India

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 * 1.1 - PowerPoint of India and China's religion and interaction**


 * 1.2 - Summary of China and India's religion and interaction**

Classical China and Classical India had different religions and interacted with other society very differently from each other. India was more open with the rest of world in trade and intraction while China isolated themselves. Religion in India basically shaped how society would run but also helped to develop arts, sciences and math.


 * 1.3 - ESPIRIT Chart - India**

Civilization/Nation/Group – India Time Period – 1000 B.C.E – 500 B.C.E  E   || * Trade and manufacturing rivaled with China’s and Europe’s S || * Castes served as an occupation ranging from high-ranking Brahmins, a warrior or government class, middle-ranking farmers and artisan groups, low-ranking “Untouchables” P || * Had a weak central government, no bureaucracy, used Caste System I || * At one point was invaded by Alexander the Great R || * Two main religions are Hinduism and Buddhism, both became world religions I || * Art and architecture of Ajanta and Ellora shaped Indian life and also challenges Buddhism T || * Hinduism has survived along with its major system of belief
 * Economic ties built between families through arranged marriages
 * Relied mostly on agriculture
 * Merchants had greater roles ||
 * -social groups were hereditary
 * Caste system lacked social mobility (could not move up or down between classes)
 * Peasants have little contact with those of higher class
 * Man (husbands or fathers) was dominant over woman/children ||
 * Hindu was depended on to maintain power
 * Due to regionalism, there was no single language
 * Had strong army to calm regional powers ||
 * Relatively involved in interaction with other empires/kingdoms within own borders
 * Traded through the Silk Road ||
 * Religion not only shaped morale ethics but lead to developed arts and sciences
 * Hinduism had no single founder or holy figure to be based off of
 * Encouraged political and economic goals along with worldly pleasures
 * Buddhism didn’t have a permanent stay in India due to opposition from Hinduism
 * Had also believed in reincarnation but believed that one can regulate their lives to achieve this ||
 * Wall paintings and sculptures provides great illustrations of ships, instruments, weapons and tools
 * Believed in reincarnation
 * Each person must meet the obligation of life, serve the family, produce a livelihood, earn enough money and serve the army ||
 * Indian numbering system is what we use today
 * First to manufacture cotton cloth, calico and cashmere
 * Developed the best steel thanks to new uses of chemistry ||


 * 1.4 - Classical India Key Terms **


 * Aryans || * Came to India during the Vedic and Epic Ages
 * Indo-European migrants originally from central Asia
 * Hunters and herders
 * Preclassical Indian history comes from literary epics developed by Aryans
 * Encouraged tight levels of village organization ||
 * Ashoka || * Chandragupta’s grandson (269 – 232 B.C.E)
 * Extended Mauryan conquests and gained control in all but the southern tip of India
 * Methods were bloodthirsty, many were killed
 * Converted to Buddhism and propagated Buddhism throughout India along with Hinduism
 * Worked to improve trade and communications ||
 * Gupta || * New line of kings after the collapse of the Kushan state
 * Two centuries of rule gave classical India its greatest period of political stability
 * Created a taxation system and spread uniform law codes
 * Overturned in 535 C.E after invaded by the Huns ||
 * Caste system || * Described key features of Indian social and economic life by assigned people of occupations and regulated marriages
 * Low-caste individuals had little legal rights and servants often abused.
 * Peasants have little to no contact with people of higher social caste ||
 * Hinduism || * Supported by Gupta who reaffirmed the position of brahmans as high priests and political advisors in the religion
 * Lead to achievements in architecture, painting, sculpture. Philosophy, literature and sciences
 * Unlike other religions, Hinduism had no single founder or a central holy figure
 * Encouraged political and economic goals and worldly pleasures ||
 * Sanskirt || * The literary epics of preclassical Indian history developed by Aryans
 * The first literary language of the new culture
 * Sacred books called Vedas
 * Stories such as Mahabharata(India’s greatest epic poem), Ramayana, both dealt with real/mythical battles developed ||
 * Upanishads || * Created during the Epic Age
 * Epic poems with more mystical religious flavor ||
 * Dharma || * The law of moral consequences (Buddhism)
 * Ethical guide that could unite and discipline the diverse people under Ashoka’s rule
 * Stressed inner study and meditation and building from divine essence within each creature ||
 * Buddhism || * Founded by Siddhartha Gautama, an Indian prince
 * Saw the afterlife as a realm were suffering and decay are no more, a nirvana
 * Denied spiritual value of caste, the performance of rituals and priests ||
 * Tamils || * First Indian language given a classical status
 * Native to Tamil Nadu, a state in India and the north-east region of Sri Lanka ||
 * Chandragupta Maurya || * Young soldier in 322B.C.E who seized power along the Ganges River
 * First ruler of the Mauryan dynasty of Indian rulers
 * Style of government was highly autocratic, relying on ruler’s military and personal power ||
 * Gurus || * Mystical holy men, Brahmans who served as teachers
 * Along with Brahman priests agreed on certain doctrines as Hinduism was increasing ||
 * Bhagavad Gita || * A sacred Hindu scripture
 * Considered among the most important texts in the history of literature and philosophy
 * Part of the Mahabharata ||


 * 1.5 - Summary of India **

In Classical India, religion had a big impact on culture. Hinduism help led to an age of achievements in architecture, painting, sculpture, philosophy, literature, and sciences. The religion pursed many other religion approaches and encouraged political and economical goals. Buddhism was a religion solely on self-control, by controlling what you will do; you will become a better person by making better choices. Many people in India were in poverty which was mostly why India was an agricultural society. Women were also viewed as inferior to men as they have been in other societies.