Transcript State, Society, and the Quest for Salvation in India

State, Society, and the Quest for
Salvation in India
Chapter 9
Empire in Classical India
• Large regional kingdoms, but none with
hegemony over others
• Learned administration methods from Persians
• Alexander the Great invaded, but within 200
years, withdrew leaving political vacuum
• Kingdom of Magadha became wealthy, conquered
others and gained economic control
Chandragupta Maurya
• -> foundation for empire (centralized, unified)
• Relied on advisor: bureaucracy, spies, control of
trade and agriculture, foreign relations
• Abdicated to become ascetic monk
– 297 BCE: succeeded by son, expanded
Ashoka Maurya
• 268-232 BCE: grandson, Ashoka ruled
– conquered Kalinga (who controlled trade routes) –
very bloody
– Good at governing:
• bureaucracy,
• cosmopolitan capital (Pataliputra),
• stone and pillar edicts,
• well-integrated (stable and rich – irrigation
agriculture and trade roads with shade, wells, and
inns)
Decline of the Mauryan Empire
• 232 BCE: Ashoka died and empire declined within
50 years
– Economic problems: bureaucrats’ salaries too high,
currency debased
Regional Kingdoms & Revival of Empire
• Kingdoms re-formed, while NW was under
control of Greek-speaking Bactrian kingdom
– Acted as middlemen between China and
Mediterranean trade through Taxila
• Kushans invaded and took over Bactria, forming
an empire
– Facilitated trade between India and silk roads by
keeping the peace
The Gupta Dynasty
• Chandra Gupta laid foundations for empire
through family alliances and formed kingdom
• Expanded, forming and empire (took over some,
form tributary alliances with others)
• Smaller than Maurya with different organization
– More decentralized (local admin. And basic policy left
to regional allies)
– Created period of stability
and prosperity
Gupta Decline
• Invasion of White Huns (C. Asian nomads)
– Fought them at first, but at high cost
– Established kingdoms throughout N and W India
• Gupta continued as name was used by regional
leaders
• -> back to regional kingdoms
Economic Development: Towns & Trade
• Towns: marketplaces for manufactured goods and
luxury items
• Trade along rivers, Ashoka’s roads, and sea routes
(monsoon winds(
– Increased as other empires developed more
manufacturing (Persia, Greece, China)
– Exports: cotton, aromatics, black pepper,
pearls, gems
– Imports: horses and bullion (W), silk (E),
spices (SE Asia)
Family Life
• Strong patriarchal families and social order
– Nuclear families
– Women were subordinate (weak-willed, emotional)
• Increased in C.E. -> child marriage
Caste System
• With increase in trade, new groups formed who
didn’t fit system (merchants and artisans)
• Formed guilds who lived together in
neighborhoods, socialized, intermarried = jati
– Jati organized courts to deal with members (could be
expelled -> low, unclean)
– Jati took on role of central government
• Wealth challenged social order as lower groups
prospered through trade and industry
Religions of Salvation in Classical Indi
• Importance of brahmins decreased and
resentment increased
• -> emergence of new religions and
philosophies in 6th and 5th centuries BCE
Jainism
• Founder = Vardhamana Mahavita: left home,
ascetic, enlightenment
• Disciples formed monastic order and spread his
message
• Doctrine from Upanishads: everything has a soul,
suffering, be pure from selfish behavior (ahimsa)
to be released
• Difficult, because all
occupations involve violence
Jainism (cont.)
• Appeal: no social hierarchy -> popular with low
castes, plus merchants, scholars, etc. who did
little violence
• Never became too popular, but influenced
Hinduism, Buddhism, Gandhi, MLK, Jr.
Early Buddhism
• 534 BCE: Siddhartha Gautama became ascetic in
search of enlightenment and explanation of
suffering
• Through meditation and extreme asceticism,
received it and became the Buddha
• Gave sermons (Deer Park) and attracted followers
organized in monastic order
Early Buddhism (cont.)
• Doctrine: 4 noble truths
– All life involves suffering
– Desire causes suffering
– Elimination of desire will eliminate suffering
– Eliminate desire by following the Eightfold Path (right
behavior, etc.)
• Eventually, escape cycle of reincarnation ->
nirvana
Early Buddhism
• Appeal:
– No caste system, less emphasis on asceticism
– Used vernacular language
– Focal points = holy sites
– Organization – monasteries
– Support of Ashoka (Kalinga, banned sacrifice, land
grants, stupas and monasteries, pilgrimages,
missionaries)
Mahayana Buddhism
• Still, difficult to live it completely -> 3 changes
made it easier
– Buddha = God (devotional focus)
– Boddhistava to help guide members
– Monasteries accepted gifts for salvation
(also, became education centers)
• => Mahayana (the greater vehicle) (traditional =
Theravada)
• Spread throughout C. Asia, China, Japan, Korea
Popular Hinduism
• Based on Vedas and Upanishads
• Evolved to a religion of salvation that addressed
needs of ordinary people
• Values found in Mahabharata, Ramayana, and
Bhagavad Gita
– Featured Vishnu
– Values = fulfilling caste responsibilities,
subservience of women
Popular Hinduism (cont.)
• Appeal: promise of salvation for following caste
system, support of Guptas => displaced Buddhism
in India
• 4 components:
– Dharma: obedience to laws
– Artha: pursuit of economic well-being
– Kama: enjoyment of pleasure
– Moksha: salvation through balance of dharma, artha,
and kama)