Ancient Civilizations: India

Ancient Ancient Civilizations:Civilizations:IndiaIndia

Maurya & Gupta Maurya & Gupta EmpiresEmpires

Geography Geography & &

EnvironmeEnvironmentnt

•On which On which continent continent is is India India located?located?

•Asia; India is a Asia; India is a subcontinentsubcontinent of of Asia Asia

The The GeographyGeography

The GeographyThe Geography•On which On which riverriver did the did the

ancient Indians settle?ancient Indians settle?•The Indus & The Indus &

Ganges Ganges Rivers Rivers

Early Indian Early Indian EmpiresEmpires

The The Mauryan Mauryan EmpireEmpire

Mauryan Mauryan EmpireEmpire

•Established in 322 BC by Established in 322 BC by the great Indian military the great Indian military leader, Chandragupta leader, Chandragupta Maurya Maurya

Mauryan Mauryan EmpireEmpire

•Politically united North India Politically united North India for the first time everfor the first time ever

•Created a highly effective Created a highly effective government; included tax government; included tax collection & the collection & the enforcement of lawsenforcement of laws

•In 269 BC Asoka, In 269 BC Asoka, Chandragupta’s Chandragupta’s grandson, grandson, became emperor became emperor of the of the Mauryan Mauryan EmpireEmpire

Mauryan Mauryan EmpireEmpire

Mauryan Mauryan EmpireEmpire

•After many After many years of years of violent violent conquest, conquest, Asoka felt Asoka felt remorseful remorseful

Mauryan Mauryan EmpireEmpire

•Converted to Buddhism & Converted to Buddhism & ruled by Buddha’s teaching ruled by Buddha’s teaching of “peace to all beings”of “peace to all beings”

•Spread Buddhism Spread Buddhism throughout India & other throughout India & other parts of Asia via missionariesparts of Asia via missionaries

•Laws carved on Laws carved on rock pillars were rock pillars were placed placed throughout throughout the empire the empire

•Stressed concern Stressed concern for other human for other human beingsbeings

Asoka’s Rock Asoka’s Rock EdictsEdicts

The Gupta The Gupta EmpireEmpire

Gupta EmpireGupta Empire•After the fall of the Mauryan After the fall of the Mauryan

Empire India experienced 500 Empire India experienced 500 years of chaosyears of chaos

•Finally in AD 320 a strong Finally in AD 320 a strong leader known as Chandra leader known as Chandra Gupta rose to power in Gupta rose to power in Northern IndiaNorthern India

•320 AD to 320 AD to 535 AD 535 AD

•India’s India’s “Golden “Golden Age,” or Age,” or the flourishing of arts & the flourishing of arts & sciencessciences

Gupta Gupta EmpireEmpire

Gupta’s Golden Gupta’s Golden AgeAge

•Achievements in Achievements in Mathematics:Mathematics:

•Principles of algebraPrinciples of algebra•Infinity & ZeroInfinity & Zero•Value of PiValue of Pi•Arabic numerals Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3… 1, 2, 3…

Gupta’s Golden Gupta’s Golden AgeAge

•Achievements in Science:Achievements in Science:•Earth is roundEarth is round•Identified 7 planetsIdentified 7 planets•Invented medical Invented medical

instruments, performed instruments, performed operations, set bones, etc.operations, set bones, etc.

The The THREE THREE

PILLARS of PILLARS of Indian LifeIndian Life

•The Caste SystemThe Caste System::•System of social System of social

hierarchy within hierarchy within IndiaIndia

•5 different castes 5 different castes (social classes)(social classes)

1) The Caste 1) The Caste SystemSystem

Brahmins

Kshatriyas

Vaisyas

SudrasSudras

Cast

e

Cast

e Sy

stem

Syst

em

PriestsPriests

Nobles, warriors, Nobles, warriors, royaltyroyalty

Merchants & Merchants & skilled workersskilled workers

Servants, peasants, Servants, peasants, slaves, laborersslaves, laborers

Untouchables:Untouchables: Outcasts = outside caste system Outcasts = outside caste system

Caste Purity?Caste Purity?•Members of higher castes Members of higher castes

were considered more purewere considered more pure•Untouchables were Untouchables were

considered spiritually considered spiritually polluted; ignored by polluted; ignored by members of other castesmembers of other castes

Caste RolesCaste Roles•Different castes were viewed Different castes were viewed

as being different as being different speciesspecies•Castes were separated from Castes were separated from

each other (location, each other (location, housing, clothing, housing, clothing, occupation, etc.)occupation, etc.)

Caste Caste RolesRoles

•If you were If you were obedient to obedient to the restrictions of the restrictions of your caste, you your caste, you would be would be reincarnated reincarnated into a higher into a higher castecaste

2) Family2) Family•One was aware of his or her One was aware of his or her

caste from childhoodcaste from childhood•It was the FAMILY’S It was the FAMILY’S

responsibility to teach responsibility to teach children about caste, as well children about caste, as well as their expected as their expected duties/behaviors duties/behaviors

2) Family2) Family•Family needs ALWAYS came Family needs ALWAYS came

before before individual individual wishes wishes

•Patriarchal Patriarchal society society

3) Village3) Village•Community Community

served as the served as the heart of Indian heart of Indian lifelife

•Community needs ALWAYS Community needs ALWAYS came before individual came before individual wisheswishes

3) Village3) Village•Different castes lived Different castes lived

together in the SAME villagetogether in the SAME village•WHY IS THIS SO?WHY IS THIS SO?

The Indian Caste System – An Introduction

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh_xvKLhZHg