CLASSICAL INDIA

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CLASSICAL INDIA

• Chapter 3

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Geography - set apart from Asia
agriculture Indus Ganges
caste system Sanskrit beginnings of Hinduism
Aryan conquerors
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political eras un-clear
empires or small kingdoms
invasions from northwest
Maurya Dynasty 322 BCE
unifies Persian political models large
army bureaucracy autocratic roads
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Gupta Empire 320 CE
political stability
intermarry with local princes
Sanskrit
overturned by Huns
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Politically - regionalized
A. The Indus Valley Civilisation, 2000 BCB. The
Maurya Empire, 250 BCC. The Gupta Empire, AD 400
diverse political forms
1. Kings with full power 2. assemblies with
power 3. mix
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Caste System
social bond across diverse country social
order rules to regulate life
did what a government might do
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Hinduism
develops over time
polytheistic
no single founder or central holy figure
more compatibility with more people
Upanishads Hindu epic poems
Dharma - guide to living - moral
consequences of action - need to act
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Buddhism
563 BCE
Siddhartha Gautama
why is there suffering?
4 Noble Truths
attacks caste system
8 Fold Path
SE Asia East Asia
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Economy Society
caste system
strong economy
technology
chemistry steel
strong merchant class