Transcript Jacob Perry
Mauryan & Gupta Empires EDITED BY JACOB PERRY Mauryan Beginnings Chandragupta Maurya (top 3 classes) gained control of the Magadha (influential area) and eventually expanded into india’s 1st empire After fall of Greek Empire (death of Alex the great) – Mauryan able to extend control over most of the subcontinent Mauryan Stuff Arthashastra – guide to political success, written by Brahmin guide of Chandragupta – advocates mandala or foreign policy theory ¼ of value of harvest given to king/gov’t – king used family and friends to manage admin districts Capital = Pataliputra (modern Patna) governed by six committees, international connections Ashoka & Beyond ChaGu grandson – greatly extended the empire but at high human cost, upset by this so he converted to Buddhism and strict nonviolence & morality 1st deciphered Indian writing = Edicts of Ashoka Mauryan collapsed 184 BCE – next 500 yrs characterized by fragmentation Next 500 Years… Foreigners dominated the NW & even extended into the East and South at times – Greeks, Iranians and Chinese Although fragmented, still signs of social, intellectual and economic development last BCE gr8est Indian epics (Ramayana & Mahabharata) finalized – reflect Vedic Age Bhagavad-Gita resolve issue B/T duty to society and to yourself Science = herbal remedies, Writing system = Sanskrit Gupta Empire 320-550 CE Similar to/modeled after Mauryan grew out of Magadha, founder named Chandra Gupta (but he stole it), capital Pataliaputra Never controlled as much land as Mauryan but able to rack up some serious territory Economic navigated important trade routes, agriculture, control of iron deposits, required 25% tax Gupta Government Not as effective as a centralized government outside the core – governors (often times corrupt and greedy) pretty much allowed free reign on how the administered their regions Theatre –State tried to persuade outside areas to follow their lead by having elaborate ceremonies and rituals, wanted to attract with the allure of court life Gupta Stuff Intellectual math & astronomy developments, most importantly – the concept of zero Women declining status B/C of urbanization and complex social & political organizations – essentially treated as Shudras (lowest class) Loss right to inherit property Married at young age, like 6-7 Expected to cremate themselves upon death of husband, if not basically died a social death and were outcasted Some hope for women joined with Buddhists or Jainist, upper class women could study Gupta Gupta = Hindus – reemergence of the Caste system Era of religious tolerance Continued thriving commercial connections – used coined money, traded with SE & E Asia (India heavily influenced these areas) Gupta Fall Down Late 5th century – pressure from the Huns of Central Asia Defense campaigns cost a lot of money and eventually bled the treasury dry Empire collapse 550 CE