Copyright 2007, Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman

I. The Age of Brahmin Dominance II. An Era of Widespread Social Change III. Religious Ferment and the Rise of Buddhism IV. The Mauryas V. Brahminical Recovery and the Splendors of the Gupta Age

I. The Age of Brahmin Dominance

II. An Era of Widespread Social Change

III. Religious Ferment and the Rise of Buddhism

IV. The Mauryas

V. Brahminical Recovery and the Splendors of the Gupta Age

I. The Age of Brahmin Dominance A. The Kingdoms of the Gangetic Plains Aryan settlers Into Ganges plain after 1000 B.C.E. Small states Warrior councils Brahmins dominate Dramatic changes from Harappan period B. Sources of Brahmin Power Mediators Perform rites Monopoly on literacy Vedic texts Sanskrit Special status Inviolate, exempt from taxes

I. The Age of Brahmin Dominance

A. The Kingdoms of the Gangetic Plains

Aryan settlers

Into Ganges plain after 1000 B.C.E.

Small states

Warrior councils

Brahmins dominate

Dramatic changes from Harappan period

B. Sources of Brahmin Power

Mediators

Perform rites

Monopoly on literacy

Vedic texts

Sanskrit

Special status

Inviolate, exempt from taxes

II. An Era of Widespread Social Change Economic changes Towns grow Merchants, artisans more important Pastoralism replaced by agriculture Peasant villages proliferate A. The Caste System Varnas, categories; based on pollution Brahmins Warriors Merchants Peasants Artisans Untouchables Status ( dharma ) determined by birth Transmigration of souls Karma

II. An Era of Widespread Social Change

Economic changes

Towns grow

Merchants, artisans more important

Pastoralism replaced by agriculture

Peasant villages proliferate

A. The Caste System

Varnas, categories; based on pollution

Brahmins

Warriors

Merchants

Peasants

Artisans

Untouchables

Status ( dharma ) determined by birth

Transmigration of souls

Karma

II. An Era of Widespread Social Change B. The Family and the Changing Status of Women Extended family only among higher castes Most families nuclear Women subordinate Mahabharata and Ramayana Epics From earlier period of greater freedom for women C. The End of an Era Social and armed conflict lead to unrest

II. An Era of Widespread Social Change

B. The Family and the Changing Status of Women

Extended family only among higher castes

Most families nuclear

Women subordinate

Mahabharata and Ramayana

Epics

From earlier period of greater freedom for women

C. The End of an Era

Social and armed conflict lead to unrest

III. Religious Ferment and the Rise of Buddhism Widespread changes in 500s, 400s B.C.E. China: Confucius, Laozi Persia: Zoroaster Israel: prophets Greece: classical philosophers India: Buddha A. The Making of a Religious Teacher Buddha, born in 6th century B.C.E. Takes to wandering life, asceticism Four Noble Truths Escape suffering by renouncing worldly things Achievement of nirvana Followers Form principles into religion Worship Buddha as god Dissension Good works v. contemplative life

III. Religious Ferment and the Rise of Buddhism

Widespread changes in 500s, 400s B.C.E.

China: Confucius, Laozi Persia: Zoroaster

Israel: prophets Greece: classical philosophers

India: Buddha

A. The Making of a Religious Teacher

Buddha, born in 6th century B.C.E.

Takes to wandering life, asceticism

Four Noble Truths

Escape suffering by renouncing worldly things

Achievement of nirvana

Followers

Form principles into religion

Worship Buddha as god

Dissension

Good works v. contemplative life

III. Religious Ferment and the Rise of Buddhism B. The Buddhist Challenge Challenges to Brahmins Buddha denies Vedas as scripture Critique of caste system Untouchables and women can gain nirvana Monasteries open to all C. The Greek Interlude Alexander the Great, 327 B.C.E. Contact between India and Hellenistic world improves Greek mathematics and astronomy Indian religious ideas Stoics and mystery religions influenced Synthesis of sculptural traditions

III. Religious Ferment and the Rise of Buddhism

B. The Buddhist Challenge

Challenges to Brahmins Buddha denies Vedas as scripture

Critique of caste system

Untouchables and women can gain nirvana

Monasteries open to all

C. The Greek Interlude

Alexander the Great, 327 B.C.E.

