5. History Ancient India II

Question 1

North India from around the 6th c. to the 4th c. BCE

Answer 1

™ Rural prosperity > economic surplus
™ Urban growth (though limited), the so-called second urbanization
™ Political consolidation
™ Development of trade networks
™ Eastward spread of the Brahmanical culture
™ Emergence of a new category of religious practitioners, the śramaṇas, from which several religious movements stem. buddhism, Jainism, ajirika

Question 2

Major Dates

Answer 2

ca 270-232 BCE
Reign of Aśoka, the Maurya dynasty
2nd c. BCE
Śunga dynasty in Northern central India,
1st cent. BCE — 1st CE
Period of Saka migration
ca 127-150
Kaniṣka, the great Kuṣāṇa King
Late 3rd c. CE
End of the Kuṣāṇa Empire
ca 300-500
Gupta dynasty

Question 3

The Maurya and King Asoka

Answer 3

Aśoka (r. ca 272-230 BCE) extended the reach of the Maurya rule considerably, over much of present-day India, an established a complex administrative system to exert his control over a huge territory.
Also (re-) introduced writing to promote his edicts and political ideology.
After Aśoka’s death, the Mauryan dynasty quickly declined.

Question 4

Aśoka’s religious and political prog–ramme

Answer 4

™ Promotes a Dharma that is not the Buddhist Dharma, but a code of moral and ethical behavior (proper treatment of slaves, restriction of animal killing, welfare work, liberality to brahmins and śramaṇas, respect to parents…)
Ø Compatible with Buddhist and Jaina ethical guidelines, but not unambiguously aligned to either of them.
™ Establishes pillars and sends messengers that promote his Dharma (not Buddhist missionaries).
™ No mention of major Buddhist concepts, like nirvāṇa
™ Supports brāhmaṇas and śramaṇas alike, and among the latter, not exclusively Buddhists.

Question 5

The rise of the Kuṣāṇa empire

Answer 5

™ 2nd century BCE: Migration of Y Chinese –uezhi groups,
™ Bactria and Gandhāra are unified by Kujula
™ Their new realm included Mathurā, awhich the Kuṣāṇa rule consolidated, controlling key routes between South and Central Asia, overland and maritime trade networks.
™ The incrued capital led to the sponsoring of religious sites and institutions by the elites.

Question 6

Early patterns of globalization in the beginning of the first Millennium CE

Answer 6

INDO-ROMAN TRADE
Mediterranean exchanges were negligible before Augustus Caesar (r. 27 BCE–14 CE)
™ Thereafter, the red sea turned into a “Roman lake”, and exchange with India exploded
™ India exported spices (in particular pepper), ivory, jewelry and precious stones
– A single documented cargo shipment of pepper,
™ Roman gold coins, glass, and luxury goods were imported to India, and had a significant impact on the visual arts.

two way exchange : Indian artefacts found in Pompei and Alexandria i.e. (imported and locally made)