Transcript Section 4 Lecture

Chapter 5 Section 4
Indian Empires
The Big Idea
Indian Empires
The Mauryas and the Guptas
built great empires in India.
Main Ideas
• The Mauryan Empire unified most of India.
• Gupta rulers promoted Hinduism in their empire.
Origin of an Empire
• By the 500s B.C., India was
divided into many small
kingdoms. The Greeks, under
Alexander the Great, entered
India but turned back when his
homesick troops threatened to
rebel.
Mauryan Empire Unifies India
• Candragupta Maurya, in the 320s BC, seized control of the entire
northern part of India and founded the Mauryan Empire.
• The Empire would last for 150 years.
A Day in the life as an Emperor
• His days were divided into 16 periods of 90 minutes each.
• His daily activities ranged from morning meditations, to reading reports of
his secret agents, and to meeting with his Council for state matters.
• Real power was in the hands of the vizier (prime minister), named Kautilya
Chanakya
• He believed every means was justifiable if used in the service of the state.
The Mauryan Empire
• Candragupta Maurya developed a complex government to rule his
empire.
• He set up a government in the capital city of Pataliputra where he set up an
efficient postal system.
• It included a network of spies and 600,000 soldiers. (The army had large
numbers of chariots and war elephants).
• Farmers would pay taxes in return for the army’s protection.
The Mauryan Empire
• Candragupta Maurya, in 301 BC, converted to Jainism in response to a
famine. He renounced his throne, and eventually starved himself to death.
• The Mauryan Empire would continue to expand under the next emperors
until if ruled the entire subcontinent.
Asoka
• The grandson of Candragupta,
Asoka was the most powerful of
all the Mauryan Emperors
• Asoka extended Mauryan rule
over most of India. He made
the empire stronger and even
richer.
Asoka
• After seeing many bloody battles against other
peoples, Asoka converted to Buddhism and renounced
any form of violence or conquest.
• Asoka improved the lives of his people, he had wells dug,
roads and way stations built, and even sent Buddhist
missionaries into the rest of Asia.
• Asoka died in 233 BC, his sons fought one another and the
empire disappeared in 184 BC.
• India divided into smaller states once again.
Gupta Rulers Promote Hinduism
• After the decline of the Mauryan Empire, India remained primarily
Buddhist for 500 years and the popularity of Hinduism declined.
• Eventually, a new dynasty was established in India. The Gupta dynasty took
over India around 320 AD. Once again India would be united and
prosperous.
A New Hindu Empire
• Candra Gupta’s I armies conquered and controlled much of Northern
India and became the first emperor of the Gupta Empire.
• Samurada Gupta, a brilliant military leader, continued to add more territory
to the Gupta empire. By the time he died, he controlled nearly all of the
Ganges River Valley.
A New Hindu Empire
• The Indian Civilization flourished under the Gupta’s.
• The rulers were Hindu and promoted a revival of Hindu writing,
worship practices, and built many Hindu temples.
• They also supported Buddhism and Jainism. They promoted Buddhist art
and built Buddhist temples. They also established a Buddhist university at
Nalanda.
Candra Gupta II
Growth
Under Candra Gupta II, the Gupta Empire
reached the height of its power. It spread
across northern India and prospered.
Economy and
Culture
The economy boomed, allowing citizens the
time and money to create great works of art
and literature.
The Caste
System
It was believed that keeping citizens
under strict caste rule would stabilize
the empire and preserve their power.
Social
Ramifications
Women in the caste system were not seen
as equals and had few basic rights.
The Fall of the Gupta Empire
• Gupta rule remained strong in India until the late
400’s.
• At that time the Huns, a group from Central Asia,
invaded from the northwest.
• The Huns drained the power and wealth of the
Gupta Empire.
• By the middle of the 500s, Gupta rule had ended,
and India divided into small kingdoms yet again.
Questions pages 142-145
Answer in a complete sentence
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Who was Candragupta Maurya?
How did becoming a Buddhist change Asoka’s behavior?
What was India like after the fall of the Mauryan Empire?
Why did the Gupta rulers support the caste system?
What led to the decline of the Gupta Empire?