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Classical India
Unit 10
Hinduism
One of the worlds oldest religions.
Practiced by most in India today.
Developed as a blend of Aryan and
Indian indigenous beliefs.
Origins are difficult to trace. (No
Founder)
Evolved over thousands of years and
influenced by various cultures and
people.
Practices differ from place to place
A few teachings are fundamental by all.
Brahman
Belief in Brahman: eternal being that created
and preserves the world.
Everything in the world in an aspect of
Brahman, including humans.
Human mind not capable of understanding.
Everyone has an atman: a soul that shapes
your personality. Can not be destroyed, even
in death.
Various manifestations of Brahman called
devas (day-vuhs) help to maintain order.
Devas: Brahman the creator, Vishnu the
preserver, and Siva the destroyer. Some
Hindus believe in more, others believe in
one.
Rebirth & Salvation
The universe and everyone in it are
part of a continual pattern of birth,
death, and rebirth.
In death the atman is released and
later reborn in another. Called
Reincarnation.
The nature of the person’s new life will
be shaped by his or her Karma: the
sum effect of his or her deeds and
actions during life.
Ultimate Goal
The ultimate goal is Moksha: escape
from the cycle of rebirth, worldly
cares, difficulties, and the atman
reunites with Brahman.
To achieve this you have to fulfill your
dharma: set of spiritual duties and
obligations.
Dharma is based on your class and
station in life and fulfilling this creates
good Karma.
Sacred Texts
The Vedas: sacred hymns of praise,
earliest writings. Revealed to them by
Brahman.
Later writings inspired by the Vedas:
include the upanishads are reflections
on the Vedas also revealed by Brahman.
Sacred epics: bases on themes found in
the vedas but composed by sages.
What it means to live by vedic
teachings.
The Vedas
Practices
Worship can take place anywhere
Recite the vedas to worshippers
Food or gift offerings
Images of a deva brought forth
Meditation: silent reflection and
prayer.
Yoga: to help meditate some perform
physical and mental exercises to
focus body and mind.
Some even make a pilgrimage to a
Social order
The religion secretly
had a way of keeping
people in line.
Reincarnation gave the
poor hope for a better
life.
Those in lower levels
were inclined to accept
their role and hope for
a better one next time.
Divided into 4 social
classes called varnas
Membership in a caste
determines what jobs
one can hold.
Buddhism
Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism can be
traced back to a single founder;
Siddhartha Guatama, also called the
Buddha (enlightened one).
Most of what we know come from
Buddhist literature some written
centuries after his death.
Born 500’s B.C.E. A Hindu prince had a
sheltered life.
His life changed when he realized the
hardships of life and wanted to stop the
suffering of others.
To find this new path he gave up all his
Buddha's New Path
Sought enlightenment or spiritual
understanding.
Began living in the forest begging for
food.
He studied with teachers called gurus
and monks but left them because he felt
they could not teach him how to end
suffering.
He sat under a tree day and night until
he thought of it himself.
After many temptation he arose
enlightened.
This spot is now a sacred place where a
Buddhist beliefs:
The Four Noble Truths
1. Suffering is a part of human life. No
one can escape from suffering while
alive.
2. Suffering comes from people’s
desires for pleasure and material
goods.
3. Overcoming these desires during life
eventually brings suffering to an end.
4. Desires can be overcome by
following the eightfold path.
Buddhist beliefs:The Eightfold Path
1. Right view, or accepting the reality of the Four
Noble Truths.
2. Right attitude, or striving for moderation in all
things.
3. Right speech, or avoiding lies, boasts, and hurtful
words.
4. Right action, or treating others fairly.
5. Right livelihood, or avoiding jobs that could bring
harm to others.
6. Right effort, or constantly trying to improve
oneself.
7. Right mindfulness, or remaining aware of the
world around one.
8. Right concentration, or ignoring temptation and
discomfort while meditating.
Buddhist beliefs:
The goal
Those that followed the Eightfold path
could attain nirvana: a state of
perfect peace in which the soul would
be free from suffering forever.
If you do not attain nirvana then you
will be reborn to live again until you
do.
The teachings can be boiled down to
or simplified to the Middle Way: live
in moderation and avoid extremes.
Divisions of Buddhism
When Buddha dies there were differences in
some of the teachings. They would split and
felt their teachings were closer to Buddha.
Three main traditions:
Theravada: Buddha is not a god, oldest
tradition, sacred writings, best way to
achieve nirvana is to become a monk.
Mahayana: Believe Buddha is a god, they
can help each other find enlightenment,
texts used are after Buddha’s life.
Tibetan: similar to the others but have
special techniques to harness spiritual
energy and achieve nirvana in a single
lifetime.
Buddhism spreads
Hinduism remained an Indian religion.
Buddhism continued to spread after Buddha’s
death.
A later emperor of an Indian Empire named
Asoka (Ashoka) became a Buddhist and sent
missionaries to other lands to spread the
religion.
The religion also spread through trade with other
civilizations.
It spread throughout Asia, including China (it
blended many Chinese philosophies), Sri Lanka,
Japan, and Korea.
The religion is very diverse with a wide arrange
of practices.
Buddhism spreads
Mauryan Empire
1st Indian empire
started by
Chandragupta
Mauryan
Many small states
conquered by one
of the small states.
Alexander the
Great influences
unification.
War Elephants!
Mauryan cont.
Strong centralized
government.
Government
controlled economy.
Divided the empire
into districts and
appointed generals
to rule
Capital: Pataliputra
Farmers: paid taxes
and rent for land,
funded the
government and the
army
Ashoka considered
their greatest
emperor.
Conquers most of
India.
Appalled by war in
the East and
converts to
Buddhism.
After his death leads
to chaos and the fall
of the Empire.
India is split into
many small
kingdoms and for
400 years India is
divided
The Gupta Empire
320 A.D. Re-united under
Founder: Chandra Gupta
Less centralized government.
Hinduism spreads.
Chandra Gupta II considered
Golden age.
Economy and culture at its
height.
Samudra Gupta (son) extended
the empire
Chandra Gupta II: ruled from
375-415, extended the empire,
empire reached its height
End of Gupta Rule
Began to weaken in the late 400s
White Huns began to invade
Disrupted trade
550: Gupta rule ended and India
returned to small regional kingdoms
Life in Gupta India
Civilization: trade increased and
economy strengthened, cities prospered
and traditions developed under Gupta.
Growth of Trade
Trade: Silk Road and by sea.
Silk Road: a network of routes stretching
from China 4,000 miles across the heart
of Asia to the Mediterranean Sea. It
linked China, India, Middle East, and the
Roman Empire.
Exchanged cashmere, cotton, ivory, and
spices for Chinese silk and Roman
ceramics and more. Also spread ideas
(ex. religion)
Life in Gupta India
Daily Life
New class: bankers and moneylenders
emerged
Villages: self-sufficient, held religious
festivals
Social Structure
Castes grew and developed rules and
customs
Legal codes: defined people’s role in
Gupta India
Gender: men (more rights,
patriarchal) women (marry and have
children)
A Gupta Golden Age
Cultural and scientific achievements
Sanskrit Literature
Writer: Kalidasa, poet and playwright
Art and Architecture
Artwork: religious focus, paintings, statues
Buildings: temples and monuments carved
out of rock, Ajanta and Ellora (famous ones)
Science and Technology
Metallurgy: the science of working with
metals
Math: symbol for zero, Hindu-Arabic
numerals
Medicine: made medicines from plants and
animals, performed surgery,
Astronomy: identified 7 planets, predict
eclipses, Aryabhata-Earth rotates on axis and
revolves around the Sun