Introduction for Chapter 3

3 The Foundation of Indian Society TO 300 C.E.

> What were the defining social and cultural characteristics of ancient India? Chapter 3 examines the development of ancient India from its first civilization to the collapse of its first empire. From about 2800 B.C.E. to 1800 B.C.E., the Indus Valley, or Harappan culture, thrived and expanded over a huge area. A very different Indian society emerged after the decline of this civilization. It was dominated by the Aryans, warriors who spoke an early version of Sanskrit. It was in this period that Buddhism and Jainism were founded and the early Brahmanic religion of the Aryans developed into Hinduism. The Mauryan Dynasty emerged in the wake of the Greek invasion of north India in 326 B.C.E. The empire proved short-lived, however, and for several centuries India was politically divided. Nonetheless, cultural elements dating back to the ancient period spread through trade and other contact.

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Female Spirit from an Indian Stupa Royal patronage aided the spread of Buddhism in India, especially the patronage of King Ashoka, who sponsored the construction of numerous Buddhist monuments. This head of a female spirit (called a yakshini) is from the stupa that Ashoka had built at Bharhut in central India. (Sudarsana Yakshini, relief from Stupa of Bharhut, Madhya Pradesh, India/De Agostini Picture Library/G. Nimatallah/The Bridgeman Art Library)

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2800–2000 B.C.E. 326 B.C.E.
Height of Harappan civilization Alexander the Great enters Indus Valley
ca. 1500–500 B.C.E. ca. 322–185 B.C.E.
Vedic Age; flourishing of Aryan civilization; Rig Veda Mauryan Empire
ca. 1000 B.C.E. ca. 300 B.C.E.
Introduction of iron Jain religion splits into two sects
750–500 B.C.E. ca. 269–232 B.C.E.
Upanishads Reign of Ashoka
ca. 513 B.C.E. ca. 150 B.C.E.–250 C.E.
Persians conquer the Indus Valley and Kashmir Classical period of Tamil culture
ca. 500 B.C.E. ca. 100 C.E.
Founding of Buddhism and Jainism More inclusive Mahayana form of Buddhism emerges
ca. 400 B.C.E.–200 C.E. ca. 200 C.E.
Gradual evolution of the Brahmanic religion into Hinduism Code of Manu