Transcript Indian Empires

Indian Empires
142-145
Bell Work
Spread of Buddhism
Answer in complete sentences and use the textbook (140-141)
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Why did the Buddhist’s ideas’
spread quickly?
The spread of Buddhism
increased after which powerful
king in India became a
Buddhist?
Who spread the Buddhist
religious beliefs to other
kingdoms in Asia?
Two major branches of
Buddhism were created after
Buddhism split. What were the
two major branches?
Beyond India where did
Buddhism spread?
Unification of India
• In 320s BC, Chandragupta Maurya (Ma-RE-ya)
seized control of northern India and founded the
Mauryan Empire. It lasted 150 years.
• Complex government
• Huge army of 600,000 soldiers and war elephants
(struck fear in their enemies)
• Farmers paid heavy tax to government for army’s
protection.
• Chandragupta becomes a Jainist Monk and passes
throne to his son. (Dynasty)
• Mauryan Empire: all of northern India and most of
central India.
CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA (Ma-RE-ya)
• Defeated the Macedon/Persian General Seleucus
• Divided empire into provinces then districts for tax
assessments and law enforcement
• He feared assassination = used spies, food tasters,
slept in different rooms
Mauryan Empire
(Ma-RE-yan)
• Asoka (Chandragupta’s grandson) became king and was the
strongest of all Mauryan rulers.
• Expanded territory and made empire rich through bloody
wars and conquest.
• Asoka converts to Buddhism (made a promise: not launch
wars of conquest)
• After conversion – improve lives of his people
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Roads that connected to major cities
Wells
Shade trees
Rest house for weary travelers
Spread Buddhism by sending missionaries (to lands all over Asia)
• Asoka dies and his sons fought each other for power, invader
threatened the empire, and last Mauryan king is killed. India
divides into smaller states once again.
Gupta Empire
• In AD 320, Candra Gupta I (no relation to the
Mauryan rulers) took over most of India. He
was the 1st Gupta ruler.
• Gupta rulers were Hindu and it became
India’s major religion. However, they had
religious tolerance.
– Established a university at Nalanda
– Buddhist Temples
– Buddhist Art
Gupta Empire
• Chandra Gupta II ruled after
• India hit a Golden Age under the Gupta Empire.
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Empire stretched across northern India
Outsiders admired their wealth and beauty
Economy prospered
Many Achievements (will discuss in Section 5)
• Caste System was an important part of Indian Society
during the Gupta because rulers thought it would
strengthen their rule.
• Gupta Empire ended in late 400s due to Huns
(Central Asia) attacked and drained the Gupta’s
wealth and power (economy)
– India was divided into small kingdoms yet again.
Homework Reminders
• Hinduism/Buddhism advertisement is due on
your block day
• Optional DAR Essays (extra 10 points)