Contact between India and Hellenistic world improves

Greek mathematics and astronomy

Indian religious ideas

Stoics and mystery religions influenced

Synthesis of sculptural traditions

IV. The Mauryas A. The Rise of the Mauryas Alexander's retreat leaves vacuum Chandragupta Maurya Forms empire Absolute monarch Arthashastra , Kautilya Influential treatise Successors extend empire

IV. The Mauryas

A. The Rise of the Mauryas

Alexander's retreat leaves vacuum

Chandragupta Maurya Forms empire

Absolute monarch

Arthashastra , Kautilya

Influential treatise

Successors extend empire

IV. The Mauryas B. Ashoka’s Conversion and the Flowering of Buddhism in the Mauryan Age Ashoka Grandson of Chandragupta Conversion to Buddhism Becomes pacific, vegetarian Infrastructure: roads, hospitals, inns Opposed by Brahmins Buddhism extended to Sri Lanka, Himalayan kingdoms, central Asia Thence to Burma, Java, southeast Asia, Tibet, China, beyond C. Imperial Patronage and Social Change Merchants, artisans benefit Women's status improves Monasteries spread Stupas Ashoka’s Death Successors less competent Division follows By 185 B.C.E. , empire ended

IV. The Mauryas

B. Ashoka’s Conversion and the Flowering of Buddhism in the Mauryan Age

Ashoka Grandson of Chandragupta

Conversion to Buddhism

Becomes pacific, vegetarian Infrastructure: roads, hospitals, inns

Opposed by Brahmins

Buddhism extended to Sri Lanka, Himalayan kingdoms, central Asia

Thence to Burma, Java, southeast Asia, Tibet, China, beyond

C. Imperial Patronage and Social Change

Merchants, artisans benefit

Women's status improves Monasteries spread

Stupas

Ashoka’s Death Successors less competent

Division follows

By 185 B.C.E. , empire ended

V. Brahminical Recovery and the Splendors of the Gupta Age A. Three religions compete Buddhism Loses popular appeal: Monastic isolation, scholarship Serve wealthy Association with international trade As trade declines, so does Buddhism Hinduism Widens appeal Individual worship More frequent, humble offerings Shiva, Vishnu, Kali, Lakshmi dominate Temples more common More participation: all castes, women somewhat Adopts Buddhism Brahmins appeal to elites Upanishads The Gupta Empire

V. Brahminical Recovery and the Splendors of the Gupta Age

A. Three religions compete

Buddhism

Loses popular appeal:

Monastic isolation, scholarship

Serve wealthy

Association with international trade

As trade declines, so does Buddhism

Hinduism

Widens appeal

Individual worship

More frequent, humble offerings

Shiva, Vishnu, Kali, Lakshmi dominate

Temples more common

More participation: all castes, women somewhat

Adopts Buddhism

Brahmins appeal to elites

Upanishads

V. Brahminical Recovery and the Splendors of the Gupta Age B. The Gupta Empire Gupta family By 4th century C.E. , build empire Allow autonomy of elites A Hindu Renaissance Brahmins restored as royal supporters Educate elite Stimulate artistic, scientific rebirth Hindu temples Urban centers Stimulate urban growth Literature and the Sciences Kalidasa Poet Mathematics Zero, decimals, "Arabic" number system Medicine Hospitals, surgery

V. Brahminical Recovery and the Splendors of the Gupta Age

B. The Gupta Empire

Gupta family

By 4th century C.E. , build empire

Allow autonomy of elites

A Hindu Renaissance

Brahmins restored as royal supporters

Educate elite

Stimulate artistic, scientific rebirth

Hindu temples

Urban centers

Stimulate urban growth

Literature and the Sciences

Kalidasa

Poet

Mathematics

Zero, decimals, "Arabic" number system

Medicine

Hospitals, surgery

V. Brahminical Recovery and the Splendors of the Gupta Age C. Intensifying Caste and Gender Iniquities Distinctions more rigid Status of women reduced No longer allowed to read the Vedas Permanent legal minority Female infanticide more common in some regions The Pleasures of an Elite Life Four stages of ideal life Youth: study, diversion Householder, raise sons, increase family position Ascetic, meditation Holy life Lifestyles of the Ordinary People More freedom for lower-caste women Festivals, social gatherings D. Gupta Decline Hun invasions, 400s C.E. Local rulers profit Fragmentation

V. Brahminical Recovery and the Splendors of the Gupta Age C. Intensifying Caste and Gender Iniquities

Distinctions more rigid

Status of women reduced

No longer allowed to read the Vedas Permanent legal minority

Female infanticide more common in some regions

The Pleasures of an Elite Life Four stages of ideal life

Youth: study, diversion

Householder, raise sons, increase family position

Ascetic, meditation

Holy life

Lifestyles of the Ordinary People

More freedom for lower-caste women

Festivals, social gatherings

D. Gupta Decline

Hun invasions, 400s C.E.

Local rulers profit

Fragmentation