India & Southeast Asia

The Vedic Age 1500-500 BCE

Aryas v.Dasas

Varna Class Structure =1. Brahmin (Priests/Scholars)2. Kshatriya (Warriors)3. Vaishya (Merchants)4. Shudra (Peasant/Laborers)5. Untouchables (Demeaning

work)

Jati = Subdivision of the 4 main Varna (Caste) Rules (Jobs, duties, interaction

among Jati groups)

Role of Women Worship via sacrifice Study, participate in rituals,

own property

Jainism, Buddhism & Hinduism

Jainism Founded by Mahavira 540-

468BCE Nonviolence to all living things

Buddhism (563-483 BCE) Founder: Siddhartha Gautama The Four Noble Truths /

Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

2 Sects = Mahayana (new) & Theravada (old)

Hinduism ‘What the Indians Do’ Reformed Vedic Religion Devotion to the gods: Vishnu

(North) or Shiva (South) & Devi (Goddess)=Creative/Destructive

Pilgrimage to holy sites/shrines Dominant Regional Religion

The Mauryan Empire 324-184 BCE Formed from Kingdom of Magadha

Strategic Geographic Location Agricultural & Iron Resources

Mauryan Government Capitol: Pataliputra Large Army 25% Agricultural Tax State Monopolies (mines, ships,

weapons)

Notable Leaders Founder: Chandragupta Maurya Ashoka = Buddhism becomes state

religion (Buddhist empire!)

Era (500 yrs) of Political Fragmentation Greco-Bactrian influence (NW) Literary Achievements (Sanskrit) Merchants became religious patrons 3 Tamil kingdoms = ‘Classical

Period’

The Gupta Empire 320-550 CE Kingdom of Magadha-Chandra Gupta

Controlled Central & Northern India

Copied Mauryan Govt. Structure Except: Weak military & theatre-state

Gupta Culture Trade with SE Asia Literacy / Mathematics Arabic

numerals & concept of zero Women = No right to own land,

treated like Shudra, married young, social status determined treatment

Religion = Hinduism / Tolerant Collapse = Military Spending (Huns)

Southern India Remained Independent Warrior Kingdoms (Pallavas & Cholas)

Southeast Asia 50-600 CE

3 Geographic Zones Indochina Mainland Malay Peninsula Islands

Natural Resources & Agriculture Fertile soil / Several Growing

Seasons Domestic Animals / Agricultural

Products Swidden = Slash & Burn

agriculture

Migrations Malay peoples from Southern

China

First Major State = Funan 1st thru 6th Century Mekong Delta (Rice Bowl)