Classical++India

Espirit Chart India:

**ESPIRIT Chart** You must include main ideas and details in each category

Civilization/Nation/Group: India

Time Period 1000BCE-500CE


 * E || India’s economy revolved around trade and agriculture. India’s trade was better than China. India produced products such as cloth, and cotton. Currently India consisted of the best steel industry. Traded in Mediterranean Sea. ||
 * S || India’s society was divided into separate castes, Brahman had the highest social status, after came the merchants then finally the untouchables. In India men had higher stats over women, and women had arranged marriages even if child has never met before. Upper and lower classes did not interact a lot unless it was necessary. ||
 * P || India did not consist of any solid tradition unlike China, the political forms were more diverse and regionalist was also involved. India consisted of a huge amount of soldiers. Lands that are occupied and taken under the control of India may continue to rule under it. Different social status cannot bond.(marriage). Aristocrats made important decisions. ||
 * I || India had interacted with many others since their economy is partly based on trade. Profits were made due to the trade of goods such as drugs, silk and even gold. A ** caravan trade ** was established by India and China. New goods were imported to India by trading with the Roman Empire and the Middle East like slaves, metals, and wine. Goods being trade went through India, India was the middle man and made profit. ||
 * R || Hinduism’s origins go all the way back to the Epic and the Vedic ages. In Hinduism there was no one main figure. Karma was one belief of Hinduism. The Upanishads believed that health and wealth were not the most important reason of the human existence, believed in being able to communicate with mystical beings. The beliefs that Brahman had been challenged by the Upanishads. They believed in Vishnu and Shiva. Also believed in reincarnation, next life depends on the deeds done with the previous life. Brahmans believed in treating animals with respect such as cows, being a vegetarian and Hinduism revolved around peace. Dharma beliefs included achieving successful goals, and everyone had a duty that they needed to fulfill. Hinduism became very popular because it associated well with everyday society. Buddhism was established by Siddhartha Gautama an Indian prince, known as the “enlightened one”, he set off to find the answer that he was looking for, he believed in nirvana. There were poems and epics that were relevant to religion. Stupas were being built to honor Buddha. Eurpoeans were the one that introduced polytheistic belief. One of the great benefactors was Menander I, Kanishka. Encouraged artists. Has several natural gods, polytheistic. ||
 * I || Aryabhatta had improved mathematical measurements and calculated the length of the solar year, and was able to calculate the earths’ circumference, they were able to predict when there was going to be eclipses. Plastic surgery and bone setting was also being practiced. There were other developments in math such as the value of pi, existence of negative numbers, and square roots. Many great plays were being written that were relevant to religion, influenced religion. ||
 * T || India did not lack advancements in technology. India was able to advance further than China in technology. India’s steel was currently number one. Still being used currently that the India had established in decimals, and negative numbers. Not only being advance in mathematics they were also advanced in textile also, developing a technique to produce cashmere, calico and cotton. ||

Comparison between India and china: The religion of China and India varied in many ways however there are similarities that they share. In both India and China high emphasize was put in scientific process, and development of learning, however at the same time China moved to develop the same goals. Both made astronomical advancements by both studying the stars and also achieved many new advancements in mathematics. Daoism and Hinduism shared the same beliefs of nature. China developed negative numbers and the Pythagorean theorems and India developed the use of zeros. In China religion was viewed more as philosophy rather than religious beliefs.

Classical India Key Terms:

Classical India Summary:
 * Aryans || They are Indo-Europeans, they were hunters and herders, and they migrated from time to time. They originated from central Asia; they too had believed in agriculture and used iron tools get the job done. They lived in the Vedic and Epic ages. ||
 * Ashoka || (269 B.C.E.-232 B.C.E.) He was the grandson of Chandragupta’s. He was greatly influenced by the religion and ways of Buddhism and Brahmin. Like any leader Ashoka was confident and determined to expand his control and territory. However he also displayed compassion due to his belief in dharma. ||
 * Gupta || Empire established beginning of 320 B.C.E; the Gupta came after the Kushan. No individual leaders were being established that was as good as the Mauryan rulers. To expand their territories without bloodshed they arranged intermarriages, was overtaken by the Huns in 535 B.C.E. ||
 * Caste system || A system of status that India follows, whatever status you have cannot be changed, people of different status does not interact with different statuses unless it was necessary. ||
 * Hinduism || Hinduism origin was at the Epic and the Vedic ages. Hinduism became very popular because it associated well with everyday society. Hinduism revolved around the idea of peace, and harmony. ||
 * Sanskirt || First written language of India, it was developed through the contributions of the Aryans who passed this on by the word of mouth. ||
 * Upanishads || Epic poems that consist of religion created during the Epic age. ||
 * Dharma || Law of moral consequences, part of Buddhism belief, Ashoka grandson of Chandragupta believed in this. ||
 * Buddhism || Originated in India, main figure is Buddha, an India prince named Siddhartha Gautama who gave up everything to find an answer to his question. Buddhism has an idea of nirvana; it’s when one gives up worldly possessions and all matter to be at peace, a realm with no decay and suffering. ||
 * Tamils || They are an ethnic and linguistic group of people that lives in India. They speak the language of Tamil. ||
 * Chandragupta Maurya || Controlled the Ganges river in 322 B.C.E, first ruler of Mauryan ruler he was able unify most of the subcontinent. His style of government was mainly autocratic. ||
 * Gurus || The mystics that recruited disciples. ||
 * Bhagavad Gita || Song of god and the teacher of Bhagavad Gita was Lord Krishna. ||

Religions had a great influence on India; the two main religions that were widely known and practiced were Hinduism and Buddhism. Hinduism’s beliefs were revolved around peace and harmony. Buddhism also believed in peace and harmony but there was also the idea of dharma and nirvana. ** Dharma ** was laws of ethnic moral consequences and ** nirvana ** was a realm beyond humanly exist where there is no worldly possessions and suffering anymore, where one is at peace with the world. People in India were known to be polytheistic. There was also the belief of ** reincarnation ** where one would be reborn into another body after death. The main figure of Buddhism was** Buddha ** otherwise known as Siddhartha Gautama, an India prince who gave up his wealth and wandered the world to find an answer to end suffering. To honor Buddha ** stupas ** were being built. India’s economy was based on trade and agriculture. India was basically the middle man of trades between others. India had a caste system, a system of status for citizens, different people of different status did not interact unless it was absolutely necessary, status cannot be changed. India had contributed much advancement to the world today such as negative numbers and established the use of decimals. Aryabhatta had improved mathematical measurements and calculated the length of the solar year. There was also the Vedic and Epic age, ** Sanskrit **the first written language was established because of the ** Aryans **, they had passed on the language by word of mouth. The first to rule the ** Mauryan **dynasty was C** handragupta Maurya ** and he was able to unify most of the subcontinent. After the rule of ** Ashoka **grandson of Chandragupta the ** Kushans ** rose to power came from the northwest and eventually collapse. After the ** Guptas ** had taken over in 320 C.E. they expanded their power not through bloodshed but through arranged intermarriages.