Download File

Castes and Guilds



Increasing economic diversification challenges
simplistic caste system
Jati formed: guilds that acted as subcastes
Enforced social order

“Out-castes” forced into low-status employment
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
1
Wealth and the Social Order


Upward social mobility possible for vaishyas,
shudras
Wealth challenges varna for status
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
2
Religions of Salvation in Classical
India

Social change generated resentment of caste
privilege




e.g. brahmins free from taxation
Sixth-fifth century B.C.E., new religions and
philosophies challenge status quo
Charvakas: atheists
Jainists, Buddhists, Hindus
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
3
Jainism




Vardhamana Mahavira, 540-468 B.C.E.
Abandons privileged family to lead ascetic life
Promotes seventh century movement based on
Upanishads
Emphasis on selfless living, concern for all beings
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
4
Ahimsa



Principle of extreme nonviolence
Jainists sweep earth, strain water, use slow
movements to avoid killing insects
Ahimsa continues to inspire modern movements
(Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr.)
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
5
Appeal of Jainism



Rejected caste, jati distinctions
Obvious appeal to underprivileged groups
But asceticism too extreme to become a mass
movement
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
6
Early Buddhism



Siddhartha Gautama, ca. 563-483 B.C.E.
Encountered age, sickness, death, then monastic
life
Abandoned comfortable life to become a monk
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
7
Gautama’s Search for Enlightenment



Intense meditation, extreme asceticism
Forty-nine days of meditation under bo tree to
finally achieve enlightenment
Attained title of Buddha: “the enlightened one”
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
8
The Buddha and His Followers




Begins teaching new doctrine ca. 528 B.C.E.
Followers owned only robes, food bowls
Life of wandering, begging, meditation
Establishment of monastic communities
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
9
Buddha and His Disciples
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
10
Buddhist Doctrine: The Dharma

The Four Noble Truths




All life is suffering
There is an end to suffering
Removing desire removes suffering
This may be done through the eight-fold path

Right views, intention, speech, action, livelihood,
effort, mindfulness, concentration
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
11
Appeal of Buddhism






Less dependence on brahmins for ritual activities
No recognition of caste, jati status
Philosophy of moderate consumption
Public service through lay teaching
Use of vernacular, not Sanskrit
Monasteries become important institutions in
Indian society
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
12
A Buddhist Monastery
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
13
Ashoka’s Support of Buddhism




Personal conversion to Buddhism
Saddened after violent war with Kalinga
Banned animal sacrifices, mandated
vegetarianism in court
Material support for Buddhist institutions,
missionary activities
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
14
Changes in Buddhist Thought

Third century B.C.E. to first century C.E.



Buddha considered divine
Institution of boddhisatvas (“saints”)
Charitable donations to monasteries regarded as pious
activity
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
15
Spread of Mahayana Buddhism

Mahayana (“greater vehicle”), newer
development


India, China, Japan, Korea, central Asia
Hinayana (“lesser vehicle,” also Theravada),
earlier version

Ceylon, Burma, Thailand
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
16
Nalanda




Buddhist monastery
Quasi-university: Buddhism, Hindu texts,
philosophy, astronomy, medicine
Peak at end of Gupta dynasty
Helped spread Indian thought

e.g. mathematical number zero
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
17
Emergence of Popular Hinduism

Composition of epics from older oral traditions



Mahabharata
Ramayana
Emphasis on god Vishnu and his incarnations
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
18
The Bhagavad Gita



“Song of the lord”
Centuries of revisions, final form ca. 400 C.E.
Dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna during
civil war
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
19
Hindu Ethics




Obedience to religious and moral laws (dharma)
Pursuit of economic well-being and honesty
(artha)
Enjoyment of social, physical, and sexual
pleasure (kama)
Salvation of the soul (moksha)
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
20
Popularity of Hinduism


Gradually replaced Buddhism in India
Gupta dynastic leaders extend considerable
support
©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
21