Chapter 4- Iran, India, and Inner Asia to 200 A.D.:
(1). Examine the ancient historical
background of the Iranians.
(2). Discuss ancient Iranian religion and
the Zoroastrian Tradition.
(3). Describe the first Iranian Empire of the Persians and the
Achaemenid rule and economy.
(4). Describe the first Indian Empire of
the Mauryans, and the rule of Ashoka.
(5). Examine the post-Mauryan period,
including its economic base, culture, religion, and society.
(6). Discuss Hellenistic & Asian
dynasties of the Seleucids, Indo-Greeks, Parthians, Sakas, & Kushans.
(7). Compare and contrast the
accomplishments of Iran, India, and inner Asia to the second century A.D.
(8). Analyze the significance of their
development and achievements in world perspective.
v
Chapter 4 Overview:
Ø
WH-4 examines ancient Iran, India, & inner Asia
§
Focuses on 3 major
themes:
·
Centralized empires
·
Increasing contact & interaction
·
Rise, spread, & consolidation of religious
traditions
v
Ancient Iran:
Ø
Geography (Map overview)
§
Rough boundaries:
·
Jaxartes
River (NE)
·
Indus Valley
(SE)
·
Tigris &
Euphrates (W)
·
Armenia &
Caucasus Mtns (NW)
§
Iranian Plateau: heart of SW Asian region
·
Surrounded by mountains:
¨
Hindu Kush
(NE) => Sulaiman Mtn chain (SE)
¨
Zargos (W) & Elburz Mtns (NW)
·
2 large salt deserts
within (impact?)
Ø
Ancient Background:
§
The Elamites –
non-Semitic speaking people
·
Flourished in SW
lowlands - Susa (Map)
·
Language outlived its
state (Persian Empire)
·
Continuously at war with
Mesopotamian dynasties
¨
Especially Assyrians
·
Destroyed by Asshurbanipal
in 639BC => razed w/salt
§
The Iranians – “forefathers” of Iranian dynasties
·
2 major peoples of
Iranian Plateau: Medes & Persians
¨
Both trace routes to Vedic age Indo-Aryans
·
Medes (West)
¨
Developed tribal
confederacy
¨
Allied with Chaldians => defeat Assyrians 612BC
·
Persians (SW)
¨
Rose to power during 7th
& 6th centuries BC
¨
Cyrus the
Great => Achaemenid Empire 550BC
¨
Build on Medes & Assyrian bureaucratic models
Ø
Effectively administer
& control distant Empire
§
Ancient Iranian Religion
·
Similar in many ways to Vedic-Aryan religion &culture
¨
Stress on water, fire,
ritual sacrifice, & the cow
¨
Emphasis on moral order
& divine counterparts
¨
Ahura Mazda (equivalent of Vedic
Varuna)
§
Zoroaster (in Greek) &
Zoroastrian Tradition
·
Major religious figure: Zarathustra
¨
Preached morale reform
in decadent unstable age
¨
Parallels to Hebrew prophets, Buddha, & Confucius
·
Moral choice provided: Ahura Mazda or the dark path
·
By 4th cent.
BC – Zoroastrianism spread thru out
Iran
¨
Old Iranian gods integrated
=> quasi-monotheism
·
Possible influence on Hebrew, Christian, Islam ideas
¨
Angles, devils, the messiah, last judgment,
afterlife
·
Wiped out during Muslim
expansion of 7th & 8th cent.
¨
Barely 100K minority
remain in western India
Ø
First Iranian Empire (550-330
BC):
§
The
Achaemenids & reign of Cyrus
the Great (559-530)
·
Began rise to power
& super-power status of the
period
·
Achaemenid Empire rules from Persis (western
Iran)
·
Cyrus the Great
effectively builds on Cyrus I’s gains
·
Greatest Achievements:
¨
Stable & consistent
rule of unified empire
§
Achaemenid’s State:
·
Held together by strong bureaucracy & elite military
·
Universal sovereignty of
Shananshah recognized
¨
Strong centralized power
justified by divine right (?)
