The Gupta Era

In classical India, the religion of Buddhism was formed in reaction to the strict ways of Hinduism. Many people, mainly lower class, converted to seek a better life and be enlightened more efficiently. This new religion made its way to China where much of its population converted through trade and missionaries. The conversion of Buddhism in China caused many effects of the spread of Buddhism because of its influential impacts from 300 to 900 CE which are influencing the government, caused some people to reject it, and mainly was a unifying force for China. An effect the spread of Buddhism is the influence of its morals on China’s government in 300-900 CE (Doc’s 1, 7). On some occasions Chinese people vehemently rejected Buddhism and rather practice more Chinese driven religion (Doc’s 5, 7). The most impactful effect of the spread of Buddhism is its ability to unite the Chinese in the way of

Beginning in the 5th century, Buddhism became a very popular form of religion throughout Asia. Because this was such a diverse and widely followed religion, it introduced many different architectural and innovational developments that had influence from Buddhism, but depending on the region, the styles changed. Also, High officials, like Ashoka, whose’ primary influence came from Buddhism, created practices for his people to follow and live by to bring peace to his kingdom. As this religion was gaining popularity throughout Asia, the transformation that it took was very diverse and long term.

Buddhism began by Buddha himself preaching his enlightenment message on his view on the world and how humans should, and the best way to, succeed in the world. However in the 6th century BCE the government had fallen and there was period of instability until the Sui Dynasty took over, during this period was when Buddhism began to majorly spread. After the fall of the Han dynasty, there were many responses to the spread of Buddhism throughout China between the 6th century BCE and 570 CE. Buddhism was accepted, tolerated, and rejected. Buddhism was accepted because it was an acceptable path to enlightenment. It was tolerated by those who would not be affected by its popularity and power. Those who rejected it were people whose wealth

What if you could live in a golden empire? That was exactly what the Gupta Empire was for India, their “Golden Age.” That was because of their daily life, Chandra Gupta II, and achievements in academics.

The Classical period lasted from 400 – 600 BCE. There was a change in rule which affected all of India during this period. The Mauryan dynasty was pro Buddhist and extended Aryan rule to all of India. There was an increase in the number of conversions to Buddhism and Jainism. The rising number of converts caused the Hindu religion to integrate foreign elements into Hindu tradition. The scriptures of Veda was now deemed compatible with the Upanishadic teachings and added into the Vedic body of scriptures. Due to a caste system upper classes accepted the tradition of the lower class and controlled the way lower class

Buddhism was founded in India in the sixth century B.C.E. and gradually moved to China after the fall of the Han dynasty in 220 C.E. For several centuries Buddhism influenced China greatly. During that time to 570 C.E., China experienced an era of political instability and disunity, afterwards which the imperial structure was restored. During the 1st century C.E. the spread of Buddhism from India to China was met with mixed results, in which many Chinese people accepted Buddhism and advocated its principles such as the philosophy and promise of afterlife over the Confucian ideals that were previously instituted, but the truth was that Chinese masses turned to Buddhism for its promises of eternal enlightenment during times of struggle and invasion

Buddhism originated in India in the 5th century B.C.E. It then spread to China in the 1st century B.C.E. In the period of disunity as well as political instability, most Chinese peasants accepted Buddhism because it provided shelter and certainty. Scholars showed that Buddhism beliefs were not a threat opposed to Confucianism and Daoism, hoping the people could see how they all can coexist. As the imperial structure improved and grew over time, many authorities and high powers rejected its teachings because it saw Buddhism as a threat to their powers.

Buddhism was created in the 6th century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama, also known as Buddha. This religion was created in present day Nepal. Lower class, poor people were more likely to convert to Buddhism due to the caste system in India. The caste system organized people into classes and the people at the bottom were more likely to be unhappy than the upper classes.

