History 1113

Caste versus Polis: Belonging in South Asia and the Greek World and the Revolution Against Caste: The Rise of Buddhism

I. The Empire of Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.E.) and Its Fate

A. Alexander and his Conquests







1.  Rise of the Macedonian State






2.  Antigonid [an-TIHG-un-nihd] Empire, 306-168 B.C.E.








3.  Ptolemaic [TAWL-oh-may-ihk] Empire, 323-30 B.C.E.







4.  Seleucid [sih-LOO-sihd] Empire, 305-64 B.C.E.







B.  The Greek Political Response: Adapting the polis




1.  Aetolian League (ay TOL ee un) c. 290-189 B.C.E.





2.  Achaean League (uh KEE un) 280-146 B.C.E.










II.  State and Society in South Asia, c. 325-185 B.C.E.


A. Unification under Chandragupta Maurya

1.  Chandragupta Maurya (r. 324-301/297 B.C.E.) took over the Magadha throne in 321 B.C.E.







2.  Seleucus






3.  Chandragupta Maurya's Government










  4.  Succession





B.  The Reign of Ashoka (r. 272/268-232 B.C.E.) and After

1.  Early Reign








2.  State and Society




3. Later Emperors (to 185 B.C.E.)





III.  Local Society and Hinduism in South Asia

A. Hinduism and Society
1. Vedic Period





2. Ascetic Era






3. Social Order







B. Hinduism and Buddhism
1. Origins and Significance







2. Basic Doctrine and Perspective






C. Popular Hinduism






   

Key Terms:
Macedonian Kingdom/Kingdom of Macedonia
Phillip II of Macedon (r. 359-336 B.C.E.), educated in Greece
Alexander the Great (356-323 B.C.E.)
Antigonus I Monopthalmus (r. 306-301 B.C.E.)
Ptolemy I Soter (323-283 B.C.E.)
Seleucus (r. 312-281 B.C.E.)

Kautilya (fl. 300 B.C.E.)
Brahmin
Arthashastra (Treatise on Policy)
Hindus
Upanishads
Brahman
atman
caste system
Brahmins
Ksatriyas
Vaisyas
Sudras
untouchables
dharma
karma
samsara
nirvana
moksha

Siddhartha Gautama the Buddha (ca. 566-483 B.C.E.)
Buddhists
Four Noble Truths
Noble Eight-fold Path
sangha
bhiksus
Therevada Buddhism
Mahayana Buddhism
devas
Shiva
Vishnu

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