·
Evolved from Confederation of semi-autonomous kings
¨
Strong monarchy w/Nobility support &
stable tax $$
¨
Pax Achaemenica
·
Effective administration
accomplished thru 20 satraps
¨
Comm & propaganda
systems + Shah’s eyes & ears
¨
Well kept highways – King’s Road (Map)
¨
Chancery w/record
archives served by many scribes
¨
Common language adopted:
Aramaic (Near East)
Ø
Royal proclamations
efficiently distributed
·
Universal Justice
applied thru-out Empire IAW law
§
Achaemenid’s Economy – Agricultural based
·
Commerce & trade
thrived under Persian rule
·
Common weights & measure
standards
·
Darius role – financial genius & organizer
¨
True coin-based $$$
system => banks/finance
¨
Broad tax based
(estates, livestock, mines, trade)
·
Result:
trade & prosperity in diverse but unified empire
§
Empire declines after Darius => greatest expansion (Map)
v
India:
Ø
First Indian Empire (321-185BC):
§
Political Background:
·
Developed on plains of Ganges River
·
Followed vacuum left by
Alexander’s campaigns
·
Short lived dynasties: Bimbisara, Kosala, & Nandas
¨
Magadhan Throne seized by adventurer
§
The Mauryans:
·
Chandragupta Mauryan => march westward
¨
Fills vacuum left by
Alexander’s departure
¨
Unites India into great Mauryan Empire
¨
Expands westward &
takes Indus & west-central
¨
Successfully contests Seleucids for:
Ø
Ghandhara & Arachosia to his empire
·
Role of Kautilya (India’s Maciavelli?)
¨
Arthashastra
=> art of government
¨
Effective bureaucracy
created to admin policies
·
Ashoka (grandson) & Mauryan
State & Legacy
¨
Extends borders &
captures Deccan to South
¨
Able rule during early
years=> Kalinga campaign
¨
Converts to Buddhism => impact on policies?
¨
Legacy: Buddhist
rule & international outlook
Ø
Consolidation of Indian
Civilization (200BC-300AD):
§
Economic Base:
agriculture => commerce
·
International trade
(China & Rome)
·
Luxury goods (silk,
sandalwood, teak, spices, etc.)
·
Significant export
balance of trade ($$$ inflow)
·
Guilds => craft
education => investment increases
·
Coin minting &
banking expands
§
High Culture – Buddhist inspiration of the Arts
·
Gandharan
school of Buddhist Art
¨
Sculpture w/ Hellenistic naturalism in form
Ø
Combined w/Indian images
of Buddha (pix 132)
·
Buddhist Stupas (pix 129) => defined Classical
style
·
Sanskrit
culture: Mahabharata & Ramayana
¨
Bhagavad Gita & Khrisna and Rama
¨
Incarnations of Vishnu
§
Religion & Society
·
Hinduism
emerged during period of consolidation
·
Caste system consolidation
·
Brahman rise in social & religious status
·
Rise of theistic devotionalism
·
Intellectual
reconciliation of above w/Upanishadic
age
·
Buddhist Tradition=> merging w/Hindu ideas & impact
v
Greek & Asian Dynasties:
Ø
Seleucids – successors to Alexander
§
Power maintained through
mercenary armies
§
Limited scale & rule
(short of Achaemenids)
§
Alexander’s influence
& cultural & family ties =>
·
Outlast Seleucid Empire
Ø
Indo-Greeks –
farthest reach Hellenization in the East
§
Ruled Bactria as Satrap that broke away
from Seleucids
§
Lagacy: major source of
later Greco-Buddhist art (pix)
·
Prime example of
cross-cutting cultural influences
·
Probably helped spread Buddhism to Central Asia
·
Questions of King Milinda of Bactria
¨
Buddhist convert?
Ø
Steppe Peoples (Scythians) – major force in Eurasia:
§
Parthians – succeeded the Seleucids
in Iran
·
Ruled continuously from
250BC – 200AD
·
Role of Mithradates
I & Roman Empire
·
Pressure from Rome &
Kushan’s during 3rd century
¨
Weakened Parthian Empire
=> vulnerable
¨
Replaced by New Persian
dynasty
§
Sukas & Kushans: responsible for missionary
works
·
Key role spreading art
&cultural=> Buddhism=> China
v
World Perspective Summary:
Ø
Key Points to remember:
§
Zoroastrian
Traditions
·
Connection to
Vedic-Aryans traditions
·
Possible influence on
major religious ideas
§
Indo-European
Empires & their achievements:
·
Achaemenids
¨
Cyrus the
Great
¨
Darius I
¨
Legacy
·
Mauryans
¨
Ashoka
¨
Mauryan State & its Legacy
¨
Impact & influence
of post-Mauryan period
Ø
Hindu &
Buddhist traditions
·
Greek &
Asian Dynasties
¨
Seleucids
& Indo-Greeks
¨
Steppe Peoples => Parthians
§
Merging of
Cultures
·
Mesopotamia
& Iran &
Sub-continent India
·
Impact on region and
other civilizations?