Buddhism for centuries, has long been influencing the population all over the world, specifically in China . Buddhism first came to China as a result of merchant traders from India. From there it spread within the merchant community. It mainly expanded because it gave people a sense of hope and faith with the chaos they were experiencing from the collapse of the Han Dynasty. It also spread because it covered what Confucianism lacked; a more spiritual and emotional approach that appealed to many people of different classes. It is because of this that Buddhism spread and was able to influence and greatly affect China during the period of 300-900 CE. Buddhism influenced philosophy and moral teachings, kept the Chinese society peaceful and orderly, as well as affecting the overall economy. Buddhism had strong religious teachings that appealed to the lower class with the idea of afterlife and nirvana as well as an emphasis on following your own path that transformed Chinese beliefs causing a large portion of the population to convert (doc’s 1,4). Buddhism kept the Chinese society orderly by reminding all of Buddha’s life and teachings with statues and the influence it had on monks to spread charity and missionary work (doc’s 2,3,6). Buddhism also had an effect on the economy of China. As it spread from other regions, it caused more farmers and silk producers to convert and spread the religion as monks and nuns. (doc 7,5).

A society that is often overlooked that has made great achievements and who has had a significant impact on modern day society is nonetheless, India and ancient Indian civilization. After the fall of the Gupta Empire in 480, small kingdoms throughout the region, which was invaded by the Turks and Mongols, but was not conquered, would rule India. The northern parts of India frequently were raided and invaded by the Turks, all the way from Afghanistan to Central Asia. Muslim Turks decided to rule a state in north India called the Delhi sultanate, which was ruled for several centuries, and in the mean time Islam gained its adherents throughout the southern regions of Asia. Hinduism continued to flourish throughout the nation, while Buddhism

In what ways was the Gupta dynasty associated with Hinduism? Why were the southern kingdoms more stable after the collapse of the Gupta, c. 600 CE than they had been before?

Cultural beliefs, and religions influenced the expansion of the Gupta empire in many particular ways. The Gupta's are well-known for recognizing that Earth is no flat, as many other tribes and religious groups had believed. The Gupta's were also recognized for the understanding of stars and heavens. Analyzing and Understanding stars and heavens helped them with their expansion throughout the entire Indian territory. Many beliefs were shared throughout the expansion developing new achievements within other tribes. According to archaeologist many of these beliefs and culturistic ideas were craved in home floors and walls. Several of these religions were expanded throughout the empire, which helped the development and expansion of the Gupta empire to the fact that more people or workers were more efficient at their profession. Beliefs and Religions caused an influenced on the expansion of the empire, by developing new achievements that would spread the empire along the indian

The future founder of Buddhism lived his life in the context of competing schools of thought that began to challenge the traditional religious structure in India. The Aryans had created a caste system that made strict social divisions in society and a religion of formal and complex rituals that provoked challenges to religious thought. Their rituals excluded much of the lower classes, like the Sudras, in Indian society. This questioning of the basis of religion in society during this period gave the opportunity for new religions to develop and gain prominence among the people. The Buddhist rejection of the elaborate ceremonies and the strict caste system allowed it to take hold in this setting. Buddhism would give the followers an opportunity to choose a different path from the traditional Hindu religious orthodoxy.

The history of the nation of India is a long and interesting one but most westernizes lack any true understanding of it. Like any long standing culture there have been good and bad periods in their history but one period has been identified as the "Golden Age of India (Dehejia, 1993)." This period, which lasted over a hundred years (322 BCE 185 BCE), began when an exiled general by the name of Chandragupta Maurya overthrew the reigning king Dhana Nanda. Once Chandragupta Maurya had established his new government in the Eastern area of India he began expanding his power westward across Central and Western India and, in the process, the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism also began to spread throughout India (Avari, 2007).

Buddhism is a philosophy, a moral code, and, for some a religious faith which originated in 530 BC in India. Buddhism evolved as a modification of Hinduism when Hinduism started to become very complicated due to too many sacrifices in the name of God. Today, an estimated 300 million people follow one of the many varieties of Buddhism.