Grade VI Term 2 revision

• Later Vedic literature

• Derived from terms - upa meaning near, ni meaning down and shad meaning to sit

• Recorded in the form of dialogue between teachers and students

• Criticised the prevalence of excessive rituals

• 108 Upanishads

Upanishad thinker known for her knowledge and took part in intellectual debates

• Reaction against excessive rituals that were elaborate and costly as followed by the brahmins.

• Rigid varna system - originally determined by occupation and slowly became determined by birth.

• Increasing influence of vaishyas due to importance of trade followed these new religions like Buddhism and Jainism as there was no attachement to the hereditary varna system.

• Use of everyday languages in the new religions.

• An Indian religion strengthened by Vardhana Mahavira

• A Lichchhavi prince who left home at the age of thirty and found full enlightenment

• He became an Arhant and Jina.

• He was known as kaivalya showing attainment of perfect knowledge.

• Preached the religious ideas in Magadha and Anga

• Do not commit violence

• Do not speak a lie

• Do not steal

• Do not acquire property

• Observe celibacy

Followers of Mahavira

• Discarding of clothes completely

• Observe the five doctrines

• Vow of non-killing and non-violence

• Did not condemn the varna system

• Person born in high virtues from previous birth are in a high varna

• Order of ascetics in Anga and Magadha

• Both women and men admitted in the order

• Gradually spread to Kalinga, Malwa, Gujarat, Rajasthan and south India

• Doctrines were taught in Prakrit ( common people language)

• Digambaras - Strict followers of Mahavira and chose not to wear clothes

• Shvetambaras - wore a white dress and covered their mouths with white cloth

• Did not go against the varna system

• Large sections of the population like farmers could not follow complete non-violence as their occupation involves killing of pests and insects

• Also known as Siddhartha

• Son of the chief of Republican tribe of Sakyas

• Born in Lumbini

• Left his family as a prince and abandoned his family in search of true knowledge

• Received enlightenment under the peepal tree at Bodh Gaya in Bihar

• Meaning “Turning of the Wheel of Law”

• First sermon of Buddha in Sarnath

Buddha passed away in this place

Good or bad action

• In Pali language

• Believed that actions, good or bad, influence us in this and all other lives

• The world is full of sorrow

• The cause for sorrow is desire or thirst

• This sorrow can be stopped

• The sorrow can be ended by an eight-fold path

• Right faith

• Right thought

• Right speech

• Right action

• Right living

• Right efforts

• Right remembrance

• Right meditation

The place where monks monks stay together after wandering, preaching and seeking alms.

Buddhist monasteries

• Not possessing the property of others

• Practicing non-violence

• Discarding use of intoxicants

• Speaking the truth

• Not indulging in corrupt practices

Adopted by several states like Magadha, Kosala and Kausambi

• Did not recognise the existence of god and soul

• Attacked the varna system thus gaining popularity among the people

• Women were also part of the sangha

• The use of Pali

• No importance attached to rituals and sacrifices

• Popularised by rulers like Ashoka

• Started by people from the kshatrya varna/ rulers

• Opposed the superiority of brahmins

• Admitted people from lower caste and women

• Attracted vaishyas and traders

• No elaborate rituals and practices

• Taught in the language of the masses like Prakrit and Pali

• Buddha did not focus on the existence of God whereas ahavira denied the existence of God

• Jainism strongly focused on non-violence whereas Buddhism did not take any extreme measures

• Jainism - more focus on austerity/ refraining from worldly pleasures

• Jainism - asked followers to give up the use of clothes like Jainism

• Buddhism spread beyond India ; Jainism confined to areas within India

• Buddhism strongly attacked the varna system unlike Jainism

• Increased agriculture

• Increased trade

Places that provided training to craftsmen and also acted as banks that gave them grants

• Political/administrative town - Rajagriha, Hastinapur, Kausambhi and Champa

• Market towns - Ujjain

• Religious towns - Kashi and Vaishali

• Coastal towns - Sopara, Arikamedu, and Tamralipti

Located in places where there is an agricultural surplus that could be used for exchange

• 30km north-west from Islamabad

• Excavated by John Marshal

• Administrative centre under the Mauryans and Indo-Greeks

• In the trade route between north and west India.

