Transcript World History

World History:
The Earth and its Peoples
Chapter 6
India and Southeast Asia,
1500 B.C.E. - 1100 C.E.
Objectives
• Explain the historical forces that led to the development
of the complex social groupings in ancient India.
• Identify why Indian civilization developed religious
traditions with such distinctive conceptions and explain
how these beliefs shaped nearly every aspect of South
Asian culture.
• Explain how the Mauryan and Gupta Empires succeeded
in unifying much of India.
• Explain how a number of Southeast Asian states
became wealthy and powerful by exploiting their position
on the trade routes between China and India.
Foundations of Indian Civilization
Diversity
– political and class divisions
– language and ethnic
groups
– multiple gods
Geography
– mtns, basins, plateaus
– monsoon (seasonal wind)
• three harvests annually
• trade winds
The Vedic Age, 1500-500 B.C.E.
Vedas
– sacred religious literature
• Indo-European speakers
– Aryans
• light-skinned
– Dasas
• dark-skinned Dravidians
• varna - “color”
– social order between groups
– connected to reincarnation
• you are where you are
supposed to be
• atman
– jati
• birth groups; occupation
The Vedic Age
• karma
– good and bad deeds
• sacrifice
– invigorate gods; promote
stability
Brahmins
– technology of sacrifice
Rig Veda
– poetic hymns to deities and
sacred practices
Women
– learning opportunities
– own property
Jainism and Buddhism
Moksha - “liberation”
– release from cycle of
reincarnation
Upanishads
– teacher / student dialogues
– question Vedic foundations
Jainism
– Mahavira
– nonviolence, asceticism, nudity
Jainism and Buddhism
Buddha
– Siddhartha Gautama
– Four Noble Truths
• life is suffering caused by desire
• celibacy, nonviolence, poverty
– nirvana
• ultimate spiritual reward
• Mahayana Buddhism
– “Great Vehicle”
• Theravada Buddhism
– original teachings
The Rise of Hinduism
Hinduism
– religious diffusion
– Vedic and Buddhist practices
– female deities; fertility
• Primary Deities
– Vishnu, Shiva, Krishna
– family devotion to one god
– single divine force in universe
• Divine Favor
– sacred truths, discipline,
devotion
– Ganges
– pilgrimage - broad Hindu identity
• Absorption of Buddhism
Imperial Expansion and Collapse
Political Fragmentation
– geography; economic activity
– social hierarchy; culture
Mauryan Empire - 324-184 BCE
• 1st centralized empire
– Magadha kingdom
– Chandragupta Maurya
• Alexander’s death
• Kautilya
– Arthashastra
– Pataliputra
• walled, moated capital
– Asoka
• Kalinga conversion
Commerce and Culture
Mauryan Collapse
– small principalities
– strong economic activity
• rise of guilds
• Literature
– Mahabarata
• war between cousins
– Ramayana
• love story w/ prince - princess
– Bhagavad-Gita
• duty to society and one’s soul
• teacher / student dialogue
– Krishna / Arjuna
– Tamil kingdoms
• ‘classical’ period in literature
The Gupta Empire
Gupta Empire - 320-550 CE
– Chandra Gupta (Hindu)
– revenue source: 25% ag tax
• powerful national army
– theater-state
• advertisement of benefits of
association with the empire
– Intellectual support
• zero; ‘Arabic’ numerals
– women
•
•
•
•
decline in status (urbanization)
loss of property rights
early marriage
sati - funeral pyre
The Gupta Empire
Trade
– from Rome to SE Asia
– cotton, ivory, metalwork
Attack
– Huns from steppes
– 550 CE
• fragmentation until Islamic
invasions (11th-12th cen)
• Deccan Plateau independent
Southeast Asia
Cultural Crossroads
– trade between China and India
Geography
– geographically active
• Pacific Ring of Fire
• volcanic soil
– tropical climate
– monsoon rains
– rain forests
Agriculture
– swidden
– tropical growth
• rice, bananas, cane, yams
• chickens and pigs
Southeast Asia
Malay Peoples
– Chinese migration 3000 BCE
– navigational skills 1000 BCE
• monsoon winds, bird life
• wind and clouds patterns
– riverbanks / volcanic plains
– numerous natural resources
State Building - early C.E.
– commerce
• silk and spices
– Hindu/Buddhist culture
• Indian merchants and sailors
Southeast Asia
Funan
– 1st to 6th centuries C.E.
– 1st major SE Asia center
– Isthmus of Kra
• key trade route China / India
– shift in trade routes
• silk worm monopoly
Srivjayan Kingdom - 6th to 11th
– southern tip of Malay Peninsula
• regional alliances
– vital shipping passageways
• theater-state
– Borobodur
• Buddhist monument
• king as bodhisattva
– Indian cultural influence
Borobodur Buddhist Temple, Java
Borobodur Buddhist Temple, Java
Doc 7
Seneca is an upper-class Roman whose attitude
reflects the Roman belief that although innovation comes
from those with a sharp mind, this does not signify inventors being great
people.
Doc 8
Frontious reveals the belief that Romans are a superior people because
Their innovations (aqueducts) have revolutionized city life
and made Rome far more advanced than previous civilizations.
Based on the documents,
What do you believe are Roman attitudes towards Technology?
What do you believe are Han attitudes towards
Technology?
Given the attitudes for each empire, what could be a relevant
Argument that would be supported by your docs?
Groupings
2, 3, 4, 6, 8 benefits of access to technology
1,2, 8 governments responsibility
5, 7 both comment on Roman disgust with those utilize technology
4, 6, 8 revel in the achievments of technology
Sample thesis:
Although the Han and Roman civilizations experienced
growth and success through technology, their respective attitudes
Toward technology varied. (possible thesis) Whereas the Han Empire
Seemed more concerned with how technology could aid their citizens the
Romans seemed to frown upon those who utilized technology while
reveling in the technological achievements of their civilization. Both
civilizations show these attitudes towards technology through
technological accessibility to citizens, the extent to which the
government should use technology to improve subjects lives and whom
in each society should receive praise for these advancements.