitation of others

5. Right livelihood- based on correct action, ideal society

6. Right effort- complete or full effort, energy or vitality

7. Right mindfulness- complete or thorough awareness of yourself, others

8. Right concentration- be fixed, absorbed in or established at one point.

Religion and Culture 600-320 BCE

• Buddhists revere Buddha’s teachings

• Monks- wear yellow or orange robes , live in monastic communities

• Monks who reached nirvana known as arhats

• Buddhism universal in its approach

Hinduism and Buddhism • Discussion-

• Explain the similarities.

• Explain the differences.

The Mauryan Empire

• 326-184 BCE

• Founded by Chandragupta Mauryan

• At peak, ruled most of Indian subcontinent

• Enlarged territory after defeating Alexander the Great’s successor

The Mauryan Empire

The Mauryan Empire• Capital at Patna, large sophisticated city

• Most effective government until British rule

• Provinces, districts, villages, all under legal code

• 700,000-man army

The Mauryan Empire• Ashoka- India’s Greatest King (269-232

BCE)

• Adopted principle of ahimsa

• Enlightened lawgiver, convert to Buddhism

• Helped spread Buddhism beyond India

The Mauryan Empire• The fall of the empire began immediately

after Ashoka’s death (5 centuries of anarchy)

• Invaders took advantage- Bactrian Greeks, Kushans

• Possibilities- reaction to Buddhism, nonviolence left India vulnerable

Emergent Hinduism• 200 BCE- 300 CE

• Tolerant religion- cycle of birth, death, and rebirth

• Accumulation of good actions aids in the cycle

• Beliefs in karma, dharma, and reincarnation gave support to caste system

Emergent Hinduism• Vishnu- pacific father-god, comforter, savior,

appeared in human form nine times

• Shiva- cosmic force of change that destroys to build anew (spouse- Parvati)

• Devi- goddess, appears as tender mother, ferocious warrior

Emergent Hinduism• Mahabharata- world’s longest work of literature

• Similar to the Iliad

• Includes the Bhagavad-Gita (stressed performance of duty)

• Krishna reveals wisdom

Buddhism after the Buddha

• Mahayana Buddhism (“Great Vehicle” Movement)

• Began 100 BCE in response to Buddhism

• Stressed dharma, compassion for others

• Spread to Tibet, Korea, Japan, China

Buddhism after the Buddha

• Theravada Buddhism- older form of Buddhism

• Stressed attainment of nirvana

• Seeks to eliminate separate identity and attain absorption into spirit

• Spread to Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia

Buddhism after the Buddha

Networks of Exchange

• Research and bring in an item that was traded in the Indian Ocean Trading network.

1.What is your item?

2.Where was your item produced? Where was it traded to?

3.Analyze the significance of your item in the global network.

Networks of Exchange • Extensive east-west trade

• Han China, India, Roman Empire, and others

• Trade via caravan route across Asia

• Trade via sea route facilitated by monsoons

Networks of Exchange • Romans sought luxury goods- cotton, silk, ivory,

pearls, spices

• Indian built magnificent palaces

• Middlemen (Parthians, Kushans) profited

• Travelers, envoys, pilgrims, missionaries followed

Conclusion• Three major religions evolved in India- Hinduism,

Jainism, Buddhism

• Indian philosophy tends to justify and explain social order

• Classical Indian religion, philosophy, and traditions endure today

Quiz 4

•Provide a 2-3 sentence response to each question including historical evidence and perspective.

•1. What are the Vedas and what do they teach us about early Indian societies?

•2. Define karma, dharma, and the transmigration of the soul, and explain how these concepts related to the social structure of early India.

•3. Compare the political, social and economic contributions of Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka.