Reading Guide for Topic 3A India

Reading Guide Topic 3A India

72-79
How did agriculture lead to the formation of states?
What does it mean that 326 BCE is the first “certain date in Indian history” (72)
What influence did the Greeks have on India? What influence did India have on Greece?
Why do we know little of Indian history before the Mauryan dynasty? Where do some of our earliest sources for information on Indian history come from?
What were some of the accomplishments of the Mauryan dynasty under Chandragupta?
Why was Ashoka considered a great king? How did he spread Buddhism and Indian culture to other parts of the world? How did Buddhism affect the way he ruled his state?
Who were the Kushans? What does it mean to say they became “Indianized”? (77)Who is said to have established a Christian community in India?
What caused the north-south divide in India?

Sourebook

Early State and Society
What is the relationship between morality and power?
How are Indian and Chinese ideas of morality and political unity similar and different?

Megasthenes Describes India
Society
How does Megasthenes present the caste system in India?

The King
What sort of life does the king lead according to Megathenes?
Does the description of his life seem plausible?

Philosophers
What sort of life do the Brahmans lead according to Megasthenes?

King Ashoka’s dharma
(rock edict 13, pillar edict 7, and rock edict 1)
How does Ashoka explain his turning to Buddhism?How does he use Buddhism to rule?

Statecraft

The King
Kautilya, Arthashastra, 1.19.29-36
What kind of advice is the king given?
How is the economy viewed?

Kautilya, Arthashastra, 7.5.19-27
What are some of the things a king must do?
What does impoverishment cause?

Spies
How are religious beliefs used in order to make effective spies? What does this say about how the author views religion?