Transcript Chapter 6 Section 3

Chapter 6
Section 3
India’s First Civilizations
Section Overview
• The Mauryan and Gupta dynasties built
empires in India, and they contributed
greatly to literature, mathematics, and
science.
The Mauryan Dynasty
• Chandragupta
Maurya, an Indian
prince, founded
India’s first empire
after Alexander the
Great left India
• This empire was
called the Mauryan
dynasty.
• A dynasty is a series
of rulers from the
same family.
• Chandragupta
controlled his dynasty
by retaining a strong
army and using spies
Mauryan Empire
The Mauryan Dynasty
• Many historians consider Asoka the Mauryan
dynasty’s greatest king.
• After he was a strong military leader, Asoka
turned away from violence.
• He made a vow to live a peaceful life and
follow Buddhism.
• Asoka did many great things for his people.
The Mauryan Empire
• For example, he built hospitals and new
roads and sent teachers throughout India
to teach Buddhism.
• The empire grew weak after Asoka’s
death.
• The kings made poor decisions, and the
Mauryan Empire fell.
India’s First Empires
What happened as a result of
Alexander the Great’s invasion of
northern India?
Alexander the Great’s army
weakened the people of India. After
Alexander the Great and his men
left, the people could not resist
Chandragupta.
The Gupta Empire
• After 500 years of fighting, another
Chandragupta took power and founded the
Gupta dynasty.
• After Chandragupta died, his son,
Samudragupta, took over and expanded the
empire.
• The Guptas ruled their small kingdom
successfully for about 200 years.
• They grew wealthy from trading salt, cloth, and
iron with China and kingdoms in southeast Asia
and the Mediterranean.
The Gupta Empire p. 313
The Gupta Empire
• Pilgrims were people who often used the trade
routes to travel to a religious shrine or site.
• Visiting pilgrims helped make cities wealthy just
as tourists make cities wealthy today.
• The Guptas were Hindus, and they made
Hinduism the official religion
• The golden age of art and learning in India was
during the Gupta empire.
India’s First Empires
What advantage did the Gupta
rulers have that the Mauryan rulers
did not?
The kingdom had gotten smaller
before the Gupta rulers took power.
The smaller kingdom was easier to
rule.
Indian Literature and Science
• The Vedas of India are hymns and prayers
used in religious ceremonies.
• The Vedas were recorded in Sanskrit after
the Aryan people came to India.
• The epics Mahabharata and Ramayana
are two poems that are still famous in
India today.
• Both epics tell about warriors and their
brave deeds.
Indian Literature and Science
Indian Literature
and Science
Mahabharata - longest poem in the written language; tells
of a war over control of India that occurred around 1100
B.C.
- Best known section is the Bhagavad Gita “Song of the
Lord”, in which the god Krishna preaches that it is noble to
perform one’s duty even when it is painful or difficult.
Ramayana - A love story about King Rama and his queen
Sita who were separated when his enemies banished him.
He lives alone but eventually fights and defeats the demon
Ravana, who kidnapped Sita, and they live happily ever
after.
Indian Literature and Science
Indian Literature and Science
Kalidasa was a writer who lived
during the Gupta dynasty.
Kalidasa’s poem The Cloud
Messenger is one of the most
popular Sanskrit poems.
Aryabhata was a mathematician
who lived during the Gupta
dynasty.
He was one of the first
scientists to use algebra.
Indian Math and Science
Indian Math and Science
Mathematicians in the
Gupta empire developed
the symbols for the
numbers 1 to 9 that we
use today.
They also invented
algorithms and the idea
of zero.
Indians also developed
ideas in astronomy and
medicine.
India’s First Empires
What kinds of medical advances
were made by Gupta doctors?
Gupta doctors could set broken
bones and perform surgeries. They
also developed medical tools. One
doctor even carried out an early
form of plastic surgery.
India’s First Empires
Describe trade during the Gupta
empire?
Indians traded salt, cloth, and iron
with China, Southeast Asia, and the
Mediterranean.
India’s First Empires
What is the message of the
Bhagavad Gita?
It taught people to do their duty
even when it was painful.
India’s First Empires
Analyze How were Asoka’s
Buddhist beliefs reflected in his
accomplishments as king?
His improvements were for the
overall good. He built hospitals,
roads, and rest stops for travelers;
sent missionaries throughout India
and Asia; carved Buddha’s principles
on pillars; built stupas; and practiced
religious tolerance.