South Asia
POLITICAL:
Political diversity and regionalism were/are great features of India. The Gupta's had no required language. Development of a rigid caste system revolved around this diversity of culture, language, and religion. Political dominance of outside peoples was not a characteristic of Indian governments. Rulers came from the society elites. Public authority was made up of men with no women priests, worrier, or tribal leaders . During this time, two important dynasties were accomplished, the Mauryan and Gupta. Alexander of Macedonia cleared out several small states during the Mauryan dynasty. Under the Mauryan rule, India united for the first time under control of a central government. Since they were unable to rule such a large area, they switched to a well organized bureaucracy. The most important ruler of this time was Ashoka. He expanded the bureaucracy and made the empire more organized. This created control organizations to ensure his (Ashoka) edicts and policies that were carried out through his empire.
ECONOMY:
India developed extensive trade with in the subcontinent and on the ocean to its south. Economy there revolved around Indian society. The economy was extremely vigorous , especially in trade. The trade surpassed in China and the Mediterranean . Merchants traded from the Roman Empire to Indonesia to Asia. South Asia mainly traded with Mesopotamia.
RELIGION:
Buddhism was a leading cultural export. Castes considered religious duty as an obligation. The religion of Aryans was found in a group of religious hymns and poems called Vedas. During this time Hinduism wasn't very common in India, because it wasn't very popular and it had not yet been introduced to the merchants who usually are the main people to spread a new culture or religion.
SOCIETY:
Rights of women became increasingly limited as Indian civilization developed. Men dominance over women was greater in theory than in practice. The Indian caste system rests on the thought or assumption that humans are inherently unequal. Importance of individuality and family, group, and government obligations were also very important to the Indians at this time as well as now. Back then, few challenged "natural order". A major migration during the classical period consisted of Indo-Europeans, or Aryans. The Aryans for the most part formed the caste system of course, putting themselves in the upper caste as rulers in a lower place of structure. There were four different levels of this caste. Eventually, caste began to become a major characteristic of the Indian culture across the ages. In India during this time there was almost no slavery and male dominance was maintained throughout the years. Gender distinctions were followed by from a book of religious mythology called Laws of Manu. Men and women were treated with respect, but all were insisted to be subject to their husbands or fathers. Most women were promised to a man around the age eight and then once hit puberty, the woman would marry her promised man who was usually older.
INNOVATIONS/INVENTIONS:
Most of India used the Indus river for irrigation and water supply. The Harappan civilization produced cemitaries, technology, engineering, astronomy, religion, and philosophy. They marked the golden age of India were they were introduced to many of the different ways of the rest of the world. During this age Indians came up with and believed many of the tales and epics that were told.
ARTS/ARCHITECTURE:
The Indians used Iron tools for their architecture. They gave up the pastoral life and established permanent agriculture settlements. The lower class regulated to more agricultural work than previous years. Indians are quite famous for their many epics about their gods and legends. A few epics are the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Bhagouad Grita.
NEAR GEOGRAPHIC:
The Indian area has the Hindu Kush mountains and the Himalaya Mountains. The main rivers of India include the Indus River and the Ganges River which were India's main water sources.
---JACQUELYN CHAVEZ
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/556515/history-of-Southeast-Asia/52415/The-Classical-period
http://wps.ablongman.com/long_stearns_wcap_4/18/4646/1189535.cw/
http://books.google.com/books?id=f9D4Ob1YcJgC&pg=PA35&lpg=PA35&dq=south+asia+classical+period&source=bl&ots=ZgnEiHJgOG&sig=MwX7X_2H-4gKs2Ja_naAmoW_ICQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hoBHU-6vCKPr2AW-nYHIDw&ved=0CGsQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=south%20asia%20classical%20period&f=false
http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/reference-entries/28535696/ancient-classical-periods-3500-b-c-e-500-c-e-early-civilizations-classical-empires-south-east-asia-south-asia-72-b-c-e-500-c-e
Political diversity and regionalism were/are great features of India. The Gupta's had no required language. Development of a rigid caste system revolved around this diversity of culture, language, and religion. Political dominance of outside peoples was not a characteristic of Indian governments. Rulers came from the society elites. Public authority was made up of men with no women priests, worrier, or tribal leaders . During this time, two important dynasties were accomplished, the Mauryan and Gupta. Alexander of Macedonia cleared out several small states during the Mauryan dynasty. Under the Mauryan rule, India united for the first time under control of a central government. Since they were unable to rule such a large area, they switched to a well organized bureaucracy. The most important ruler of this time was Ashoka. He expanded the bureaucracy and made the empire more organized. This created control organizations to ensure his (Ashoka) edicts and policies that were carried out through his empire.
