Classical+India

3.1 India ESPIRIT Civilization/Nation/Group: Classical India

Time Period: 200 BCE ~ 800 CE

- Important **exports**: spices, steel, textiles (cloth, calico, cashmere), drugs - Important **imports**: pottery, wine, metals, slaves, ivory - Had strong economic ties with surrounding regions (Africa, Middle East, China etc.) - Still **agricultural society** at heart || - **No real centralized government bureaucracy** (power spread over large portions of land) + **Hinduism** did not place strong emphasis on politics in general. - Political rule also dictated by Indian **Caste System** (people were not allowed to 'marry down') - Diversity in language **discouraged social unification** over Indian subcontinent. || - Influenced and influenced by regions surrounding the **Indian Ocean** (including Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, + China and Europe as well) - Maintained economic ties with the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and China to some extent. || - Gods included **Vishnu** (the preserver) and **Shiva** (the destroyer) - Religion maintained by mystics (**gurus**) and brahman priests - People expected to lead good lives, in hopes of one day being **reincarnated** - Placed value of spiritual life (people wanted to reach state of **nirvana**) || - Spherical shrines to Buddha = **stupas** - **Kamasutra** - book that discusses relationships between men and women - ex. of literature = **Panchatantra** (includes Sinbad the Sailor, Jack the Giant Killer, and the Seven League boots) - Universities built in **Nalanda**, whose curriculums included religion, philosophy, medicine, architecture, and agriculture || - Made important strides in **astronomy** (calculated length of solar year, calculated daily rotation of earth, predicted eclipses) - Also made important strides in **medicine** (bone setting, plastic surgery, inoculation against smallpox, stressed cleanliness) ||
 * E || - Trade and manufacturing in India rivaled China, Europe, and other nations.
 * S || - A distinct **caste system** in India developed >> Individuals in lower castes had **few legal rights** and were subject to whims of privileged in society - Men were considered to be superior to women (although this changed slightly as society began to value economic benefits of women) >> Young women were often forced into **arranged marriages** (**dowries** were paid to woman’s families) - Family bonds were emphasized in Indian culture as well (formed **economic units** in India) >> Husbands and wives were expected to have loving relationships >> Children were often pampered by their parents (but were eventually expected to work hard as they reached adulthood) >> Adults took on responsibility for caring for elders. ||
 * P || - Government ruled on philosophy of **regionalism** (specific regions both had strong autocratic rule)
 * I || - Subject to conquest over period of several hundred years (conquered by **Alexander the Great** in 3rd century BCE)
 * R || - Influenced by both **Hinduism** and later, to some extent, **Buddhism**
 * I || - Produced lively art (although much destroyed in wars)
 * T || - Created modern-day numbering system (although it is called Arabic today b/c Europeans borrowed it second-hand); also developed concept of negative numbers, sine charts, and computed the value of pi more accurately than Greeks



3.2 Comparison of Social Interaction in India and China media type="custom" key="6980037" width="200" height="200" Social Summary: Classical India and Classical China displayed similiar characteristics in **gender roles** and **family life**, but their **social structures** differed in terms of rigidity, opportunity, and organization. In both patriarchal societies, women were considered to be subordinate to men, despite the fact that many people recognized the unique contribution that they made (particularly in agricultural settings). Both societies also placed valued the family unit; in China and India, people would frequently live with their extended families, whom they relied upon for social and economic support. However, social structure in the two Asian countries had remarkable differences. In China, more **social mobility** was offered to the people than in India's **Caste System**. Also, different people occupied distinct "rungs" of the social ladder; for instance, Indian merchants were more favorably looked upon than Chinese merchants, who were considered inferior even to peasants (despite the fact that many merchants became quite wealthy). Nevertheless, intellectuals and land-owning individuals were considered to be elites in both societies.  

