HIST 135 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Gnosticism, Panchatantra, Manichaeism
Document Summary
Lecture 7: trade, empire and cosmopolitan buddhism (200 bce-200 ce) Political developments: around 200 bce, the construction of the great wall begins with the purpose to protect (cid:272)hi(cid:374)a"s fro(cid:374)tiers fro(cid:373) tri(cid:271)al e(cid:373)pires. The achaemenids and the indo-greeks: achaemenids (550-330 bce) seleucids (c. 330-100 bce, bactrians, (c. 250 ce afghanistan/pakistan) seleucids (c. 330-100 bce) parthians (c. 247 ce iran: bactrians, (c. 250 ce afghanistan/pakistan) overthrown by shakas (scythians) (188-138. The south: cholas, pandyas, cheras: kings or clan chiefs, sangam poetry. Expansion of agriculture: first known land grants to religious institution - the gift of a village to a buddhist monastery in nasik (western india), over next 300 years becomes the norm, buddhism as vehicle for agricultural expansion. Growth of manufacturing: artisans and merchants organize themselves into guilds, customary rules of guilds enforced by court, represented by emblems/insignia. External trade silk route: kushanas exported copper, precious stones, gold, musk, saffron, sandalwood, pearls;
