Ashoka Maurya (reigned 268-232 B.C.E.)--peak of empire
Conquered the kingdom of Kalinga, 260 B.C.E.
Ruled through tightly organized bureaucracy
Established capital at Pataliputra
Policies were written on rocks or pillars
Empire declined after his death because of financial problems
The revival of empire under the Guptas
Greek-speaking Bactrians ruled in northwest India for two centuries
Kushans (nomads from Central Asia) conquered and ruled, 1-300 C.E.
High point was Emperor Kashika, 78-103 C.E.
Crucial role in Silk Road trading network
The Gupta dynasty, founded by Chandra Gupta (375-415 C.E.)
Smaller and more decentralized than Maurya
Invasion of White Huns weakened the empire
After the fifth century C.E., Gupta dynasty continued in name only
Large regional kingdoms dominated political life in India
Economic development and social distinctions
Towns and trade
Towns dotted the India countryside after 600 B.C.E.
Towns provided manufactured products and luxury goods
Active marketplaces, especially along Ganges
Trade with Persia, China, Indian Ocean basin, Indonesia, southeast Asia, Mediterranean basin
Family life and the caste system
Gender relations: patriarchal families, female subordination, child marriage
Development of caste system
With trade and commerce new social groups of artisans, craftsmen, and merchants appeared
These social groups functioned as sub castes, or jati
Vaishyas and shudras saw unprecedented wealth
Old beliefs and values of early Aryan society became increasingly irrelevant
Religions of salvation in classical India
Jainism and the challenge to the established cultural order
Vardhamana Mahavira (Jina) founded Jain religion in 5th century B.C.E.
Jainist doctrine and ethics
Inspired by the Upanishads: everything in universe has a soul
Striving to purify one's selfish behavior to attain a state of bliss
Principle of ahimsa, nonviolence toward all living things
Too demanding, not a practical alternative to the cult of the brahmans
Appeal of Jainism
Social implication: individual souls equally participated in ultimate reality
Jains did not recognize social hierarchies of caste and jati
Early Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 B.C.E.) became the Buddha
Gave up his comfortable life to search for cause of suffering
Received enlightenment under the bo tree
First sermon about 528 B.C.E. at the Deer Park of Sarnath
Organized followers into a community of monks
Buddhist doctrine: the dharma
The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path are the way to end suffering
Suffering is caused by desire
Religious goal: personal salvation, or nirvana, a state of perfect spiritual independence
Appeal of Buddhism
Appealed strongly to members of lower castes because it did not recognize social hierarchies of castes and jati
Was less demanding than Jainism, which made it more popular
Used vernacular tongues, not Sanskrit
Holy sites venerated by pilgrims
The monastic organizations--extremely efficient at spreading the Buddhist message and winning converts to the faith
Ashoka converted and became important patron of Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism
Early Buddhism made heavy demands on individuals
Development of Buddhism between 3rd century B.C.E. and 1st century C.E.
Buddha became a god
The notion of boddhisatva--"an enlightened being"
Monasteries began to accept gifts from wealthy individuals
These changes became known as Mahayana Buddhism
Educational institutions (like Nalanda) promoted new faith
The emergence of popular Hinduism
The epics Mahabharata, a secular poem revised by brahman scholars to honor the god Vishnu, the preserver of the world Ramayana, a secular story of Rama and Sita, was changed into a Hindu story
The Bhagavad Gita
A short poetic work: dialogue between Vishnu and warrior
Illustrated expectations of Hinduism and promise of salvation
Hindu ethics
Achieve salvation through meeting caste responsibilities
