Ancient India: history, culture, and civilization

Ancient History Of India

The purpose of this work is to compare and contrast the cultural and societal differences and likenesses in the areas of Northern and Southern India specifically during the period of c.100-1100 C.E. Further, this work will research and state why their cultures were differential in their development and in what ways they remain different from one another today. The historical and ideological relationship between Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism will be discussed.

The culture in India is ancient with it's roots in the beginnings of civilization along the Indus River in farming communities in southern India. The history of the sub-continent is stated to be one that is "punctuated by constant integration with migrating peoples and with the diverse cultures that surround India." (Indialife.com Online, 2005) India is located in the center of Asia at what is called the "crossroads of culture from China to Europe."

The natural barrier of mountain ranges that separates northern and southern India is actually the scene of the occurrence of the India continental plate crashing against the Asian continental plate resulting in both pushing the earth upward in to a range of mountains classified as 'forbidding'. The Great Himalayas form the central range of mounts. The southern side of the mountain divide is one with rich soils that receive plenty of rain which maintains a subtropical environment. The flood plains are to the west toward the Indus River. These plains are considered to be some of agricultures richest and most fertile land. India in the southern area is a peninsula that is large and the area is flat land on the eastern coast allowing the opening of interaction among cultures and with foreign individuals. To the west the sea walls the land in making it difficult to reach via land travel. The time period discussed herein as illustrated in the following chart labeled Figure 1.0:

Figure 1.0

Source: Timeline of India

[Online available at http://www. .askasia.org/image/maps/timeind.htm]

I. Cultural and Societal Characteristics of Northern India

In northern India the Gupta period was from 319 to 606 AD. These people were direct descendents of the great Buddhist Empire that was built by Ashoka, a great Mauryan ruler. This group of Endo-Europeans ruled Northern India for many hundreds of years. The stone and fresco artwork are credited to the Guptas as well as the revival of Hinduism during which time many of the great texts that founded Indian Hinduism were written. These works in writing were the:

(1) Puranas (encyclopedia)

(2) Dharmasastra (law books) and (3) Tantras (religious formularies). (Gelbar, 2004)

This period has been referred to as a time of called a "cultural renaissance." (Boeree, 2004) Furthermore during this time a revival was experienced.

II. Cultural and Societal Characteristics of Southern India

The society in Southern India kept their distance from the troubles in the north and stayed firmly grounded in the tradition of the Hindu religion. The Pallavas and then the Cholas played roles that were important in relation to the spreading of Hinduism into Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. The Dravidian architectural style is credited to the Pallavas. Just to the north were the Chalukyas dominating the area on and off for approximately 600 years until 1190 excepting the time of the Rashtruakutas rule of 753-972 AD. The groups living in Southern India are from the Dravidian ancestry group.

III. Originators and Language of Ancient India:

The language of the Aryans is one that is related although distantly to the western European language originating from Russia. Further the Aryans brought the Vedic religion with them. The Aryans settled in Northern India and set up castes systems were composed at the top to levels almost entirely of Aryans. These two classes were the Kshatryas (warriors) and the Brahmins (priests). The Aryans or Indo-Europeans assimilated quickly into India and seemed to have disappeared.

IV. Development of Religion in India

The development of religion in the region began in 500 bc when several individuals were searching for enlightenment. Siddhartha Gautama or "the Buddha" preached a "stoic life involving moral living and meditations that would develop into the rich philosophy of Buddhism. The second was Vardhamana, called Mahavira and Jina his follower believed that "suffering was due to the mixing of the spirit with base matter, which must be separated from each other by means of fasting, asceticism, and chastity forming the religion of Jainism. During the late 300's bc Alexander the Great brought Buddhism to India and China. The Aryans, a pastoral people from near the Caspian Sea brought Brahman, the Supreme Being, the God above all gods the source of universal life" into India. "Truth is One" stated the Vedas proclaiming, "They call him by different names." (Severy, et al., 1971 National Geographic)

The following became an integral part of spiritual beliefs and law in India:

1. "The fundamental reality, the essence of all things, is not something material, as most of the early Greek philosophers at about the same time concluded, but spiritual - the World Soul.

2. Each individual possesses a soul, which is a part of the World Soul.

3. The material world is an illusion (maya) and the cause of all suffering. As long as such earthly goals as fame, power, and wealth are sought, the result will be pain and sorrow.

4. Salvation, or deliverance from maya, can only come through the reabsorption of the individual soul into the World Soul.

5. This release from maya is part of a complicated process of reincarnation. The individual soul must go through a long series of earthly reincarnations from one body to another.

6. Intertwined with the doctrine of reincarnation is the immutable law called karma (meaning "deed")." (Gelbar, 2004)

This law holds that the:

"Consequences of one's deeds determine one's future after death.

A person's status at any particular point is not the result of chance but depends on his or her soul's actions in previous existences.

Together with the doctrine of maya, karma gives a satisfactory explanation to the question of why suffering exists, a question that has troubled thoughtful people all over the world.