10/17 Focus The Mauryas and Guptas created powerful empires that united most of India.

1. 10/17 Focus • The Mauryas and Guptas created powerful empires that united most of India. • Important Terms: • Pillars of Asoka • Do Now • What did the Buddha say was to reach Nirvana?

2. Indian Empires Maurya and Gupta Empires

3. The Maurya Empire • India was hard to unite because of diverse geography • May rival kingdoms existed across the northern plains • Chandragupta Maurya • Used his army to conquer northern India • United N. India under his rule • Maurya Empire

5. Maurya Empire • Had a well-organized government • Strong central government • Collected taxes • Built roads and harbors to increase trade • Chandragupta crushed any opposition to his rule • Feared assassination by his enemies • Secret police to report on dissention in his empire

6. Maurya Empire • Ashoka (asoka) • Grandson of Chandragupta • Becomes emperor • Converts to Buddhism after bloody battle to conquer the Deccan Plateau • Horrified by the brutality of war • Stops attempts to expand the empire

7. Maurya Empire • Asoka’s rule • Rejects violence • Sets up pillars inscribed with the empire’s laws • Influenced by Buddhist teaching • Tolerant of other beliefs • Built Buddhist Stupas • Sent Buddhist missionaries out to spread faith • Effects • India was united • Peace and prosperity • Spread of Buddhism

8. Maurya Decline • Empire began to decline after the death of Asoka • Empire divided into separate kingdoms

9. Points for Discussion • What were the pillars of Asoka? • What impact did the Battle of Kalinga have on Asoka? • How did Asoka’s conversion to Buddhism impact the way he ruled his empire?

10. 10/20 Focus • The strong Gupta government united much of the Indian subcontinent a brought peace and prosperity. • India experienced a golden age during the Gupta Empire • Do Now • How did Asoka help spread Buddhism through Asia?

11. Gupta Empire • Gupta dynasty begins in 320 AD • United the subcontinent under their rule • Strong central government • Allowed for local governments to have power • local leaders to be elected by merchants and artisans • Villages were led by headman and councils • Promoted Hindu concepts but were tolerant of other beliefs • Peace and prosperity led to India’s Golden Age

12. Golden Age • When a civilization enters a period of peace and prosperity • Advances in math, science, art, literature, architecture

15. Gupta Advances • Astronomy • Identified planets • Earth’s revolution • Circumference of the Earth • Math • Concept of zero • The decimal system • Medicine • Vaccinations against small pox • Surgeons set broken bones and performed basic plastic surgery • C-sections

16. Gupta Advances • Extensive trade networks

17. Gupta Advances • Arts • Literature and poetry • Use of Sanskrit to write stories • Buddhist cave paintings at Ajanta • Architecture • Built large Hindu temples • Buddhist stuppas • Influenced construction of pagodas in China

21. Gupta Decline • Empire lasted for 200 years • Reasons for decline • Invasions by Nomadic Huns from central Asia • Weak rulers

23. Know the following for the Quiz • What are two similarities between Hinduism and Buddhism? • What is one difference between Hinduism and Buddhism? • What is the purpose of living by the eightfold path? • What is the ultimate purpose of Hinduism? • Explain the Indian caste system and the way that people can move up or down castes after death

24. Closure • How did the Gupta rule their empire? • Why was the period of Gupta rule known as the golden age of India?