• Trade with Roman Empire

• Evidences of Buddhist monasteries

• Had a distinct style of Gandhara Art under the Kushanas

A book of grammar written by Panini

Shows a glimpse of city and village life

Includes stories about the life of Buddha

Silver and copper coins that has symbols and designs with a separate punch mark

• First category - People from different castes and communities headed by a villageman or grambhojaka

• Second category - craft villages with craftmen

• Third category - Border villages merged with forests with hunters and gatherers

Glossy and shiny pottery found in north India used by the richer class

A style of art that has images of Buddha and Boddhisattvas with distinct Greek features

• A prominent ruler of the Sakas

• His military achievements are highlighted in the Junagadh inscriptions

• Belonged to the Yueh-chi tribe

• Minted large amount of coins that was received in turn of protecting traders using the Silk route

• Most popular ruler of the Kushanas

• First capital was at Purushapura

• Mathura School of Art flourished under Kanishka

• Organised the fourth Buddhist council

A biography of Buddha that was composed by Ashvagosha who was a poet in Kanishka’s court

• Powerful rulers in the Deccan

• Capital - Pratisthana

• Prominent ruler - Gautamiputra Satakarni

• Constant rivalry with Sakas

• Lords of Dakshinapatha - trade route to South India

• Ruled areas around Madurai

• Port city - Korkai

• Trade contacts with Roman empire

• Known as Cholamandalam

• Near Kaveripatnam

• Capital - Uraiyur

• Famous ruler - Karikal

• Ruled over Kerala and parts of Tamilnadu

• Also known as Keralaputras

• Capital city - Vanji

• Muziris - Chief port

• Trade with the Roman Empire

• Exported gold, precious stones and spices

• Pepper was seen as black gold by the Romans

• Wealth collected during military conquering

• Poets were rewarded with precious stones, gold, animal and fine cloth.

• Chinese - first to invent the production of silk 7000 years ago

• Carried silk on horsebacks, camels and by foot to sell them.

• Path followed by the Chinese to sell silk - Silk route

• Silk was expensive as it included traveling over dangerous and rough terrains to deliver it

• Kushanas controlled them in India as they protected the traders from robbers

• Started in Mauryan empire

• Trade through sea routes

• Link with Roman empire and Han empire

• Imports - Brocades, coral, frankincense, and wine

• Glass objects from Rome

• Exports from India - Spices, precious stones and yarn

• First important ruler of the Gupta empire

• Expanded territories through favorable marriages

• Married the Lichchhavi princess - Kumaradevi to enhance prestige

• Son of Chandragupta I

• Had an aggressive policy of expansion

• Information about his conquests in Prayaga Prasashti inscriptions at Allahabad

• Described as Kaviraja as he was a lover of poetry and music and his coins show him playing the veena

• 33 line eulogy( in praise) composed by Harisena.

• Defeat of nine rulers of Aryavarta

• The defeat of 12 rulers from Dakshinapatha

• Homage from frontier kingdoms

• Title - Vikramaditya

• Extended territory through marriage alliances and conquests

• He was also known for his respect and love for poets

• Kalidasa was part of his court

• Succeeded by Kumaragupta and Skandagupta

• High sounding titles such as maharajadhiraja, chakravarti and paramesvara

• King assisted by a council of ministers

• Assisted by the chief justice/mahadandanayaka

• Minster for taking care of army - Sandhi-Vigrahika

• Empire divided into bhuktis/provinces

• Provinces adminsitered by uparikas

• Districts administered by vishayapatis

• No capital punishment was given

• Land revenue was the main source

• Fines

• Land was given to military leaders called samantas who supported the king, and collected revenue from these lands.

• Information fro Harshacharita- a biography written by Banabhatta from his court

• Accounts from the Chinese traveller Hiuen-Tsang

• Throne in Thaneshwar

• Wrote three plays in Sanskrit - Ratnavalli, Priyadarshika and Nagananda

• Gave a special grant to Nalanda University

• Initially a worshipper of Shiva and later converted to Buddhism

• Mentioned in Samudraguptas’ pillar

• Area of dominance - Kanchipuram

• Attacked by Guptas, Cholas and Khalabhras

• Prominent rulers - Simhavishnu

• Constant rivalry with Chalukyas

• Largely influential in Raichur Doab

• Capital - Aihole

• Pulakesin I, Pulakesin II , Kirthivarmal I

• Aihole inscription - composed by Ravikriti - court poet of Pulakesin II