ECONOMY:
India developed extensive trade with in the subcontinent and on the ocean to its south. Economy there revolved around Indian society. The economy was extremely vigorous , especially in trade. The trade surpassed in China and the Mediterranean . Merchants traded from the Roman Empire to Indonesia to Asia. South Asia mainly traded with Mesopotamia.
RELIGION:
Buddhism was a leading cultural export. Castes considered religious duty as an obligation. The religion of Aryans was found in a group of religious hymns and poems called Vedas. During this time Hinduism wasn't very common in India, because it wasn't very popular and it had not yet been introduced to the merchants who usually are the main people to spread a new culture or religion.
SOCIETY:
Rights of women became increasingly limited as Indian civilization developed. Men dominance over women was greater in theory than in practice. The Indian caste system rests on the thought or assumption that humans are inherently unequal. Importance of individuality and family, group, and government obligations were also very important to the Indians at this time as well as now. Back then, few challenged "natural order". A major migration during the classical period consisted of Indo-Europeans, or Aryans. The Aryans for the most part formed the caste system of course, putting themselves in the upper caste as rulers in a lower place of structure. There were four different levels of this caste. Eventually, caste began to become a major characteristic of the Indian culture across the ages. In India during this time there was almost no slavery and male dominance was maintained throughout the years. Gender distinctions were followed by from a book of religious mythology called Laws of Manu. Men and women were treated with respect, but all were insisted to be subject to their husbands or fathers. Most women were promised to a man around the age eight and then once hit puberty, the woman would marry her promised man who was usually older.
INNOVATIONS/INVENTIONS:
Most of India used the Indus river for irrigation and water supply. The Harappan civilization produced cemitaries, technology, engineering, astronomy, religion, and philosophy. They marked the golden age of India were they were introduced to many of the different ways of the rest of the world. During this age Indians came up with and believed many of the tales and epics that were told.
ARTS/ARCHITECTURE:
The Indians used Iron tools for their architecture. They gave up the pastoral life and established permanent agriculture settlements. The lower class regulated to more agricultural work than previous years. Indians are quite famous for their many epics about their gods and legends. A few epics are the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Bhagouad Grita.
NEAR GEOGRAPHIC:
The Indian area has the Hindu Kush mountains and the Himalaya Mountains. The main rivers of India include the Indus River and the Ganges River which were India's main water sources.
---JACQUELYN CHAVEZ
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/556515/history-of-Southeast-Asia/52415/The-Classical-period
http://wps.ablongman.com/long_stearns_wcap_4/18/4646/1189535.cw/
http://books.google.com/books?id=f9D4Ob1YcJgC&pg=PA35&lpg=PA35&dq=south+asia+classical+period&source=bl&ots=ZgnEiHJgOG&sig=MwX7X_2H-4gKs2Ja_naAmoW_ICQ&hl=en&sa=X&ei=hoBHU-6vCKPr2AW-nYHIDw&ved=0CGsQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=south%20asia%20classical%20period&f=false
http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/reference-entries/28535696/ancient-classical-periods-3500-b-c-e-500-c-e-early-civilizations-classical-empires-south-east-asia-south-asia-72-b-c-e-500-c-e