Indian and Chinese Empires

1. Indian and Chinese Empires Chapter 7

2. Mauryan Empire • Chandragupta Maurya Seizes Power in 321 B.C., starts Mauryan Empire • Chandragupta defeats Seleucus I; north India united for first time • Chandragupta uses taxes to support his large army

3. Mauryan Empire • Chandragupta’s chief adviser is Kautilya, a priest • Chandragupta creates bureaucratic government • He divides the government to make it easier to rule • Asoka—Chandragupta’s grandson, brings the empire to its height • After a bloody war with Kalinga, Asoka promotes Buddhism and peace • Preaches religious toleration—accepting people of different religions • Builds roads, with wells along them • Asoka dies in 232 B.C.; kingdoms in central India soon break away

4. Gupta Empire • Chandra Gupta marries into kingship in north India in A.D. 320 • Starts Gupta Empire—India’s second empire; flowering of Indian civilization, especially Hindu culture • His son Samudra Gupta expands empire with conquest • Majority of Indians are farmers; entire family raises crops together • Families are patriarchal—headed by the eldest male • Farmers have to contribute work to government and pay heavy taxes • Some Tamil families are matriarchal—led by mother rather than father

5. Gupta Empire • Height of the Gupta Empire “Golden Age” • Chandra Gupta II rules from A.D. 375–415 • He defeats the Shakas and adds western coast to empire • Gupta Empire sees flourishing of arts, religion, and science • After Chandra Gupta II dies, the empire declines

6. Changes in Hinduism and Buddhism • Traditional Hindu and Buddhist Beliefs • Hinduism blends Aryan and other beliefs; belief in many gods • To Buddhists, desire causes suffering but suffering can be overcome • A More Popular Form of Buddhism • Belief in bodhisattvas develops—potential Buddhas who save humanity • Mahayana sect—Buddhists accepting new doctrines of worship, salvation • Theravada sect—Buddhists who follow original teachings of Buddha • Wealthy Buddhist merchants build stupas—stone structures over relics

7. Changes in Hinduism and Buddhism • A Hindu Rebirth • Hinduism is remote from people by time of MauryanEmpire • Hinduism moves toward monotheism; gods part of one divine force • Chief gods: • Brahma—creator of the world • Vishnu—preserver of the world • Shiva—destroyer of the world

8. Indian Culture • During the Mauryan and Gupta empires, poetry, literature, drama, and dancing flourished • Astronomy, Mathematics, and Medicine • Ocean trade leads to advances in astronomy • Indian astronomers in Gupta Empire prove that world is round • Mathematicians develop idea of zero and decimal system • Doctors write medical guides and make advances in surgery

9. Indian Trade Grows • India’s Valuable Resources • India has spices, diamonds, precious stones, and good quality wood • Trade routes called Silk Roads connect Asia and Europe • Indians build trading posts to take advantage of the Silk Roads • Indian merchants carry goods to Rome by sea • Merchants trade by sea with Africa, Arabia, China, Southeast Asia • Effects of Indian Trade • Increased trade leads to rise of 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

10. Han Dynasty • In Qin Dynasty peasants resent high taxes and harsh labor, rebel • Liu Bang Founds the Han Dynasty • Liu Bang defeats Xiang Yu, a rival for power, and founds Han Dynasty • Han Dynasty—begins in 202 B.C., lasts 400 years • Han Dynasty has great influence on Chinese people, culture • Liu Bang establishes centralized government—a central authority rules • Liu Bang lowers taxes and reduces punishments to keep people happy • Liu Bang dies in 195 B.C.; wife Lü seizes control of empire • Liu Bang’s great-grandson Wudi rules from 141 to 87 B.C. • “Martial Emperor” Wudi defeats Xiongnu (nomads) and mountain tribes • Colonizes Manchuria, Korea, and as far south as what is now Vietnam • Chinese believe their emperor has authority to rule from god • Believe prosperity reward of good rule; troubles reveal poor rule • Complex bureaucracy runs Han government • People pay taxes and supply labor, military service • Government uses peasant labor to carry out public projects

11. Han Dynasty • Wudi’s government employs 130,000; bureaucracy of 18 ranks of jobs • Civil service jobs—government jobs obtained through examinations • Job applicants begin to be tested on knowledge of Confucianism • Wudi favors Confucian scholars, builds school to train them • Only sons of wealthy can afford expensive schooling • Civil service system works well, continues until 1912 • Invention of paper in A.D. 105 helps spread education • Collar harness, plow, wheelbarrow improve farming • As population grows, farming regarded as important activity • Government allows monopolies—control by one group over key industries • Techniques for producing silk become state secret as profits increase • Assimilation—integrating conquered peoples into Chinese culture • Most women work in the home and on the farm • Some upper-class women are educated, run shops, practice medicine • Han dynasty lasts until 220 AD