Gupta Empire PERSIA

1. Gupta Empire PERSIA Elbert & Mattius

2. Introduction – Gupta Empire • Ancient Indian Empire • Covered Indian Subcontinent • From 320 CE to 550 CE • Advanced in science, engineering, technology, art, literature, and etc

3. Thesis Statement • Depicting the cultural elements of the Gupta Empire • Classifying into 6 different sections – PERSIA • Some deductive thinking process with given facts

4. PERSIA - POWER • ABOUT – How power is distributed and how decisions are made • Fact 1: Succession, inheritance of throne • – It answers the question: “How are the leaders chosen?”

5. PERSIA - POWER • Fact 2: Villages were protected from bandits and raids with local military squads. (Each squad was made up of one elephant, one chariot, three armored cavalrymen and five foot soldiers.) • - It answers the question: “How did the government protect civilians? • Fact 3: From Pataliputra, their capital, leaders tried to retain political power by committing judicious marriage alliances for stronger military and political strength. (Pragmatism) • - It answers the question: “What were some ways for leaders to maintain their political power?”

6. PERSIA - Economy • ABOUT – The making and distributing of money/wealth • Fact 1: Rewards of money were given to writers, artists, and scholars to encourage them to produce wonderful work, and they did. • - It answers the question: “How did artists earn money?”

7. PERSIA - Economy • Fact 2: Stalls for selling things were located on both sides of the street. • - It answers the question: “How were businesses conducted by people?” • Fact 3: In the Gupta Empire, wheat was the main crop, and people kept cows for milk. • - It answers the question: “What were some goods produced by farmers (or people)?”

8. PERSIA - Religion • ABOUT – How a society describes the supernatural • Fact 1: The emperor sent missionaries around India and Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism. • – It answers the question: “How was the religion diffused?”

9. PERSIA - Religion • Fact 2: During the Gupta period, people had the freedom of religion. • – It answers the question: “How did people choose religion?” • Fact 3: True to the Buddhist principle of respect for all life, Asoka (the emperor) stopped eating most meats and limited Hindu animal sacrifices. • - It answers the question: “What were some religious practices that were done by followers?

10. PERSIA - Social • ABOUT – How individuals in a society interact with each other • Fact 1: During the Gupta period, people were given free medical care, which included simple surgery. • - It answers the question: “What did the government do to help people?”

11. PERSIA - Social • Fact 2: Criminals were never put to death. Instead, they were fined for their crimes. • - It answers the question: “How did the government organize the society in a good way?” (enlightening) • Fact 3: In ancient India, the most popular form of marriage was called Swayamvara. (a group of potential grooms assembled at the bride's house and the bride selected her spouse) • - It answers the question: “What traditions did people have?”

12. PERSIA - Intellectual • ABOUT – How a society tends to solve problems • Fact 1: Hindu mathematicians were the first to use a system of numbers based on ten. • - It answers the question: “What are some major accomplishments of this culture?”

13. PERSIA - Intellectual • Fact 2: The Gupta Empire had many universities, and students came from as far away as China to study at those schools. • - It answers the question: “What is this culture known for?” • Fact 3: Ancient Indians invented many of the games we play today, like chess, polo, and playing cards. • - It answers the question: “What is this culture known for?”

14. PERSIA - Artistic • ABOUT – What a society sees as beautiful, how it defines beauty, and how it entertains itself • Fact 1: The Golden Age of Gupta dynasty encompassed other arts, including painting, music, dance, and literature. • - It answers the question: “What are some forms of art?”

15. PERSIA - Artistic • Fact 2: Dancers have performed Indian classical dances since a few centuries before the Gupta era up through the present day. Each movement of the arms, hands, and eyes carries particular meaning. • - It answers the question: “In what ways did people try to express themselves?” • Fact 3: In the north, Ancient Indians wore (some still wear) an unstitched garment called “dhoti”. People also wore lots of jewelry. It was used both by men and women. • - It answers the question: “How did people decorate themselves?”

16. Summary • During the Gupta era, many things like policies, education systems, beliefs, and market systems were quite similar to those of modern societies. • People at that time were living in well-organized society, also under the properly established, and also pretty humanistic government system.

17. Bibliography • http://india.mrdonn.org/gupta.html • World History Book