State and Society in India

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Please bring your Gilgamesh paper to your T.A.
at the front of the room.
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BUDDHIST AND REVITALIZED HINDU EMPIRES
BUDDHISM NIRVANA Soul is
illusion. union with void non-theistic Buddha
is not god but enlightened one.
HINDUISM MOKSHA Soul is real. union
with godhead theistic many gods
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• Development of Buddhism
• A. Threat to Brahmin establishment
• B. Religion with Buddha as god and
  nirvana as salvation
• C. Monks and nuns in monasteries

Monks praying at Bo Tree, under which Buddha
achieved Nirvana
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III. Maurya empire, 324-184 B.C.E. A.
Alexander the Great invades India, ca. 330
B.C.E. B. Chandragupta Maurya (r. 324-301
B.C.E.) C. Militaristic, authoritarian

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(No Transcript)
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D. Emperor ASHOKA (r. 269-232 B.C.E.)
converts to Buddhism. E. Proselytizing
missions F. Trade with Rome and China
(Huns)
Silk Road
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IV. Gupta empire and Brahmin revenge, 320-550
C.E. A. Nomadic invasions, 2nd century
B.C.E.-3rd century C.E. B. Guptas unify N.
India, 320 C.E. C. Decentralized rule,
VASSALS
Maurya empire
Gupta empire
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D. More accommodating Hinduism, stressing
individual devotion to gods E. Buddha as
avatar of Vishnu F. Meditation to
achieve MOKSHA G. Little participation by women
?
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H. Decline in overland trade?sea trade
(Huns)
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• I. Brahmins as princes tutors (gurus)
• V. Classical Indian civilization
• zero
• Arabic numerals
• (Bulliet, p. 192)
• chess
• Kamasutra

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VI. Nomadic invasions, 5thc. C.E. Hsiung-nu /
Xiongnu (Huns)
Tang Chinese sculpture
modern artists rendering