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India's First Empires

India's First Empires. Persian King Darius I. Darius I came through the Khyber Pass and conquered northwestern India . For 200 years, Indus Valley was ruled by Persian satrap , or governor .

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India's First Empires

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  1. India's First Empires

  2. Persian King Darius I • Darius I came through the Khyber Pass and conquered northwestern India. • For 200 years, Indus Valley was ruled by Persian satrap, or governor. • First time the Indians felt both the benefits (unity and order) and burdens of centralized control.

  3. Alexander the Great • 326 BC: Alexander the Great invaded India with the goal of unifying all of Northern India. • Only stayed for 5 years before giving up on his goal. • He left generals in his place to keep order among the people.

  4. Chandragupta Maurya • 321 BC: Claimed throne after killing the unpopular Nanda King. • Start of the Mauryan Empire.

  5. Chandragupta Maurya • 321-298 BC: Chandragupta’s army of 9,000 elephants and 700,000 soldiers trampled neighboring kingdoms. • United all of North India under his rule. • Indus Valley, Ganges Valley, and Southern Himalayas.

  6. Chandragupta Maurya • Divided Empire into 4 provinces. • Each headed by a royal prince. • Each split into different districts with governors who would collect taxes. “Government is the science of Punishment” -Chandragupta Maurya

  7. Chandragupta Maurya • Chandragupta ruled by force and fear. • Planted government spies to make sure no one was planning a revolt. • (Like the one he planned when he killed the Nanda King!!!) • Trusted no one. • Made the chef taste his meal before he would eat it. • Slept in a different room each night in order to make sure no one would kill him in his sleep.

  8. Chandragupta Maurya • 301 BC: Gave up the throne and converted to Jainism. • Jains taught nonviolence and respect for all life. • Joined in the Jainist custom of fasting until he starved to death.

  9. Chandragupta’s Son • 301 BC: Ruled for 32 years. Little is known about his rule.

  10. Ashoka’s Warlike Behavior • 269 BC: Ashoka took the throne of the Mauryan Empire. • At first he was warlike. • He waged a bloody war against the neighboring state of Kalinga. • 100,000 soldiers were slain and even more civilians perished.

  11. Asoka’s Good Works • Filled Asoka with remorse and he decided to rule according to Buddha’s teachings of “peace to all beings”. • He sent out an apology to the southern tribes and promised kindtreatment in the future.

  12. Asoka’s Good Works • Ordered huge pillars to be erected inscribed with a public announcement of his new policies. • Promoted religious tolerance. • Built roads with wells and rest houses every 9 miles so travelers could rest.

  13. Asoka • Instead of spies, Asoka employed “officials of righteousness” to look out for the welfare of Indians of every caste. • They were there to help the unfortunate.

  14. Asoka • Sent hundreds of Buddhist missionaries to neighboring lands such as Ceylon. • Thanks to Asoka, Buddhism spread far beyond India and became a major world religion with millions of followers.

  15. Asoka’s Death • 232 BC: Last strong ruler of the Mauryan dynasty. • His policies of toleration and nonviolence failed to hold the Mauryan Empire together. • 180 BC: Mauryan Empire torn apart by rivalry among local provinces.

  16. Start of the Gupta Empire • Chandra Gupta I married the daughter of an influential royal family. • 320 AD: Chandra Gupta I crowned King of upper Ganges Valley. • “Great King of Kings”

  17. Start of the Gupta Empire • His reign brought the “Golden Age” to India. • Gupta Dynasty ruled a mighty Empire from 320-467 AD.

  18. Samudra Gupta • Chandra Gupta’s son. • 335 AD: Crowned King of the Gupta Empire. • Expanded the Empire through 40 years of conquest.

  19. Daily Life in the Gupta Empire • First period that historians have a lot of information about the daily life. • Most Indians lived in small villages. • Majority were farmers. • Most families were patriarchal. • Headed by the eldest male. • Tax on water. • Farmers owed a large part of their earnings to the King.

  20. Southern India Daily Life • The Tamil, were matriarchal. • Headed by the mother rather than the father.

  21. Height of the Gupta Empire • 3rd Gupta Emperor 375-415 AD: • Chandra Gupta II, created a place that was full of excitement and growth. • Praised for his heroic qualities. • Defeated the Shakas: • Enemies to the west. After defeating them he added their coastal territory to his empire. • This allowed the Guptas to trade with the Mediterranean world.

  22. Gupta Empire Decline • 425 AD: Chandra Gupta II died. • New invaders threatened North India: • The Hunas: • Related to the Huns. • Over the next 100 years, the Gupta Empire broke into small kingdoms. • Many were overrun by the Hunas. • 535 AD: Empire ended.

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