chapter 6 review and discussion. ancient india ganesha
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 6
Review and Discussion
Ancient IndiaAncient India
GaneshaGanesha
Roots of Hinduism• Who’s the founder?Who’s the founder?• No original founder No original founder • Grew out of early Aryan beliefs
in multiple Gods. • Is there a sacred text?Is there a sacred text?• Beliefs come from the Vedas and Beliefs come from the Vedas and
other Indian epics, poems and other Indian epics, poems and songssongs
• Each believer sees Brahman differently
Polytheistic or monotheistic ?
• Hinduism is sometimes called a polytheistic religion, but strictly speaking, this is not entirely accurate.
• Hinduism believes in One God (Brahman), but recognizes that the One God can appear to humans in multiple names and forms
• Three most important gods:– Brahma-the Creator– Vishnu-the preserver– Shiva-the destroyer
Characteristic of gods• Each god represents a Each god represents a
characteristic of characteristic of BrahmaBrahmann. .
• How many gods exist?• As many as 330 million
gods
BrahmaBrahmann the Creator the Creatorgod of knowledge & intellectgod of knowledge & intellect
ReincarnationReincarnation• What’s the ultimate goal
of existence?• to achieve moksha, or
union with Brahman. • What is reincarnation?• the soul (atman) passes
through many lifetimes: before it finally achieves moksha
Methods to Achieve Moksha:Karma
• Explain Karma Explain Karma • the lifetime actions that the lifetime actions that
affect a person’s fate affect a person’s fate • Good choices leads to Good choices leads to
higher rebirth higher rebirth • Bad choices leads to lower Bad choices leads to lower
birth maybe a rat or an birth maybe a rat or an ant ant
Methods to Achieve Moksha
• AhimsaAhimsa??• Promote Promote
nonviolence nonviolence toward all living toward all living thingsthings
Methods to Achieve Moksha
• What is Dharma?What is Dharma?• Follow the religious Follow the religious
& moral duties of & moral duties of your varna or caste your varna or caste
• Code of conduct for Code of conduct for each casteeach caste
Harijan "outside" the caste system
(once known as "untouchables")
• The “Untouchables” were thought to be dirty and impure.
• There jobs consisted of cleaning the sewers and digging graves
• Represented about 20% of the population
Effects of the Caste: Duty• Ensured social order. How?• Caste rules governed every
aspect of life: clothes, foods, friendship, marriage, job, neighborhood and education
• Law of Karma determined caste
• It gave people a sense of identity
HinduismHinduism
• What does the red dot represent?
• symbolizes the mark of the supreme being and identifies you as Hindu.
Hinduism Hinduism TodayToday
• 33rdrd largest religion in largest religion in the worldthe world
• Estimated I billion Estimated I billion Hindus in the world. Hindus in the world.
• Mostly live in India Mostly live in India and Nepal.and Nepal.
India’s Caste SystemIndia’s Caste SystemStill Alive Today!Still Alive Today!
• Though the castes system is now illegal by Indian law - its “duties” still remain a strong social influence.
• There are very few who will ignore the “duties” but if it happens it is generally in the urban areas.
India’s Caste SystemIndia’s Caste SystemStill Alive Today!Still Alive Today!
“They died for love…” • In 2002, two teenagers (16 & 17) killed
by their father and brother for “dating” outside their caste!
• Another young female teen in 2000 was hung in public display for her young male lover to see what happens when you venture outside your caste!
• None of these were give a proper Hindu funeral, all of the family members and the village ignored this key Hindu teaching.
Rise of Buddhism
• Many Hindus grew dissatisfied with religion looking for more spirituality.
Siddhartha Gautama• Born around 566 BCE • Founder of Buddhism Founder of Buddhism • Grew up an Indian prince
surrounded by wealth and luxury
• Saddened by amount of Saddened by amount of suffering by people. suffering by people.
Buddha: The Enlightened One
“Four Noble Truths”: 1. All life is full of suffering 1. All life is full of suffering 2. The cause of suffering is2. The cause of suffering is
wrong desires like wealth wrong desires like wealth and power and power
3. The only cure for suffering is 3. The only cure for suffering is to overcome desire to overcome desire
4. The way overcome is by 4. The way overcome is by following the “Noble Eight-following the “Noble Eight-
fold Path.”fold Path.”
The Teachings of the The Teachings of the BuddhaBuddha
•Enlightenment is achieved through meditation.
