CHAPTER 3: Ancient Indian Civilizations

Indus River Valley Civilization

A. Geography of India

1. “India” refers to whole subcontinent

a. Pakistan/India/Nepal/Bhutan/Bangladesh/Sri Lanka

B. The Indus Civilization, c. 2500-1500 B.C.

1. Established cities, Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro along Indus River

Indo-Aryan Migrants

A. The Aryan Immigration and the Early Vedic Age, 1500-1000 B.C.

1. Aryans put an end to remnants of Indus civilization

a. Indo-Europeans, spoke Sanskrit, used chariots

b. jana, janapada, jana-rajapada

2. Aryans either conquered, assimilated native Dravidians, or drove them south

3. Initially Three social classes: brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas; later shudras and Untouchables added

B. The Vedas

1. Indra, Agni, Varuna, Mitra

2. Rig-Veda, Sama-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Atharva-Veda

Hinduism and Buddhism

A. The Upanishads, composed c. 800-600 B.C.

1. Viewed brahman as source of all being, only permanent reality

B. The Epics

1. Mahabharata longest work of literature, virtue vs. evil, includes the Bhagavad-Gita

2. Ramayana, like Odyssey, wandering Prince Rama and his virtuous wife, Sita

C. Hindu Synthesis

1. Tolerant religion, encompassed diverse beliefs, essential element was samsara

2. Three Traditions of Worship and Theology

a. Vishnu, Shiva, Devi

3. Considerable flexibility in Hindu theology

a. No central authority or canon, must observe rules of caste

D. The Jains, Defenders of All Beings

1. Mahavira taught principles of Jainism, “most Indian” of non-Vedic religions

2. Most important duty of a person is to cause no harm or pain to any being that can feel pain

3. Ahimsa, non-violence, requires respect for all forms of life

4. Tirthankaras, kevalin, jina

E. The Middle Way of Gautama Buddha

1. Gautama experienced the “Great Awakening” (Enlightenment)

2. Gave “Four Noble Truths”

3. Described “The Noble Eightfold Path”

a. Right views – resolve – speech – conduct

b. Right livelihood – effort – mindfulness – concentration

4. Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism

Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires

A. Mauryan Dynasty (321-185B.C.)

1. Established by Chandragupta Maurya

a. Conquered northern India, efficient administrative system, enlarged territory

2. Most effective government until British rule

a. Kautilya wrote Treatise on Material Gain

3. Ashoka, India’s Greatest King (269-232 B.C.)

a. More committed to peace than war, converted to Buddhism

4. Bactrian Greeks

a. Descendants of Alexander’s army, invaded, 183 B.C.

B. The Gupta State and Society

1. Guptas ruled 4th, 5th centuries, classical age

2. Began rise with Chandra Gupta I

a. Raised money through tribute, used feudal forces, marriage alliances

3. Favored Hinduism, Brahmins, practiced religious pluralism

a. Hinduism became dominant over Buddhism, Puranas

Ancient Indian Life and Culture

A. Gupta Art and Literature

1. Sophisticated subject matter

a. Temples at Ajanta hewn out of rock cliff

b. Classical brilliance, erotic subject matter

2. Golden age of Sanskrit literature

a. Panchatantra, manual on political wisdom

b. Kalidasa, poet-dramatist, wrote Shakuntala, tale of star-crossed lovers

B. Gupta Scholarship and Science

1. Guptas encouraged learning

2. University of Nalanda founded 5th century

3. Most famous scientist, Aryabhatta

a. Wrote in verse

b. Described quadratic equations, solstices, equinoxes

4. Other Hindu mathematicians used sign for zero

5. Major advances in medicine, practical skills (soap, cement, dyes)