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Home , Gupta Empire

Ancient & Its First

SSWH1b, 2a, 2c (/ ) SSWH1

• Analyze the origins, structures, and interactions of societies in the ancient world from 3500 BCE/BC to 500 BCE/BC. • b. Describe the societies of India and China, include: religion, culture, economics, politics, and technology. Geographic Features Indus River Valley • Mtns & deserts protected from invasion • Indus & Rivers à ferle plain (silt) • Monsoon winds

Geographic Features Environmental Challenges for Indus Valley • Floods unpredictable • River somemes changed course • Cycle of wet & dry seasons brought by monsoons was unpredictable – Too lile rain à crops failed, people went hungry – Too much rain à flooding, villages swept away Indus Valley: Politics & Religion • Planned Cities indicate a strong Central Government • A fortified citadel in the center of cities was likely a political & religious center Indus Valley: 2500 B.C. Technology

• City-States: Mohenjo-Daro & • Cities elevated with walls & levees to prevent flooding • Streets laid out in a grid system • Plumbing & city-wide sewage system – almost every house had a private bathroom w/ toilet • Homes constructed of baked brick Indus Valley: 2500 B.C.: Culture

• Do not know much about them b/c we can not decipher their writing • What we do know comes from the remains of the city & the artifacts that have been found • Archaeologists have found a large number of children’s toys and few weapons, indicating that these societies were generally peaceful. Indus Valley: Economy

• Agricultural • Evidence of trade with Middle East and 1500 B.C. Indo-European Aryans move to Indus River Valley • Different from people already living in India • Divided into 3 Social Classes: 1) Brahmans (priests) 2) Warriors 3) Peasants or Traders • Aryan class structure eventually became the caste system: 1) Brahmans (priests) * Info we 2) Kshatriyas (rulers & warriors) have comes 3) (peasants & traders) from the 4) Shudras (laborers) Vedas 5) **Untouchables Notes Quiz • What environmental issues did the Indus Valley have in common with Mesopotamia & Egypt? • What is an example of technology in the Indus Valley not mentioned in Mesopotamia & Egypt? • Why do we know so little about the culture of the Indus Valley? • How are all the river valleys similar in their economies? • What problems do you think a caste system would lead to?

• SSWH2 Identify the major achievements of Chinese and Indian societies to 500 CE/ AD. • a. Describe the development of Indian civilization, include: the rise and fall of the Maurya and Empires.

Persian Conquer India

• came through the Khyber Pass and conquered northwestern India. • 517-330 BC, Indus Valley was ruled by Persian satrap, or governor. – First time the Indians felt both the benefits (unity and order) and burdens of centralized control.

• 326 BC: Alexander the Great invaded India with the goal of unifying all of Northern India. • Only stayed for 5 years before giving up on his goal. • He left generals in his place to keep order among the people. Chandragupta Maurya

• 321 BC: Claimed throne after killing the unpopular Nanda King. – Start of the Mauryan . Chandragupta Maurya

• 321-298 BC: Chandragupta’s of 9,000 elephants and 700,000 soldiers trampled neighboring kingdoms. • United all of under his rule. – Indus Valley, Ganges Valley, and Southern . Chandragupta Maurya

• Divided Empire into 4 . – Each headed by a royal prince. – Each split into different districts with governors who would collect taxes.

“Government is the science of Punishment” -Chandragupta Maurya Chandragupta Maurya

• Chandragupta ruled by force and fear. • Planted government spies to make sure no one was planning a revolt. – (Like the one he planned when he killed the Nanda King!!!) • Trusted no one. – Made the chef taste his meal before he would eat it. – Slept in a different room each night in order to make sure no one would kill him in his sleep. Chandragupta Maurya

• 301 BC: Gave up the throne and converted to . • Jains taught nonviolence and respect for all life. • Joined in the Jainist custom of fasting until he starved to death. Chandragupta’s Son

• 301 BC: Ruled for 32 years. Little is known about his rule.

Ashoka’s Warlike Behavior

• 269 BC: Ashoka took the throne of the Mauryan Empire. • At first he was warlike. – He waged a bloody war against the neighboring state of Kalinga. • 100,000 soldiers were slain and even more civilians perished. Asoka’s Good Works

• Filled Asoka with remorse and he decided to rule according to Buddha’s teachings of “peace to all beings”. – He sent out an apology to the southern tribes and promised kind treatment in the future. Asoka’s Good Works

• Ordered huge pillars to be erected inscribed with a public announcement of his new policies. – Promoted religious tolerance. • Built roads with wells and rest houses every 9 miles so travelers could rest.

