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