Study Materials – by Paul Brians
Lecture 17: Early India
Note: This study guide is presented here as a historical document only. Paul Brians is retired and his courses are no longer offered by WSU.
(Duiker 40-47, 51; Brians 142-145)
Questions about Duiker: *What were the traditional five major castes and what were their functions? *What disadvantages were there in being an untouchable? Why did the caste system survive for so many centuries? *Describe the roles of women in ancient India.
Questions about The Arthashastra: What is one way in which Kautilya advises the king to spy on his subjects? *What practical argument does Kautilya offer the king for supporting poor farmers (“cultivators”)? *In what ways did caste affect the way slaves were to be treated?
Lecture topics:
- Arians and Dravidians
- Historical background
- Caste system
- Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Sudras
- Hinduism
- Major values
- The Vedas
- Chandragupta Maurya and Kautalya’s Arthashastra
- The Guptas
- Greek influence
Chart for today’s lecture:
General outline of Indian history:
| Time Period | Historical Events |
|---|---|
| c. 3000-1500 BCE: | Indus civilization |
| c. 1500-500 BCE: | Aryan invasions |
| c. 500 BCE-CE 647 | Age of empires |
| 647-1206 | Hindu principalities and Muslim (Turkic) incursions |
| c. 712 | Arab conquest of Sind (present.day SE Pakistan) |
| 1206-1526 | Delhi sultanate |
| 1526-1707 | The Great Mughals |