1
The Teachings of the Buddha• What is the ultimate
goal?• reach nirvana, or union
with the universe and release from the cycle of rebirth.
• Life is no longer filled with suffering and pain!
How Buddhism Spread from India to East Asia
Spread of BuddhismSpread of Buddhism•How did Buddhism Spread?
•Missionaries and Traders helped to spread Buddhism across India to many parts of Asia.
Theravada Vs. Mahayana• Theravada “way of the elders”• Follow the original teachings of Buddhism• Buddha was a great teacher not a god and individuals could
reach enlightenment through his teachings• Mahayana “large vehicle”• Practiced in Japan, Korea, China, Mongolia, Tibet and Nepal• Buddha was a god and pay homage to Buddha like deities
who came in the form of men and believe they can be saved by the faith in these gods
• Allowed for a broader interpretation of the teachings of Buddhism because Buddha had not provided for all the answers
Jainism • Who is the founder?• Mahavira (540-468 BCE) the last Tirthankars• Goal?• Reach enlightenment through meditation and Asceticism
(self-denial and abstinence from worldly pleasures) • Any gods?• worship of Tirthankars. It is not the physical form that is to
be worshipped, but the virtues and qualities which are to be praised.
• What did it emphasize?• the holiness of all living beings and went into extremes to
not kill anything • all souls are equal because they all possess the potential of
being liberated and attaining Moksha
Geography•Mauryan Empire lasted from (322 B.C.E to 185 B.C.E.
Southern Asia and parts of Central Asia
•Situation on rich alluvial soil and mineral deposits.
WarInvasion of Alexander the Great (320 B.C.E)
Defeat of Seleucus (305 B.C.E.)
Battle at Kalinga (265 to 264 B.C.E.)
ChandraguptaChandragupta: : 321 BCE-298 321 BCE-298 BCEBCE
ChandraguptaChandragupta: : 321 BCE-298 321 BCE-298 BCEBCE Unified northern India.Unified northern India.
Defeated the PersianDefeated the Persian general general SeleucusSeleucus..
Divided his empire intoDivided his empire into provinces, then districts provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law for tax assessments and law enforcement. enforcement.
He feared assassination [like SaddamHe feared assassination [like Saddam Hussein] Hussein] food tasters, slept in food tasters, slept in differentdifferent rooms, etc. rooms, etc.
301 BCE 301 BCE gave up his throne & gave up his throne & becamebecame a Jain. a Jain.
Trade/Economy•Mauryan empire was driven by agriculture
•Farmers were free of tax and crop collections
•Internal trade expanded greatly due to newfound political unity and internal peace
•Chandragupta established single currency across India.
Silver punch mark coin
Writing System
Sanskrit - was the writing system that was used during the Mauryan Empire. Only used by scholars however.
Religious Beliefs
Buddhism Hinduism
Jainism
Social Structure
Gender and Family Structure
The Caste System
•Regulated the marriages
•Passed down the family, hard to move upward.
Hierarchy
•Husbands, fathers were dominant, women were always submissive
•Laws limited women’s life and abilities.
The ArtsThe Mauryan Empire were the first in India to transition from wood to stone in their architecture and art.
Stupa
Pillars
Coins
Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)Asoka (304 – 232 BCE) Religious conversion Religious conversion after the gruesome after the gruesome battle of battle of KalingaKalinga in in 262 BCE. 262 BCE.
Dedicated his life to Dedicated his life to Buddhism. Buddhism.
Built extensive roads.Built extensive roads.
ConflictConflict how to balance the how to balance the methods of keeping methods of keeping powerpower and Buddha’s demands to and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless become a selfless person?person?
Migration/Population•50 million. A third of the world’s population at the time
•Greek populations remained in the NW under Ashoka’s rule
•Ashoka’s Edicts were written in Greek
Asoka’Asoka’s s
EmpireEmpire
Asoka’Asoka’s s
EmpireEmpire
Asoka’s law Asoka’s law codecode
Asoka’s law Asoka’s law codecode Edicts scattered inEdicts scattered in
more than 30 places more than 30 places in India, Nepal, in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan. Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
Written mostly inWritten mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic. Greek and Aramaic.
10 rock edicts.10 rock edicts.
Each pillar [Each pillar [stupastupa] is 40’-50’ high.] is 40’-50’ high.
Buddhist principles dominate his Buddhist principles dominate his laws.laws.
