Transcript PPT Lecture 4 Iran India and Inner Asia

Iran, India, and Inner Asia to 200
AD
The Elamites
The Iranians
• Western Aryans
• Worship of Ahura Mazda
• Zoroaster and Zoroastrianism (1100-900
BC)
– The Prophet Zoraster and The Gathas
– The Avesta
– Moral Reform and Monotheism
The Persian Empire (550-330
BC)
Persia
• Cyrus the Great (559-530 BC)
• Darius I (522-486 BC) and the Greeks
• The Achaemenid State
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Shahansha, “King of Kings”, Priest-Kings
System of Satrapies and Professional Army
Use of Money
Flourishing Economy
Mauryan Empire (321-185 BC)
Mauryan Empire
• Chandragupta Maurya (321-297 BC)
• Ashoka Maurya (272-232 BC)
– Major Conqueror Sickened by War
– Champion of Buddhism
– But Empire too big
Mauryan State
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Centralized government
Hiearchical territory governments
Centralized Taxes--land and trade
Leaves a legacy of roads, cities, and trade.
Consolidation of Indian
Civilization (200 BC - 300 AD)
• Many small states
• Mauryan trade network links to world
survive
• Greek and Hindu Mix produces realist art
• Modern Hinduism Emerges
Rise of Mahayana
• Buddhist sects emphasizing Compassion :
Mahayana
• Idea of Boddhisatvas
• Devotional Religious Practice
• Pure Land schools
• Use of mantras and mysticism
The Selucids
Steppe Peoples
• Parthians (247 BC - 233 AD)
• Scythians (circa 130 BC)