Download Varna Class Structure - Sonoma Valley High School

The Vedic Age 1500-500 BCE
 Aryas v.Dasas
 Varna Class Structure =
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Brahmin (Priests/Scholars)
Kshatriya (Warriors)
Vaishya (Merchants)
Shudra (Peasant/Laborers)
Untouchables (Demeaning work)
 Jati = Subdivision of the 4 main
Varna (Caste)
 Rules (Jobs, duties, interaction
among Jati groups)
 Role of Women
 Worship via sacrifice
 Study, participate in rituals, own
property
Jainism, Buddhism & Hinduism
 Jainism
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Founded by Mahavira 540468BCE
Nonviolence to all living things
 Buddhism (563-483 BCE)
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Founder: Siddhartha Gautama
The Four Noble Truths /
Eightfold Path to Enlightenment
2 Sects = Mahayana (new) &
Theravada (old)
 Hinduism ‘What the Indians Do’
 Reformed Vedic Religion
 Devotion to the gods: Vishnu
(North) or Shiva (South) & Devi
(Goddess)=Creative/Destructive
 Pilgrimage to holy sites/shrines
 Dominant Regional Religion
The Mauryan Empire 324-184 BCE
 Formed from Kingdom of Magadha
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Strategic Geographic Location
Agricultural & Iron Resources
 Mauryan Government

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Capitol: Pataliputra
Large Army
25% Agricultural Tax
State Monopolies (mines, ships,
weapons)
 Notable Leaders
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Founder: Chandragupta Maurya
Ashoka = Buddhism becomes state
religion (Buddhist empire!)
 Era of Political Fragmentation (500yrs)
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Greco-Bactrian influence (NW)
Literary Achievements (Sanskrit)
Merchants became religious patrons
3 Tamil kingdoms = ‘Classical Period’
The Gupta Empire 320-550 CE
 Kingdom of Magadha-Chandra Gupta

Controlled Central & Northern India
 Copied Mauryan Govt. Structure

Except: Weak military & theatre-state
 Gupta Culture
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Trade with SE Asia
Literacy / Mathematics Arabic numerals
& concept of zero
Women = No right to own land, treated
like Shudra, married young, social status
determined treatment
Religion = Hinduism / Tolerant
Collapse = Military Spending (Huns)
 Southern India Remained Independent

Warrior Kingdoms (Pallavas & Cholas)
Southeast Asia 50-600 CE
 3 Geographic Zones
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Indochina Mainland
Malay Peninsula
Islands
 Natural Resources & Agriculture
Fertile soil / Several Growing
Seasons
 Domestic Animals / Agricultural
Products
 Swidden = Slash & Burn
agriculture

 Migrations
 Malay peoples from Southern
China
 First Major State = Funan
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1st thru 6th Century
Mekong Delta (Rice Bowl)