Rise of Mauryan and Gupta Empires in Ancient India

1. Chapter 7: India and China Establish Empires, 400 BCE-550 CEThe Mauryan & Gupta

2. India’s First Empires • By 600 BCE, almost 1000 years after the Aryan migrations, many small kingdoms were scattered throughout India • In 326, BCE, Alexander the Great conquered the region- left a Macedonian general-Seluecus I-in control

3. Mauryan Empire: Chandragupta Maurya • 321 BCE, claimed the NW. region-lower Ganges River • By 305 BCE, defeated Seluecus I • 303 BCE Empire united northern India • 600,000 foot soldiers • 30,000 cavalry • 9,000 elephants • Imposed high taxes

4. How did Chandragupta govern the Empire? • Relied on Katilya- a Brahmin • Arthashastra-(a rulers handbook) • Tough policies • Spies • Assassination • Bureaucratic • 4 provinces ruled by prince • divided into local districts to collect taxes & enforce law

5. What was Life Like in Pataliputra? • Very wealthy • Gold covered pillars • Fountains • Thrones • Parks • Markets

6. Who was Asoka? • Chandragupta’s grandson • Became king in 269 BCE • Started out brutal • Changed after Battle of Kalinga • Ruled by Buddhist principles

7. Asoka’s Edicts • Huge stone pillars inscribed with new policies • Fairness • Humane treatment • Nonviolence • Religious toleration

9. Extensive roads Improved travel conditions Wells & rest houses What else did Asoka Do?

10. A Period of Turmoil • Power vacuum after Ashoka’s death • Many kingdoms with overlapping boundaries • MIGRATION, CULTURAL DIFFUSION, TRADE • New peoples, new languages, new ideas • Syncretism-blending of cultures into new form

11. Gupta Empire • After 500 years, Chandra Gupta reunited India years • Expansion & consolidation of empire • Golden Age

12. Daily Life • Small villages • Farmers • Craftspeople & merchants • Mostly patriarchal • Entire family worked together • Irrigation essential • Taxes paid in labor on irrigation projects

13. TRADE PEACE and PROSPERITY Arts Science Astronomy Mathematics Golden Age of Gupta Empire

14. Trade Spreads Indian Religions & Culture: • Both religions had become increasingly removed from the people • Hinduism was dominated by priests • Buddhist ideal of self-denial proved difficult for many to follow

15. Buddhism & Hinduism Change • More Popular Form of Buddhism • Belief in bodhisattvas develops—Buddhas who save humanity • Mahayana sect—Buddhists accept new doctrines of worship/salvation • Theravada sect—Buddhists who follow original teachings of Buddha • Wealthy Buddhist merchants build stupas—stone structures over relics

16. A Hindu Rebirth (Get It?) • Hinduism is remote from people by time of Mauryan Empire • moves toward monotheism; gods are part of one divine force • Brahma—creator of the world • Vishnu—preserver of the world • Shiva—destroyer of the world

17. Achievements of Indian Culture: Literature & Performing Arts • Kalidasa—poet & dramatist, one of India’s greatest writers • Skillful & emotionally stirring plays still popular • Madurai writing academies create literature; 2,000 Tamil poems survive • Drama/dance troupes gain popularity & travel widely

18. Indian Achievements: Astronomy, Math, Medicine • Ocean trade leads to advances in astronomy • Indian astronomers in Gupta Empire prove world is round • Mathematicians develop idea of zero & decimal system • Doctors write medical guides- make advances in surgery

19. Spread of Indian Trade • Valuable Resources • spices, diamonds, • Ivory, precious stones, & good quality wood

20. Silk Roads & Indian Ocean Trade • Overland trade routes called Silk Roads connect Asia & Europe • Maritime routes monsoon winds to connect India east to China & west to Arabian Peninsula & Africa

21. Effects of Indian Trade • Increased trade leads to rise in banking • Bankers lend money to merchants, careful of degree of risk • Increased trade spreads Indian culture to other places • Trade brings Hinduism, Buddhism to other lands