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Chapter 9
State, Society, and the
Quest for Salvation in India
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The Mauryan and Gupta Empires
321 B.C.E.-550 C.E.
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India Before the Mauryan Dynasty
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520 B.C.E., Persian emperor Darius conquers
northwest India
Introduces Persian ruling pattern
327 B.C.E., Alexander of Macedon destroys
Persian empire in India
Troops mutiny, depart after two years
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Political power vacuum
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Chandragupta Maurya
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Took advantage of power vacuum left by
Alexander
Expanded kingdom to create first unified Indian
empire
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Mauryan dynasty
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Chandragupta’s Government
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Domestic policies
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Network of spies
Legend: Chandragupta retires to become a monk,
starves himself to death
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Ashoka Maurya
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Grandson of Chandragupta
Represents high point of Mauryan empire,
r. 268-232 B.C.E.
Expanded empire to include all of Indian
subcontinent except for south
Positive ruler-ship integrated Indian society
Much better known as a ruler than conqueror
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Decline of the Mauryan Empire
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Economic crisis follows death of Ashoka
High costs of bureaucracy, military not supported
by tax revenue
Frequent devaluations of currency to pay salaries
Regions begin to abandon Mauryan empire
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Disappears by 185 B.C.E.
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The Gupta Dynasty
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Founded by Chandra Gupta (no relation to
Chandragupta Maurya), ca. 320 C.E.
Slightly smaller than Mauryan empire
Highly decentralized leadership
Foundations for studies in natural sciences and
mathematics
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Gupta Decline
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Frequent invasions of White Huns, fifth century
C.E.
Gupta dynasty disintegrates along regional fault
lines
Smaller local kingdoms dominate until Mughal
empire founded in sixteenth century
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Economy: Towns and Manufacturing
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Manufactured goods in big demand
Developed in dense network of small workshops
Trade intense, capitalizes on trade routes across
India
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Long-Distance Trade
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Persian connection since Cyrus, Darius
Massive road-building projects under Persian rule
Alexander extends trade west to Macedon
Trade routes through Kush mountains, the silk
roads
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Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin
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Seasonal sea trade expands
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Spring/winter winds blow from southwest, fall/winter
winds blow from northwest
Trade from Asia to Persian Gulf and Red Sea,
Mediterranean
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Society: Gender Relations
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Patriarchy entrenched
Child marriage common (eight-year-old girls
married to men in twenties)
Women encouraged to remain in private sphere
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Social Order
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Caste system from Aryan
times
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Brahmins (priests)
Kshatriyas (warriors,
aristocrats)
Vaishyas (peasants,
merchants)
Shudras (serfs)
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Religions of Salvation in Classical
India
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Social change generated resentment of caste
privilege
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e.g. brahmins free from taxation
Sixth-fifth century B.C.E., new religions and
philosophies challenge status quo
Jainists, Buddhists, Hindus
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Jainism
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Abandons privileged family to lead ascetic life
Promotes seventh century movement based on
Upanishads
Emphasis on selfless living, concern for all beings
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Ahimsa
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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.)
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Appeal of Jainism
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Rejected caste
Obvious appeal to underprivileged groups
But asceticism too extreme to become a mass
movement
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Early Buddhism
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Siddhartha Gautama, ca. 563-483 B.C.E.
Encountered age, sickness, death, then monastic
life
Abandoned comfortable life to become a monk
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Gautama’s Search for Enlightenment
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Intense meditation, extreme asceticism
Forty-nine days of meditation under bo tree to
finally achieve enlightenment
Attained title of Buddha: “the enlightened one”
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The Buddha and His Followers
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Begins teaching new doctrine ca. 528 B.C.E.
Followers owned only robes, food bowls
Life of wandering, begging, meditation
Establishment of monastic communities
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Buddha and His Disciples
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Buddhist Doctrine: The Dharma
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The Four Noble Truths
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All life is suffering
There is an end to suffering
Removing desire removes suffering
This may be done through the eight-fold path
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Right views, intention, speech, action, livelihood,
effort, mindfulness, concentration
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Appeal of Buddhism
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Less dependence on brahmins for ritual activities
No recognition of caste
Philosophy of moderate consumption
Public service through lay teaching
Use of vernacular, not Sanskrit
Monasteries become important institutions in
Indian society
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A Buddhist Monastery
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Ashoka’s Support of Buddhism
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Personal conversion to Buddhism
Material support for Buddhist institutions,
missionary activities
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Changes in Buddhist Thought
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Third century B.C.E. to first century C.E.
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Buddha considered divine
Institution of boddhisatvas (“saints”)
Charitable donations to monasteries regarded as pious
activity
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Hindu Ethics
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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)
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Popularity of Hinduism
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Gradually replaced Buddhism in India
Gupta dynastic leaders extend considerable
support
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