Asoka

• Instead of spies, Asoka employed “officials of righteousness” to look out for the welfare of Indians of every caste. – They were there to help the unfortunate.

Asoka

• Sent hundreds of Buddhist missionaries to neighboring lands such as Ceylon. • Thanks to Asoka, Buddhism spread far beyond India and became a major world religion with millions of followers. Asoka’s Death

• 232 BC: Last strong ruler of the Mauryan dynasty. • His policies of toleration and nonviolence failed to hold the Mauryan Empire together. • 180 BC: Mauryan Empire torn apart by rivalry among local provinces. Start of the

• Chandra Gupta I married the daughter of an influential . • 320 AD: Chandra Gupta I crowned King of upper Ganges Valley. – “ of Kings” Start of the Gupta Empire

• His reign brought the “” to India. • Gupta Dynasty ruled a mighty Empire from 320-467 AD. Samudra Gupta

• Chandra Gupta’s son. • 335 AD: Crowned King of the Gupta Empire. – Expanded the Empire through 40 years of conquest.

Daily Life in the Gupta Empire

• First period that historians have a lot of information about the daily life. • Most Indians lived in small villages. • Majority were farmers. • Most families were patriarchal. – Headed by the eldest male. • Tax on water. • Farmers owed a large part of their earnings to the King. Southern India Daily Life

• The Tamil, were matriarchal. – Headed by the mother rather than the father. Height of the Gupta Empire

• 3rd Gupta 375-415 AD: – Chandra Gupta II, created a place that was full of excitement and growth. – Praised for his heroic qualities. • Defeated the Shakas: – Enemies to the west. After defeating them he added their coastal territory to his empire. – This allowed the Guptas to trade with the Mediterranean world.

Gupta Empire Decline

• 425 AD: Chandra Gupta II died. • New invaders threatened North India: – The Hunas: • Related to the . • Over the next 100 years, the Gupta Empire broke into small kingdoms. – Many were overrun by the Hunas. • 535 AD: Empire ended. • SSWH2c. Explain the development and impact of Hinduism and Buddhism on India, and Confucianism on China.

Hinduism

• FOUNDER: – No Founder – Collecon of religious beliefs that developed over centuries Hinduism

• WHO BELIEVERS WORSHIP: – Brahma (The Creator) – (The Protector) – (The Destroyer) • *There are many other gods Hinduism

• LEADERS: – Guru – Brahman priest Hinduism

• SACRED TEXTS: – Vedas • 4 collecons of prayers, magical spells, and instrucons for performing rituals – Upanishads • Teachers comments in response to the Vedic hymns- wrien as dialogue Hinduism

• BASIC BELIEFS: – Reincarnaon • Rebirth of an individual’s soul unl a perfect state is achieved – Follow path of right thinking, right acon, & religious devoon – Karma (person’s good or bad deeds) follows the person from one reincarnaon to another – Ulmate Goal = moksha (state of perfect understanding) Hinduism

• MODERN-DAY TRADITIONS: – Freedom to choose among three paths for achieving moksha and the deity to worship – Hindu religion dominates daily life Hinduism

• ATTITUDE TOWARD CASTE SYSTEM: – Ideas of karma & reincarnaon strengthened the caste system Buddhism

• FOUNDER: – Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha) Buddhism

• WHO BELIEVERS WORSHIP: – Buddhists do not worship a god Buddhism

• LEADERS: – Buddhist monks & nuns Buddhism

• SACRED TEXTS: – Verses of Righteousness – Wrien teachings of Buddha & his legends – How-To-Meditate manuals – Rules about monasc life (life in a monastery) Buddhism * Main ideas come from Four Noble Truths • BASIC BELIEFS: – Seek a state of enlightenment (wisdom) – Ulmate Goal = Nirvana (release from selfishness & pain) Four Noble Truths: Eighold Path: 1. Life is filled with suffering & 1. Right Views sorrow 2. Right Resolve 2. The cause of all suffering is 3. Right Speech selfish desire for temporary 4. Right Conduct pleasures 5. Right Livelihood 3. The way to end all suffering is to end all desires 6. Right Effort 7. Right Mindfulness 4. The way to overcome desires is to follow the Eighold Path 8. Right Concentraon Buddhism

• Separated into 2 sects: (New school) and Theravada (Old School) Buddhism

• MODERN-DAY TRADITIONS: – Pilgrimages to sites associated with Buddha’s life – Performing of Buddhist worship rituals Buddhism

• ATTITUDE TOWARD CASTE SYSTEM: – Rejected caste system Spread of Buddhism • How? – Traders (*Most Important) – Missionaries