3.4 Classical India Key Terms
 * Aryans || - **Indo-European** migrants to India originally from Central Asia who displaced many indigenous peoples (**Harrapan** civilization) from China and brought along new culture (new social structure etc) and language (Sanskirt) ||
 * Ashoka || - **Chandragupta Maurya**’s grandson; managed to unite the Indian subcontinent and ruled the **Maurayan** empire between 267 BC – 232 BC; converted to Buddhism and encouraged its spread ||
 * Gupta || - A ruling faction that managed to gain control of most of India between 320 CE – 535 CE; Relied on system of **regionalism**, where local landlords had agreements with a less powerful centralized government; Period of stability within India’s history – led to cultural and social advances ||
 * Caste system || - Social structure imposed by the **Aryans** that dictated social classes were determined by hereditary; Categorized into 5 classes (from top to bottom): **Brahmins** (priests, intellectuals, landlords), **Kshatriyas** (warrior class), **Vaisyas** (merchants, farmers), S**udras** (common people), and the **untouchables** (can’t touch this) ||
 * Hinduism || - **Polytheistic** religion formed over hundreds of years during **Vedic** and **Epic** ages; common religion in India that helped to maintain social stability through **Caste system** (people’s duty in life was to fulfill their caste’s role --> reincarnation in a different caste); had social implications in India --> regionalism in Indian politics, Brahmin social class, dictated everyday life (much like Confucianism in China) ||
 * Sanskirt || - First literary language introduced to the Indian subcontinent by Aryan invaders; encouraged by Indian governments, but was **never able to unite the entire subcontinent linguistically**; even today, India remains an incredibly diverse region when it comes to language ||
 * Upanishads || - 200 philosophical texts of Hinduism; focused on more spiritual and mystical subjects ||
 * Dharma (Law of Moral Consequences) || - A series of moral precepts based on the ideas of doing "good deeds"; Dharma includes "little evil, much good, kindness, generosity, truthfulness, and purity." ||
 * Buddhism || - A religion that formed as a kind of protest against the status quo in Indian society; formed by **Siddhartha Gautama** (Buddha), an Indian prince, who was dissatisfied with Indian society and the caste system in particular; similar to Hinduism in beliefs, but encouraged people to become “enlightened” ||
 * Tamils || - A group of Indian people linked through language and ethnicity in southern India (and northeastern Sri Lanka); heavily engaged in Indian trade throughout the Indian Ocean ||
 * Chandragupta Maurya || - Soldier who united peoples along the Ganges River India in 322 BCE; established the **Mauryan** empire (first centralized government since Indus River Valley civilization) ||
 * Gurus || - The mystical holy men of Hinduism; sought communion with the divine soul, rather than embracing a religion of rituals, fixed ceremonies, and rules of conduct ||
 * Bhagavad Gita || - Sacred Hindu scripture that contains around 700 verses; conversation between **Lord Krishna** and **Arjuna** before the **Kurukshetra** war; promoted several fundamental Hindu principles (yoga etc) ||



3.4 Classical India Summary <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Classical India was a fragmented society that had **no strong centralized government** and lived by the rules of **Hinduism**. Adherance to Hindu culture meant that l**ess emphasis was placed on politics** in India; instead, the Indian government held loosely controlled power through **regionalism**, where local landlords controlled wealth and land. Hinduism also led to the development of the higly rigid **Caste System**, which grouped people into distinct social classes (with the wealthy brahmins on top of the social ladder). <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Although government regionalism and Hinduism discouraged social unification over the Indian subcontinent, Indian still managed to interact with people from different walks of life. As a **regional trading power** they imported and exported goods from Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and China. They were also subject to conquest over the entire Classical period (**Alexander the Great** in 3rd century BCE). This trade and interaction managed to scientific and technological progress in the fields of **medicine**, **astronomy**, and **mathematics** (see ESPIRIT chart).

3.5 Classical India Timeline <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1600 BCE - 1000 BCE - **Aryan** invasions of India <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1500 BCE - 1000 BCE - **Vedic Age** (formative age in India's history) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">1000 BCE - 600 BCE - **Epic Age** (formative age in India's history) <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">700 BCE - 550 BCE - Era of **Brahman** dominance 563 BCE - 483 BCE - Life of **Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha)** 327 BCE - 325 BCE - **Alexander the Great** invades India 322 BCE - 298 BCE - **Chandragupta Maurya** unites India 269 BCE - 232 BCE - **Ashoka** rules **Maurya** dynasty 319 BCE - 535 BCE - Reign of the **Gupta** Empire (eventually overturned by the **Huns**)