Transcript Ch. 6 Ancient India

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Ch. 6 Ancient India
Lesson 3: The Mauryan
Empire
pp.157-160
Origin of an Empire
How the empire began (originated)
• By the 500s BC, India was divided into
many small kingdoms.
• Conflict over land and trade weakened the
kingdoms  left them open to invasion.
• Armies from Persia conquer the Indus
Valley in the 500s BC and made it part of
the Persian Empire
• Then the Greeks, led by Alexander the
Great, defeat Persia.
• Alexander entered India but turned back
in 325 BC when because his troop were
homesick and threatened to rebel.
India’s First Empire
CHANDRA GUPTA MAURYA:
• Very strong emperor – ruler/king over an empire
• After Alexander left India, builds a strong army in
India.
• He conquers northern India and unifies the region
under his rule.
• Becomes the first ruler of the Mauryan dynasty.
• Sets up a good government
• Starts an efficient postal system – improves
communication throughout his empire.
India’s First Empire
CHANDRA GUPTA MAURYA:
• His powerful army crushed any resistance to his rule
• Used spies to report any disloyalty among his
subjects
• Was very cautious
– – afraid of being poisoned, so had servants taste his food
before he ate it
– - afraid of being attacked, so never slept two nights in the
same bed
Emperor Ashoka
Mauryan Emperor
• Chandra Gupta’s grandson
• Helped the Mauryan Empire reach the
height of glory
• Governed most of northern central India
from about 273 – 232 BC
Emperor Ashoka
Mauryan Emperor
• Began with fierce wars of conquest
• Eventually (soon) came to hate killing
– After one battle, he looked at the fields covered with
dead and wounded soldiers.
– Became horrified by it
– Decided to follow Buddhism and became a man of
peace
– For the rest of his life, he tried to improve the lives of
his people
Emperor Ashoka causes the
growth of his empire:
Political Achievements
• Made laws that encouraged
people to do good deeds,
practice nonviolence and
respect others
• Created hospitals for people
and for animals
• Build fine roads with rest
houses and shade trees for
travelers’ comfort
• The good roads helped India
become the center of a large
trade network that stretched to
the Mediterranean Sea
Moral Achievements
• Promoted Buddhism
• Made regular visits to rural
villages in his empire to find
out what they needed
• Sent teachers to spread the
religion throughout India and
other parts of Asia
• Built many stupas = Buddhist
shrines shaped like a dome
or burial mount
• Built the “Great Stupa” p. 159
• Was tolerant of all beliefs even
if it wasn’t Buddhism – allowed
Hindus to practice their religion
Stupa -- Buddhist shrines shaped
like a dome or burial mound
End of the Mauryan Empire
• Ashoka died in 232 BC  Empire declines
• The emperors after him
– weren’t as kind
– Made merchants pay heavy taxes
– Took land from peasants
• Indians rebel
• Land was split into many kingdoms that
fought amongst themselves
Research Questions
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Research Questions
Why did the Mauryas Empire grow under Ashoka?
Describe the political achievements of Emperor
Ashoka. What do you think was most important?
Why?
Describe the moral achievements of the Emperor
Ashoka. Which was most important? Why?
What is an emperor? What are the names of Indian
emperors? How are they different from each
other?
What is a stupa? How was it different from a
ziggurat? a pyramid? a tabernacle?
Test on Thursday over ALL notes on Ancient India – check the board for list.