Why Golden Ages are Important to Historians social studies

#3.3 Gupta Empire

Why Golden Ages are Important to Historians

During Golden Ages, a lot of new ideas and innovations are produced in visual arts, architecture, literature, philosophy, and science and technology in a relatively short period of time in one geographic area, but these new ideas and ways of doing things do not stay in one place for long. They are carried to other civilizations through cultural diffusion and passed down to new generations through the process of collective learning. Golden Ages move human intellectual and technological life ahead by leaps and bounds. These spurts of growth in our collective ability to understand the world around us, express it through art, and invent new ways of doing things have been important in getting the human race to where it is today.

UNIT 3 | Classical Civilizations | #3.3 Gupta Golden Age 1

Exhibit A: Trade, Prosperity, and Wealth

Standardized Money Golden Ages require a lot of wealth. For artists and scientists to devote themselves to their work, they need someone to pay them for it so they can focus on their scholarly pursuits. Usually wealthy families or governments provide this support.

The government funded many of the innovations during the Gupta Dynasty. The government regulated and taxed trade and earned money from the mines and land it owned. As evidence of the Gupta government's control and support for trade in the economy, archaeologists have unearthed many coins created by the Gupta government. The coins show that the Gupta had the technology and power to mass-produce them, and the power needed to get merchants to use them. This also made it possible for the government to more easily tax business transactions.

On Trade Routes Between Rome and China The Gupta ruled the largest and most prosperous empire in India, but in the first centuries CE it was not the most powerful in the world. To the west, Rome ruled the area around the Mediterranean Sea, and to the east, the Han Dynasty controlled China. The stability that the Roman, Han, and Gupta Empires brought to Asia spurred trade on the Silk Roads. This greatly benefited all three empires and the areas in between. Wealth and ideas passed along the trade network providing the money and ideas necessary for Golden Ages.

UNIT 3 | Classical Civilizations | #3.3 Gupta Golden Age 2

Exhibit B: The Influence of Hinduism and Buddhism Hinduism helped to make India's class structure more rigid. This class structure began

when the Aryans, an invading tribe from the north, conquered large parts of India in the 1500s B.C. The Aryans introduced the caste system. It divided people into four major groups and set up strict rules for living. A person was born into a caste and could not leave it, except in rare cases. A person in one caste could not eat with anyone in another caste or marry anyone in another caste.

The Hindu concept of reincarnation reinforced this system. Since people believed that their status in society was the result of their behavior in past lives, they felt that they must accept that status. If they accepted it and lived virtuously, they would be reincarnated in a higher form in the "next life".

The Hindu religion also played a part in the spread of culture throughout India and beyond. People on religious pilgrimage to other Indian villages learned about the inhabitants' customs and beliefs. Hindu missionaries travelled to Southeast Asia and taught the people about Hinduism. They also encouraged the use of the Sanskrit language.

Although Buddhism decreased in popularity during the Gupta Dynasty, it continued to influence the culture of the time. The magnificent temples and monasteries that Gupta architects carved into the sides of mountains were Buddhist as well as Hindu.

Though fewer in number, Buddhist schools continued to function. They taught grammar, mathematics, medicine, philosophy, and sacred writings to the young people of India.

Hinduism, however, had by far the most important influence on the people in their daily lives. Most people worshiped the idols of the Hindu gods. They followed its rules about not eating meat or drinking alcoholic beverages. They also lived by the rules of the caste system. Hinduism slowly emerged as the leading religion of India.

UNIT 3 | Classical Civilizations | #3.3 Gupta Golden Age 3

Exhibit C: Cultural Achievements

A long period of peace followed the military conquests of the early emperors. It was a time of great intellectual achievement of India. The Gupta rulers used their wealth to establish colleges and universities. The upper classes supported a rich cultural life. Consequently, indian art, science and scholarship flourished.

The universities and libraries protected the Sanskrit writings of the past. These institutions became famous, and people came to them from China and Southeast Asia. When the scholars returned to their own countries, they took indian Customs as well as the Sanskrit language back with them.

Indian writers and artists produced many masterpieces during this time. A great poet named Kalidasa (c. 400-450 C.E.) wrote the plays in verse that were enjoyed by people of all classes. He was often regarded as "the Shakespeare of India." His themes were love, adventure, beauty of nature, and moral lessons. Music and dance forms that are still popular today were developed during the Gupta Dynasty.

Two long poems completed during this period are the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. Both were passed down through the years by oral tradition before they were written down. They are still popular. The Ramayana is a tale of an adventurous hero who is separated from his wife for many years. The Mahabharata contains moral lessons and is respected as a source of religious inspiration and instruction.

UNIT 3 | Classical Civilizations | #3.3 Gupta Golden Age 4

Exhibit D: Science, Mathematics, and Technology

Indian scientists and mathematics of that time developed important theories and ideas. They invented the decimal system and the concept of zero. The numbers 1 through 9 plus 0 are the ones we use today. Because they came to europe through contacts with the Arab world, the are called Arabic numerals. The system is much easier to use for mathematical calculations than the one devised by the Romans.

A mathematician named Ayabhata calculated pi, a necessary concept in geometry. (Pi expresses the relationship between the circumference of a circle and its diameter.) Ayabhata also realized that the earth is a sphere. He understood that lunar eclipses are caused by the shadow of the earth falling on the moon. Other Indian scientists developed theories about gravity.

Stepwell Architecture

Metallurgy and the Iron Pillar of Delhi

Indian metal workers were known for their expertise in ancient times. Their swords used by their soldiers were admired by other armies for their strength and the officers carried metal bows. In Delhi, there is an iron pillar from the Gupta era that stands 23 ft tall. It is over 1,500 years old but has very little rust or wear.

UNIT 3 | Classical Civilizations | #3.3 Gupta Golden Age 5

 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download