Classical IndiaClassical IndiaFoundations: 600 BCE – Foundations: 600 BCE –

600 CE600 CE

Origins in IndiaOrigins in India

‘‘Periods’Periods’•Harrapans (river valley) Harrapans (river valley) •Aryans (invasion from NW) 1700-500 BCEAryans (invasion from NW) 1700-500 BCE•Invaded by Alexander the Great 327-325 BCEInvaded by Alexander the Great 327-325 BCE•Divided into regional statesDivided into regional states•United; Mauryan Dynasty 321 – 230s BCE United; Mauryan Dynasty 321 – 230s BCE •Invaded by Kushans (ended by 220 CE)Invaded by Kushans (ended by 220 CE)•Divided into regions Divided into regions •Gupta Dynasty 320 - 450 CE Gupta Dynasty 320 - 450 CE •Huns invade 450 CE Huns invade 450 CE

Influences of GeographyInfluences of Geography• Partially separated Partially separated from Asia by from Asia by Himalayas (Khyber Himalayas (Khyber Pass - Indo-Pass - Indo-Europeans)Europeans)

• Monsoon: wind Monsoon: wind patternspatterns; cause rain ; cause rain in summer essential in summer essential for farmingfor farming

• Close proximity to Close proximity to Middle East Middle East

• Himalayas - herding Himalayas - herding society society

Aryan Migration/invasion

Years vary from book to book but approximately 1700- 500B CE

Chandragupta: Chandragupta: 321 -321 -298 BCE298 BCE

Unified northern India - Created the Unified northern India - Created the Mauryan DynastyMauryan Dynasty

Before: 16 major states; led by Before: 16 major states; led by warriors, princes and priestswarriors, princes and priests

Autocratic, military based ruleAutocratic, military based rule Divided his empire intoDivided his empire into provinces, then districts provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law for tax assessments and law enforcement. enforcement.Bureaucracy Bureaucracy 301 BCE 301 BCE gave up his throne & gave up his throne & becamebecame religious religious Grandson Ashoka the Grandson Ashoka the GreatGreat

Ashoka Ashoka (273 – 232 BCE)(273 – 232 BCE) Religious conversion Religious conversion after the gruesome after the gruesome battle of battle of KalingaKalinga in in 262 BCE. 262 BCE. Dedicated his life to Dedicated his life to Buddhism - Promoted Buddhism; Buddhism - Promoted Buddhism; tolerated Hinduism tolerated Hinduism Built extensive roads for tradeBuilt extensive roads for trade ConflictConflict balance methods of balance methods of keeping power and Buddha’s keeping power and Buddha’s demands to of a selfless person?demands to of a selfless person?

Invaded by Kushans, then Invaded by Kushans, then a power Vacuuma power Vacuum: 220 BCE – : 220 BCE –

320 CE320 CE

TamilsTamils

The Maurya Empire is divided into many The Maurya Empire is divided into many kingdoms.kingdoms.

The Gupta EmpireThe Gupta Empire

•Height of Classical India Height of Classical India •320 CE - 450 CE320 CE - 450 CE•Favored negotiations over warFavored negotiations over war•Greatest period of political Greatest period of political stabilitystability– Still dependent on regional princesStill dependent on regional princes– No powerful individual rulersNo powerful individual rulers

MedicineMedicine LiteratureLiterature

MathematicsMathematicsAstronomyAstronomy

PrintedPrintedmedicinal medicinal guidesguides

1000 diseases1000 diseasesclassifiedclassified

PlasticPlasticSurgerySurgery

C-C-sectionssectionsperformedperformed

InoculatiInoculationsons

500 healing500 healingplants plants

identifiedidentified

DecimalDecimalSystemSystem

ConceptConceptof Zeroof Zero

PI = PI = 3.14163.1416

KamasutraKamasutra

SolarSolarCalendarCalendar

The The earthearth

is roundis round

GuptaGuptaIndiaIndia

Gupta Gupta AchievemenAchievemen

tsts

Extensive Extensive Trade:Trade:

4th century CE4th century CEspices

spices

spicesspices

gold &

gold &

ivoryivory

gold & gold & ivoryivory

rice & rice & wheatwheathorseshorses

cotton goo

dscotto

n goods

cotton goo

dscotto

n goodssilk

ssilk

s

What is the Caste What is the Caste System? How was Society System? How was Society

Divided?Divided?•Created by the Indo-EuropeansCreated by the Indo-Europeans•Organized into special groups Organized into special groups (castes) that determined (castes) that determined everything from your job, to everything from your job, to your political rights, to your your political rights, to your religious beliefs, and who you religious beliefs, and who you would marry would marry

Varna (Social Hierarchy)

ShudrasShudras

VaishyasVaishyas

Kshatriyas Kshatriyas

BrahminsBrahmins

Pariahs- Untouchables

priests, scholars and teachers

warriors and rulers

traders and agriculturists

manual workers

Within each Varna are Jati, smaller groups which you are to socialize and marry

within, often based on jobs