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HIS 105 Chapter 10. Iran and India Before Islam. Iran. India. Parthians in Iran. Began the Arsacid rule (247 B.C.E.- 223 C.E.) Took hold in eastern Iran Dominated Iranian heartlands of Achaemenids and Selucids Continued imperial and cultural traditions of Achaemenids. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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HIS 105Chapter 10
Iran and India Before Islam
Iran
India
Parthians in Iran Began the Arsacid rule (247 B.C.E.-
223 C.E.) Took hold in eastern Iran Dominated Iranian heartlands of
Achaemenids and Selucids Continued imperial and cultural
traditions of Achaemenids
Tolerant of different religions Allowed strong local governments Aramaic, Greek, and other regional
languages spoken Supported Zoroastrianism and
Iranian traditions Fought with neighbors in the east
and in the west
Sasanids (224 – 651 C.E. ) Persians Claimed to be the rightful heirs to
the Achaemenids Ardashir (r. 224-239 C.E.) was the
first Sasanid king He was followed by his son, Shapur
(r. 239 – 272 C.E.)
Shapur
Both father and son had a strong internal administration in the area called Persia (Fars)
The empire grew under Shapur He defeated 3 Roman emperors
including Valerian whom he captured
Shapur called himself Shahanshah, “King of Kings”
Had control over his ministries, taxes, and the military
Had conflicts with Byzantium
Life under Sasanids Family was basic social unit Practiced Zoroastrianism 4 classes: priests, warriors,
scribes, and peasants Agricultural economy Land was owned by the rich and
worked by the poor
Peasants paid taxes, worked the land, and went into the army
Government controlled land and sea trade, silk and glass production, and mining
Bills of exchange were introduced by bankers
Check comes from a Pahlavi word
Under Chosroes, Sasanids reached great heights, influenced by Indian, Iranian, Buddhist, Hellenistic, and Byzantine ideas Led to achievements in art,
sciences/math, and philosophy
Religion Zoroastrianism made state religion
with help from Ardashir’s chief priest, Tosar
Kartir succeeded Tosar and was the chief priest to Shapur I and his 3 successors Less tolerant of other relions Kartir tried to convert pagans,
Christians, and Buddhists
Manichaeans were Kartir’s chief opponents Led by Mani Centered on a radically dualistic and
moralistic view of reality where good and evil, spirit and matter warred
Tried to unite Zoroastrian, Christian, and Buddhist teachings
Tried to found a new religion
Manichaeism spread to the east and to the west even after Mani’s death
Zoroastrians Backbone of Sasanid culture Its texts written in Pahlavi, the official
imperial language Priests became jurists, legal
interpreters, and scholars and controlled much of the Iranian wealth
Later Sasanids Inequities in society brought about
a rebellion led by Mazdak Taught about the evils of materialism Was for vegetarianism, tolerance, and
brotherly love Wanted a more equal distribution of
society’s goods
Mazdak
Kavad I (r. 488-531 C.E.) was sympathetic to Mazdak
However, his third son massacred Mazdak and many of his followers
India Gupta era was the high point of
Indian civilization Chandragupta (r. 320 -330 C.E.)
was the first Gupta king He seized the throne of a local ruler in
eastern Ganges area Helped establish an empire that
lasted for 250 years
Chandragupta
Chandragupta II (r. 375-415 C.E.) established the empire and its Golden Age Under him, India was arguably the
most civilized and peaceful country in the world
Two more kings sustained this prosperity for another half century despite nomadic invasions of the Huns after 440 C.E.
By 500 the Huns had overrun western India.
Gupta Empire collapsed 550 C.E. Harsha, a descendent of the
Guptas, did revive a semblance of the old empire 616 -657 C.E.
Harsha died without heirs and the empire broke up again
Several dynasties had power in the north before the coming of the Muslims in 1000 C.E.
There was no unified rule of any duration until 1947
As Guptas declined, so did Buddhism
Guptas preferred Hinduism and it was at the core of Indian culture
Guptas Became supreme overlords Collected tribute Local rulers represented Guptas Guptas backed Hinduism Brahman power was restored Brahmans once again became
teachers, advisors, and religious leaders
Brahmans were patrons of the arts; carved temples and sculpture were built
Sculptures stood for creation, destruction, fertility, and death
Each idea represented by a god Brahma – creation Shiva – destruction Lakshmi – fertility Kali -- death
Achievements of the Guptas 2 written languages – Sanskrit, a
sacred and classical language and Tamil, from the south
Kalidasa was the greatest of Sanskrit writers; poet
Advances made in geometry and algebra
Calculated the circumference of the earth and the value of pi, independent of the Greeks
Devised decimals and the “Arabic” number system
Developed surgical techniques and new ways to treat illness
Caste and Gender Inequities Life changed for many when
brahmans regained power Caste system was reinstated
Lines were more rigid Untouchables had to warn people they
were coming by clapping sticks Untouchables could only drink from their
own wells
Status of women changed Dominated in every way by men Marriages were arranged Fathers had to pay dowry Woman respected only if she bore sons She could inherit nothing Women could be courtesans, wives, or
prostitutes
Elites of society Had servants Had nice houses with gardens Had clothes of silk and cotton Gave festivals Played chess and parchesi Males were expected to follow 4
stages of life: youth, householder, hermit, holy man
Ordinary Folks Most Indians were peasants, artisans,
or sweepers Life was hard, and they had no
servants Bowed to superiors Performed household and farm tasks Attended festivals, watched dances,
and played dice
Gupta Decline Guptas held their domain together
for 250 years There were challenges from the
Huns to the north There were challenges from their
own states to the south by 5th century C.E.
Skanda Gupta was the last monarch and died in mid-5th century C.E.
The empire fell apart after his death
Chaos followed Peace finally came to the region in
the 13th century C.E. under the Delhi Sultinate
Buddhism Spread to other areas as it
declined in India It developed into 2 schools
Mahayana – emphasized Buddha’s compassion for all beings, and its highest goal was Bodhisattva, the postponing of Nirvana until one has helped all others to reach enlightenment
Theravada – emphasized the monastic ideal; focused on the monastic community; work toward a better rebirth and visit various stupas (shrines)
Mahayana spread to Central Asia, China, Korea, Japan, & Tibet
Theravada spread to Ceylon, Burma, & parts of S.E. Asia
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