Transcript India - Asian History

50 Minute Tour of
the History of India
Before the Guptas in India
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Two major empires rose to unify the
region that would become India
1.
Mauryan Empire (326 BC – 184 BC)
2.
Kushan Empire (30 AD – 360 AD)
Mauryan Empire (326 BC – 184 BC)
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India’s recorded history at this time pretty
much ignored Alexander the Great's
attempts to conquer the region in 326 B.C
But, cultural diffusion between India and
Greek art, architecture, language and
coinage was evident during the Mauryan
Empire.
Rise of Mauryan Empire
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Alexander the Great died in 323 BC without
ever conquering the Indian subcontinent.
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As the Greek Empire retreated from South
Asia, King Chandragupta took control
over Magadha and conquered his way well
into Afghanistan.
Reasons: King Chandragupta Maurya’s
Success and the Mauryan Rise:
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2.
3.
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6.
Farming and trade around Ganges River
Iron deposits in Magadha
Kautilya, the Brahman author of the
Arthashastra (Science of Material Gain)
Very organized, highly structured
government—excellent control over tax
collection.
Large standing army
Well developed system of espionage
Emperor Ashoka
Ashoka renounced war and adopted a
policy of nonviolence
 He promoted religious and cultural
tolerance.
 Also personally worked to spread the
teachings of Buddhism. He is famous for
his public inscriptions.
 Called his message of peace and love
Dharma
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The Mauryan Empire reached its
height of prosperity during the reign of
Emperor Ashoku
Decline and Fall of Mauyan Empire
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2.
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Ashoka died in 232 BC
During the last half of Ashoka’s reign,
there were no military campaigns
The military became weak from lack of
practice.
After Ashoka, there wasn’t another strong
Mauyan leader.
The Kushan Empire
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(30 AD – 360 AD)
The Kushan Kingdom was the meeting
point of trade among the Indian, Persian,
Chinese, and Roman empires and
controlled a critical part of the Silk Road.
Kanishka, who reigned for two decades
starting around A.D. 78, was the most
noteworthy Kushana ruler. He converted to
Buddhism and convened a great Buddhist
council in Kashmir.
The Kushan Empire
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The Kushans were patrons of Gandharan
art, (a combination of Greek and Indian
styles) and Sanskrit literature.
They declared a new era called Shaka in
78 AD, and this calendar was formally
adopted by India in 1957. It is still in use
today.
Kushan Empire’s Decline
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After the death of Vasudeva I in 225 AD,
the Kushan empire split into western and
eastern halves.
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The remnants of the Kushan empire were
ultimately wiped out in the 5th century by
the invasions of the Huns, and later the
expansion of Islam.
The Gupta Dynasty (320-550)
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Under Chandragupta I (320 AD -335 AD),
empire was revived in the north.
First conquered Magadha, set up his
capital where the Mauryan capital had
stood
Chandragupta revived many of Ashoka's
principles of government.
Gupta Dynasty
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Chandragupta’s son Samudragupta (335376), and later his grandson, Chandragupta
II (376-415), extended the kingdom into an
empire over the whole of the north and the
western Deccan Plateau.
This period is regarded as the golden age
of Indian culture.
Continued expansion of Buddhism
Accomplishments of the Guptas
Mathematics
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Invented a numeral
system.
Developed a concept
of negative numbers.
Calculated square root
of 2
Developed table of
sines.
Computed value of Pi.
Astronomy
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Identified seven
planets.
Determined that
planets and moon
reflect sun's light.
Understood daily
rotation of earth on its
axis.
Predicted eclipses.
Developed theory of
gravity.
Accomplishments of the Guptas
Medicine
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Understood importance of spinal cord.
Knew how to set bones.
Performed plastic surgery.
Practiced sterilization of wounds
Fall of the Guptas
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Beginning in the 400's AD, the Huns began
to put pressure on the Guptas.
In 480 they conquered the Guptas and took
over northern India.
Western India was overrun by 500
The last of the Gupta kings died in 550.
After the Fall of the Guptas
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Buddhism was interpreted in different ways
in India
Theravada  understanding of one’s self is
the key to Nirvana. (strict)
Mahayana  Nirvana can be achieved
through devotion to Buddha. Buddha is a
divine figure. (less strict)
Then Hinduism gained popularity
as Hinduism gained popularity
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Theravada Buddhism almost disappeared
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Mahayana Buddhism was absorbed by
Hinduism.
The introduction of Islam completed the
decline of Buddhism in India.
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The Eastward Expansion of Islam
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Islam reached South Asia after the fall of
the Gupta Empire
After the Gupta Empire, there was no
centralized power in the region.
The Indian subcontinent was divided into
over 70 separate powers that were in
constant conflict.
Early Islamic States Near India
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Arab armies reached India in the 700s AD
Mamluk Turkish soldiers established the
Islamic state Ghazni in what would be
Afghanistan.
Mahmud of Ghazni succeeded as Ghazni
ruler after his father died in 997 AD
Attacked the nearby Hindu kingdoms and
by Mahmud’s death in 1030 the Ghazni
took over the Indus Valley.
Sultanate of Delhi
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By 1200 a Muslim state called the
“Sultanate of Delhi” had taken all of
northern India.
During the 1300s, the Sultanate of Delhi
reached across the Deccan Plateau.
Soon after, 1369, Timur Lenk took control
over the Mogul state in Samarkand and
aggressively began to expand the territory
Fall of the Sultanate of Delhi
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Timur Lenk attacked Delhi in 1398 and
completely destroyed it.
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After killing 100,000 Hindu captives
The last dynasty of the Sultanate was the
Lodi dynasty
The last Lodi ruler, Ibrahim Lodi, was hated
by his court and subjects
Alam Khan sent an invitation to Babur, the
ruler of Kabul, to conquer Delhi.
Islam and Indian Society
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Muslim rulers in India saw themselves as
foreign conquerors
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They kept themselves strictly separate from
the Hindu population
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They were generally intolerant of Hinduism,
and destroyed many Hindu temples
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Conflict between Indian Muslims and
Hindus continues to the present day.