India Flashcards
Gupta Dynasty
Founder Chandra Gupta/based in Magadha/peace prosperity ideas/decentralized leadership/golden age science and math
What happens after the Mauryan Empire?
Division into many kingdoms (Xiongnu seize power and form Kusha Kingdom, Regional kingdom of Bactria
Ashoka
Grandson of Chandragupta, expanded empire all of India besides south/built roads/converts to Buddhism after gruesome battle of Kalinga/built stone pillars with Buddhist inscriptions in Sanskrit spread nonviolence
Education (guru)
Male studied the Hindu Vedas with a guru teacher to conduct religious family rituals or for professional reasons
Chandragupta Maurya
First emperor of first unified Mauryan Empire, drives out Greek Kingdom of Magadha, highly centralized/despotic tyranny/bureaucratic administrative system like Persia and China/spies/feared assassination/divided into provinces/Becomes Jain starves to death
Kingdom of Magadha
Most significant ruling kingdom after alexander
Kalidasa
Greatest Indian poet, wrote play Shakuntala
Astronomy
Solar calendar and round earh
Kautilya (Chanakya)
Chandragupta’s advisor of Brahmin caste who wrote Treatise on Material Gain or Arthashastra supporting royal power and against anarchy, rational law>sacred
Math
Zeros, decimals, and Pi
Pataliputra
Capital of Mauryan Empire
Gupta decline
Invasion of Xiongnu or “White Huns” smaller local kingdoms dominate until Mughal Empire (muslim)
Social caste system
Connected to hinduism (most popular religion) reincarnation MokshaBrahmin priestKshatriyas warriorVaishyas peasants/merchantsSudras common pplParias/unthought lea
Twice born
Privilege ceremony at puberty where young males initiated into adulthood to Indian society
Jati
Extended family or kinship group of a particular class each with its own economy/political function