Transcript India`s First Empires

India’s First Empires
Chapter 4
Section 3
Did You Know?
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Following Buddhist ways, Asoka respected all
life and even created hospitals for animals.
The Mauryan Dynasty
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Chandragupta Maurya: an Indian prince; founded India’s first empire
after Alexander the Great left India
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This empire was called: “The Mauryan Empire”
Dynasty: is a series of ruler from the same family.
From the capital city of Pataliputra, Chandragupta controlled his
dynasty by retaining a strong army and spies.
Many historians consider Asoka the Mauryan dynasty’s greatest king.
After being a strong military leader, Asoka turned away from
violence.
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He made a vow to live a peaceful life and follow Buddhism.
Asoka did many great things for his people.
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He built hospitals and new roads and sent teachers throughout India to teach
Buddhism.
Laborers built thousands of stupas, or Buddhist shrines.
Discussion Question
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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
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After 500 years of fighting, another Chandragupta
took power and founded the Gupta dynasty.
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After Chandragupta died, his son, Samudragupt, took over
and expanded the empire.
The Guptas ruled for about 200 years.
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They grew wealthy from trade with China and kingdoms in
southeast Asia and the Mediterranean.
Pilgrims: were people who often used the trade routes to travel to a
religious shrine or site.
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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.
Discussion Question
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What advantage did the Gupta rulers have that
the Mauryan rulers did not?
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The kingdom had gotten smaller before the
Gupta rulers took power.
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A smaller kingdom is easier to rule.
Indian Literature and Science
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The Vedas of India are hymns and prayers used in
religious ceremonies.
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The epics Ramayana and Mahabarata that are still
famous in India today.
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Both epics tell about warriors and their brave deeds.
This is the center of Hinduism.
Kalidasa: was a writer who lived during the Gupta
dynasty. His poem The Cloud Messenger is a popular
Sanskrit poem.
Music was an important part of the religious and
social lives of people of India.
Indian Literature and Science
continued
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Remains of Indian art include mainly religious works
made in stone.
Aryabhata was a mathematician who lived during
the Gupta dynasty.
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Mathematicians in the Gupta empire developed the
symbols for the numbers 1 to 9 that we use today.
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He was one of the first scientists to use algebra.
They also invented algorithms and the idea of zero.
Indians also developed ideas in astronomy and
medicine.
Discussion Question
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What kinds of medical advances were made by
Gupta doctors?
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Gupta doctors could set broken bones and
perform surgeries.
The also developed medical tools.
One doctor even carried out an early form of
plastic surgery.
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