Unit 2 Powerful Empires of India

Unit 2Powerful Empires of India

The Maurya Dynasty • Location/Capital • Northern India • Pataliputra, along the Ganges River in Eastern India • A walled city with 530 watch towers and 64 gates • Boasted of schools and libraries, as well as splendid palaces and temples

The Maurya Dynasty • Government • Maintained order through a well organized bureaucracy • The building of roads and harbors were supervised by Royal officials to benefit trade. • Other officials collected taxes or managed state-owned factories and shipyards • Royal courts were used to administer justice

The Maurya Dynasty • Emperors • Chandragupta • Effective but harsh ruler • Had a secret police to handle dissent, corruption, and crime • Specially trained women warriors guarded the palace • Asoka • The most honored Mauryaemporor • Fought a long, bloody war to conquer the Deccan region of Kaling • Converted to Buddhism, helped it spread across India • Taught religious tolerance, was philanthropic with his actions

The Maurya Dynasty • Causes of Decline • Rival princes battled for power after Asoka’s death. • There was no unity in India, due to distance and cultural differences among its people • Foreign invaders also entered through mountain passes in Northern India and divided the northern kingdoms, who offered little resistance.

Kingdoms of the Deccan • Location/Capital • Southern India along the Deccan Plateau • Divided into many kingdoms, each with its own capital city • Cities were very active with workshops and temples

Kingdoms of the Deccan • People • Dravidians, with very different languages and traditions • Women enjoyed a high status and economic power

Kingdoms of the Deccan • Tamil Kingdoms • Many of the Tamil Kingdoms were ruled by queens • Tamil rulers improve harbors to support overseas trade. • Spices, textiles, and other luxuries were traded with the Romans and Chinese

Kingdoms of the Deccan • Religion • A mixture of Hinduism and Buddhism • Deccan rulers generally tolerated all religions as well as foreigners who settle in their busy port cities

Gupta Dynasty • Location/Capital • United much of India

Gupta Dynasty • Government • Organized a strong central government that promoted peace and prosperity • Much power was left in the hands of individual villages and city governments • There was a system of law and order, with criminals being fined according to circumstances

Gupta Dynasty • Trade and Farming • Trade and farming flourished across the empire • Farmers harvested wheat, rice and sugar cane • Artisans in the city produced cotton cloth, pottery, and metalware for locals and for export to Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia

Gupta Dynasty • Arts and Learning • Students were educated in religious schools, but not only in religion • Had a wide impact on mathematics, devising the Arabic numbers and the decimal system • Medical advancements included vaccinations, setting bones, and treating ailments with herbs and other remedies • Built magnificent temples out of stone, including stupas • Murals were created depicting life in the Gupta empire • Indian literature was added to by writers and carried to Persia, Egypt, and Greece

Unit 2 Powerful Empires of India