Gupta Empire:Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 320 CE – 647 CE647 CE
Gupta Empire:Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 320 CE – 647 CE647 CE
Gupta RulersGupta RulersGupta RulersGupta Rulers Chandra GuptaChandra Gupta II
r. 320 – 335 CEr. 320 – 335 CE
“ “Great King of Kings”Great King of Kings”
Chandra Gupta IIChandra Gupta II
r. 375 - 415 CEr. 375 - 415 CE
Profitable trade withProfitable trade with the Mediterranean the Mediterranean world! world!
Hindu revival.Hindu revival.
Huns invade – 450 CEHuns invade – 450 CE
Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta IndiaIndia
Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta IndiaIndia Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the
Silk Road and visited India in the 5c. Silk Road and visited India in the 5c.
He was following the pathHe was following the path of the Buddha. of the Buddha.
He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and charity. Other references in the journal, however, and charity. Other references in the journal, however, indicate that the caste system was rapidly assuming its indicate that the caste system was rapidly assuming its basic features, including "untouchability," the social basic features, including "untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest class that is doomed to menial labor.isolation of a lowest class that is doomed to menial labor.
International Trade International Trade Routes during the GuptasRoutes during the Guptas
International Trade International Trade Routes during the GuptasRoutes during the Guptas
Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:4c4c
Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:4c4c
spices
spices
spicesspices
gold & gold &
ivoryivory
gold & gold & ivoryivory
rice & rice & wheatwheathorseshorses
cotton goods
cotton goods
cotton goods
cotton goodssilkssilks
GuptGuptaa
ArtArt
GuptGuptaa
ArtArt
Greatly influenced Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & Southeast Asian art &
architecture.architecture.
MedicineMedicineMedicineMedicine LiteratureLiteratureLiteratureLiterature
MathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematicsAstronomyAstronomyAstronomyAstronomy
PrintedPrintedmedicinal medicinal
guidesguides
1000 1000 diseasesdiseasesclassifiedclassified
PlasticPlasticSurgerySurgery
C-sectionsC-sectionsperformeperforme
dd
InoculatioInoculationsns
500 healing500 healingplants plants
identifiedidentified
DecimalDecimalSystemSystem
ConceptConceptof Zeroof Zero
PI = 3.1416PI = 3.1416
KalidasKalidasaa
SolarSolarCalendarCalendar
The The earthearth
is roundis round
GuptaGuptaIndiaIndia
Gupta Gupta AchievemeAchieveme
ntsnts
Gupta Gupta AchievemeAchieveme
ntsnts
The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptasGuptas
The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptasGuptas
Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaledsignaled the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even thoughthough at first, the Guptas defeated them. at first, the Guptas defeated them.
After the decline of the Gupta empire, After the decline of the Gupta empire, northnorth India broke into a number of separate India broke into a number of separate HinduHindu kingdoms and was not really unified kingdoms and was not really unified again untilagain until the coming of the Muslims in the 7c. the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.
Indian women during the Gupta Empire? • Why did their status declined noticeably since the Vedic
period? • the emergence of a nonagricultural middle class, which
placed a high value on the acquisition and inheritance of property.
• Women lost• the right to own and inherit property.• Could not participating in many religious ceremonies. • Marriage• (Young age 6 or 7) intended to ensure that a woman would
behave according to her husband’s wishes.• Ritual of Sati• extreme example (a widow was expected to cremate
herself on her husband’s funeral)
BhartrhariBhartrhariBhartrhariBhartrhari 5c India court poet and philosopher.5c India court poet and philosopher.
Knowledge is man's crowning mark,Knowledge is man's crowning mark,A treasure secretly buried,A treasure secretly buried,The source of luxury, fame, and bliss,The source of luxury, fame, and bliss,A guru most venerable,A guru most venerable,A friend on foreign journeys,A friend on foreign journeys,The pinnacle of divinity.The pinnacle of divinity.Knowledge is valued by kings Knowledge is valued by kings beyond wealth--- beyond wealth---When he lacks it, a man is a brute.When he lacks it, a man is a brute.
Discuss the ways that early Southeast Asia participated in the world system.
• Location• the strategic location of Southeast Asia in the global trade
routes connecting China, India, and the Mediterranean. – Cultural diffusion
• expanded trade networks and contributed goods • The impressive navigational skills • riding the monsoon winds and interpreting wave patterns,
clouds, and winds led them to explore the Indian and Pacific Oceans
• Religion• Hindu/Buddhist culture served as a source of knowledge,
prestige, and legitimacy for rulers• Fused Indian religious and political ideas and methods with
their own traditions to create a unique culture.