"In the history of the world there have been thousands of kings and emperors who called themselves...
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Transcript of "In the history of the world there have been thousands of kings and emperors who called themselves...
"In the history of the world there have been thousands of
kings and emperors who called themselves 'their
highnesses,' 'their majesties,' and 'their exalted majesties' and so on. They shone for a
brief moment, and as quickly disappeared. But Ashoka
shines and shines brightly like a bright star, even unto this
day."
H.G. Wells
INDIA
Empires played a less prominent role in India In the Indus River valley flourished the
largest of the First Civilizations (The cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro – urban planning)
But in the Indus valley, there was little evidence of any central political authority
At its demise by 1500 BCE, creation of a new civilization along the Ganges River
Scholars debate the role of the Aryans, a pastoral Indo-European people, and whether they invaded and destroyed or were already a part of the Indus Valley population
POLITICAL FRAGMENTATION AND DIVERSITY
By 600 BCE, the classical civilization of South Asia began to take shape in northern India
But emerged as a fragmented collection of towns and cities with diverse political structures
And a range of ethnic, cultural, and linguistic diversity due to endless variety of peoples migrating from Central Asia across mountain passes into India
The source of an identity in the midst of diversity was a distinctive religion (Hinduism)
Linguistic Map
BUT EMPIRES HAD BEEN KNOWN
Northwestern India had been briefly ruled by Persian Empire
Northwestern India and been briefly conquered by Alexander the Great
Persian and Greek influences encouraged the first and largest of India’s short experiments with empire building
“Surrender of Porus to the Emperor Alexander”
THE MAURYAN EMPIRE
With a population of perhaps 50 million A large military force (reported 600,000
infantry soldiers - 30,000 cavalry - 8,000 chariots - and 9,000 elephants)
Civilian bureaucracy with various ministries and spies
State also operated many industries – spinning, weaving, mining, shipbuilding, and armaments
Taxes on trade, herds, land (from which the monarch claimed a quarter or more of the crop)
ASHOKA (REIGNED 268-232 BCE)
Left a record of his activities and thinking in his edicts carved on rocks and pillars (Pillars of Ashoka)
Reign began in a ruthless fashion of conquest and expansion
But a particularly bloody battle, the Battle of Kalinga, was a turning point
-Disgusted by the violence and carnage, Ashoka converted to Buddhism
Adopted a more peaceful approach to government
Encouraged nonviolence and tolerance Worked for the happiness and well-being of
his subjects Abandoned the royal hunts Ended animal sacrifices in the capital Eliminated most meat from the royal menu Generously supported Buddhist monasteries
as well as the building of stupas (shrines erected by Buddhists which housed relics of important Buddhists)
Ordered the digging of wells, the planting of shade trees, and the building of rest stops along the empire’s major highways (integrating the kingdom’s economy)
But still retained the power to punish wrongdoing and the death penalty remained
Attempted to develop a moral code for the diverse empire
After Ashoka’s death, political fragmentation returned with competing regional states
Buddhist symbol - the Dharma wheel – representing the teachings of the Buddha
Political Fragmentation
THE GUPTA EMPIRE
Another short-lived experiment in empire building in South Asia
A golden age of Hindu culture Mathematicians developed the concept of
zero, the decimal system, and the concept of infinity
Scientists experimented with vaccinations Artists created beautiful paintings in the
caves of Ajanta and great works of literature in Sanskrit, the holy language of the Hindu religion
But India was similar to Western Europe after the collapse of the Roman Empire
Political fragmentation was more common than unity
Perhaps India’s tremendous cultural diversity was the reason
Also frequent invasions from Central Asia, which regularly smashed states that might have emerged as empire builders
And India’s social system known as the caste system increased local loyalties
But a vibrant economy encouraged trade and commerce
India was a focal point of an extensive network of trade in the Indian Ocean basin
Its cotton textile industry supplied cloth throughout the Afro-Eurasian world
Strong guilds of merchants and artisans provided political leadership in towns and cities
Wealth from commerce patronized the activities of artists and architects
Creativity in religious thinking (from Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism emerged)
Great advances in mathematics and science, especially astronomy
The absence of a consistent imperial unity did not prevent the evolution of a lasting civilization
REFLECTIONS
A Strayer Question: Why were centralized empires so much less
prominent in India than in China? Compare and contrast the process of empire
building in India and the Roman Empire. How did the religious experience shape the
political reality in South Asia?