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Chapter 6 Review and Discussion Ancient India Ganesha Roots of Hinduism • Who’s the founder? • No original founder • Grew out of early Aryan beliefs in multiple Gods. • Is there a sacred text? • Beliefs come from the Vedas and other Indian epics, poems and songs • 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 characteristic of Brahman. • How many gods exist? • As many as 330 million gods Brahman the Creator god of knowledge & intellect Reincarnation • 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 • the lifetime actions that affect a person’s fate • Good choices leads to higher rebirth • Bad choices leads to lower birth maybe a rat or an ant Methods to Achieve Moksha • Ahimsa? • Promote nonviolence toward all living things Methods to Achieve Moksha • What is Dharma? • Follow the religious & moral duties of your varna or caste • Code of conduct for each 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 Hinduism • What does the red dot represent? • symbolizes the mark of the supreme being and identifies you as Hindu. Hinduism Today • 3rd largest religion in the world • Estimated I billion Hindus in the world. • Mostly live in India and Nepal. India’s Caste System 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 System 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 • Grew up an Indian prince surrounded by wealth and luxury • Saddened by amount of suffering by people. Buddha: The Enlightened One “Four Noble Truths”: 1. All life is full of suffering 2. The cause of suffering is wrong desires like wealth and power 3. The only cure for suffering is to overcome desire 4. The way overcome is by following the “Noble Eightfold Path.” 1 The Teachings of the Buddha •Enlightenment is achieved through meditation. 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 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. War Invasion of Alexander the Great (320 B.C.E) Defeat of Seleucus (305 B.C.E.) Battle at Kalinga (265 to 264 B.C.E.) Chandragupta: 321 BCE-298 BCE Unified northern India. Defeated the Persian general Seleucus. Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law enforcement. He feared assassination [like Saddam Hussein] food tasters, slept in different rooms, etc. 301 BCE gave up his throne & became 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 Hinduism Buddhism Jainism Social Structure Gender and Family Structure The Caste System Hierarchy •Regulated the marriages •Husbands, fathers were dominant, women were always submissive •Passed down the family, hard to move upward. •Laws limited women’s life and abilities. The Arts Stupa The Mauryan Empire were the first in India to transition from wood to stone in their architecture and art. Pillars Coins Asoka (304 – 232 BCE) Religious conversion after the gruesome battle of Kalinga in 262 BCE. Dedicated his life to Buddhism. Built extensive roads. Conflict how to balance the methods of keeping power and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless 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’s Empire Asoka’s law code Edicts scattered in more than 30 places in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan. Written mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic. 10 rock edicts. Each pillar [stupa] is 40’-50’ high. Buddhist principles dominate his laws. Gupta Empire: CE 320 CE – 647 Gupta Rulers Chandra Gupta I r. 320 – 335 CE “Great King of Kings” Chandra Gupta II r. 375 - 415 CE Profitable trade with the Mediterranean world! Hindu revival. Huns invade – 450 CE Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta India Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the Silk Road and visited India in the 5c. He was following the path of the Buddha. He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and charity. Other references in the journal, however, indicate that the caste system was rapidly assuming its basic features, including "untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest class that is doomed to menial labor. International Trade Routes during the Guptas Extensive Trade: 4c spices gold & ivory Gupta Art Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & architecture. 500 healing plants identified 1000 diseases classified Printed medicinal guides Plastic Surgery Gupta Achievements Kalidasa Literature Medicine Inoculations Gupta India C-sections performed Decimal System Mathematics Concept of Zero PI = 3.1416 Solar Calendar Astronomy The earth is round The Decline of the Guptas Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaled the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even though at first, the Guptas defeated them. After the decline of the Gupta empire, north India broke into a number of separate Hindu kingdoms and was not really unified again until 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) Bhartrhari 5c India court poet and philosopher. Knowledge is man's crowning mark, A treasure secretly buried, The source of luxury, fame, and bliss, A guru most venerable, A friend on foreign journeys, The pinnacle of divinity. Knowledge is valued by kings beyond wealth--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.