Transcript The Mauryan Empire

The Mauryan Empire
Chandragupta Mauryan may have
been born in Magadha.
 Killed unpopular Nanda king.
 Conquerors lands under the
control of Seleucus I.
 Vast army is supported by high
taxes.

Life Within the Empire
Relied on an advisor named
Kautilya.
 Arthasastra.
 Empire divided into four provinces
that is ruled by a prince.
 Assess taxes and enforce laws.
 Megasthenes.

Asoka
 Brought the Mauryan Empire to its
greatest heights.
 Wages war to expand the empire.
 Kalinga changes Asoka; converts
to Buddhism.
 Edict of Asoka, diplomats/officials
and road system becomes Asoka
legacy.
Edict of Asoka
Asoka Wheel
Period of Turmoil
After the death of Asoka in 232
B.C., regional rulers challenge
imperial government.
 Andhra Dynasty dominated central
India.
 Northern India absorb refugees
from Greeks, Persians and Central
Asia.

Southern India
Not controlled by the Mauryan
Empire.
 Three kingdoms reside in this
region; often at war with one
another.
 Tamil are the people and language
they spoke.

Gupta Empire Established
 After half a millennium of invasion
and turmoil, a new leader
emerges.
 Gain power though marriage, not
conquest.
 Chandra Gupta becomes “Great
King of Kings.”
 Samudra expands through
conquest.
Daily Life in the Gupta Empire
Most Indians lived in small villages.
 Farmers, craftspeople, and
merchants.
 Most families were patriarchal,
except in the South.
 Taxed and had to give labor to the
governments once a month.

Heights of the Gupta/ Decline
 Chandra Gupta II defeats Shakas
and adds territory to the empire.
 Trade flourishes.
 Marriage and political alliances
brings peace to the empire.
 Arts and science flourish.
 Gupta decline after Chandra Gupta
II death thanks to the Hunas.
Hinduism and Buddhism Change
These were the two main faiths in
India by 250 B.C.
 Both religions became increasingly
removed from the people.
 After the Buddha died, followers
developed different interpretations
of his teachings.

Buddhism Divides
Many Buddhist believe they could
become Buddhas. Bodhisattvas.
 Mahayana Buddhism allowed
salvation to all and popular
worship.
 Theravada Buddhism- Orthodox
teachings of Buddhism.
 What would the Buddha think?

Stupa
Cave
Temples
Hinduism Rebirth
Became very complex.
 Becomes more monotheistic.
 One divine force; gods represent
that force.
 Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are the
most important gods.

Indian Arts
Just like Hinduism and Buddhism,
Indian culture experiences change.
 Kalidasa writes Shakuntala.
 Southern India establishes writing
academies.
 Traveling actors put on
performances in southern India.

Shakuntala
Indian Dance
Bollywood
Astronomy, Mathematics, and
Medicine
From Greek invaders, adapted
western methods of keeping time.
 Astonmers proved that the earth
was round.
 Zero and decimal system.
 Described many diseases.
 Preformed surgery.

Aryabhata
Spread of Trade
Rich in resources such as spices,
diamonds, gold, and wood.
 Future invaders spread India's
trade.
 Middlemen in India make use of the
Silk Roads.
 Build trading stations along oasis.

Silk Roads
Sea Trade, East and West
Traders used coastal routes to
bring goods from India to Rome.
 India would also open trade with
Southeast Asia, China and Africa.
 Increase in trade lead to banking
industry in India.
 Cultural diffusion among traders.
