Source: Herman Merivale, British Undersecretary of the Colonies, 1850s

Indentured laborers are not voluntary immigrants in the ordinary sense, ledby spontaneous desire of bettering their condition; they are not slaves,seized by violence, brought over in fetters, and working under the lash.They have been raised, not without effort, like recruits for the military service.

Point of View (POV) Mini- Lesson:

point of view explains why this particular person or organization might have this particular opinion or what particular feature informs the author’s point of view

students must move beyond mere description of the individual by considering and explaining the tone, the characteristics and experiences of the author, the intended audience and/or how the intended outcome may have influenced the author’s opinion.

mere attribution is not sufficient. Attribution is copying or repeating information verbatim from the source line of the document.

The Mauryan and Gupta Empires: 321 BCE – 550 CE

Chapter 9: State, Society and the Quest for Salvation in India

Classic Empires?

The necessary education, drill, and discipline to cultivate militarism were confined to the members of one community, the Ksatriyas. This prevented the militant attitude from spreading to other communities and kept the whole social structure unaffected by actual wars and war institutions.

Says the Arthva Veda: "May we revel, living a hundred winters, rich in heroes." The whole countrylooked upon the members of the ksatriya community as defenders of their country and consequently did not grudge the high influence and power wielded by the Ksatriyas, who were assigned a social rank next in importance to the intellectual and spiritual needs of the society

First to unite India:Chandragupta Maurya 320s BCE

Siddhartha as a Boddhisatva

Ashoka Maurya r. 268-232 BCEHigh point of Mauryan Empire

"All religions should reside everywhere, for all of them desire self-control and purity of heart." Rock Edict Nb7 (S. Dhammika)

"Here (in my domain) no living beings are to be slaughtered or offered in sacrifice." Rock Edict Nb1 (S. Dhammika)

"Contact (between religions) is good. One should listen to and respect the doctrines professed by others. Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, desires that all should be well-learned in the good doctrines of other religions.“ Rock Edict Nb12 (S. Dhammika)

"One benefits in this world and gains great merit in the next by giving the gift of the Dhamma." Rock Edict Nb11 (S. Dhammika)

"Happiness in this world and the next is difficult to obtain without much love for the Dhamma, much self-examination, much respect, much fear (of evil), and much enthusiasm." Pilar Edict Nb1 (S. Dhammika)

Spread of Buddhism under Ashoka Maurya 268-232 BCEDecline of Empire?Similar to anywhere else?

The Gupta Empire: ~ 320 – 500 CE Chandra Gupta II375 – 415 CE

Decentralized leadershipLocal states still retain some power

spices

spices

spicesspices

gold & gold &

ivoryivory

gold & gold & ivoryivory

rice & rice & wheatwheathorseshorses

cotton goods

cotton goods

cotton goods

cotton goodssilkssilks

Extensive Trade of the 4th C CE

International Trade Routes during the Golden Age of the Gupta Empire

MedicineMedicineMedicineMedicine LiteratureLiteratureLiteratureLiterature

MathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematicsAstronomyAstronomyAstronomyAstronomy

PrintedPrintedmedicinal medicinal

guidesguides

1000 1000 diseasesdiseasesclassifiedclassified

PlasticPlasticSurgerySurgery

C-sectionsC-sectionsperformeperforme

dd

InoculatioInoculationsns

500 healing500 healingplants plants

identifiedidentified

DecimalDecimalSystemSystem

ConceptConceptof Zeroof Zero

PI = 3.1416PI = 3.1416

KalidasKalidasaa

SolarSolarCalendarCalendar

The The earthearth

is roundis round

GuptaGuptaIndiaIndia

GuptaAchievements

Hindu revivalWith death of Ashoka:Bhagavad Gita

The moral of the game was that a person can attain salvation (Moksha) through performing good deeds whereas by doing evil one takes rebirth in lower forms of life (Patamu). The number of Ladders was less than the number of Snakes as a reminder that treading the path of good is very difficult compared to committing sins. Presumably the number "100" represented Moksha (Salvation).

Decline ofthe GuptaEmpire?

Invasion of The White Huns~ 450 CE