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• Founded by Chandragupta Maurya ( 324 to 301 B.C.)
• Increased centralized govt control over regional kingdoms
• large army of 700,000
• secret police to watch for treason 301 BCE gave up his throne to & became a Jain
monk (extreme Buddhism)
Most important ruler in ancient India Brutal military commander who extended the
Empire throughout S. and E. India Battle of Kalinga - 260 BC
100,000 Kalingans died 150,000 Kalingans driven from their home More died from disease & starvation in the
aftermath of the destruction brought on by the war
“What have I done?” Ashoka and many Indian leaders converted to
Buddhism after this battle and became pacifists
He spent the rest of his life encouraging non-violence, moderation and Buddhist principles to India
Asoka’s Buddhist Rock and Pillar Edicts
spread Buddhist principles
scattered in more than 30 places in India, Nepal,Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
Each pillar is 40’-50’ high.
helped bring order and unity to India
Agricultural economy•New canals and irrigation systems for trade and agriculture. •renovated major roads throughout India.
•built towns for spinning & weaving textiles
•uniform system of currency, weights and measures
•Created provinces ruled by governors for tax assessments and law enforcement
•Taxes rose over time to build Ashoka’s projects which led to Empire’s fall at Ashoka’s death
•Increased trade by uniting India
•India traded silk, cotton, and spices to Mesopotamia, China, Egypt and Rome
Silver punch mark coin
State farms operated and cultivated by slaves.
Grew Rice, Pepper, Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Sugar Cane, Medicinal Roots
Buddhism grows built thousands of Stupas for Buddhist followers. built Buddhist schools and universities the unnecessary eating of animals was abolished. Wildlife became protected including the first
national parks in the world promoted vegetarianism and built animal
hospitals. Ashoka’s empire died out slowly after he died
Buddhism architecture spread from India when Buddhism spread aver the next 1000 years
• The Caste System limited social opportunities & determined who people could marry
• Families are patriarchal—headed by the eldest male• Laws limited women’s life and abilities Sati was sometimes practiced
“Even a man in the grip of rage will not be harsh to a woman, remembering that on her depends the joy of love, happiness and virtue” Mahabharata epic
transition from wood to stone in their architecture and art Indian
Stupa
Ashoka's Pillars
Northern India Invading HUNS built new small regional kingdoms
Hindu Kush civilizations Most powerful regional kingdoms for trade across the region
and along the Silk Road Jainism grew in influence during this time of confusion
since the leaders pushing Hindu and Buddhism were weakened
Gupta Dynasty Re-Unites India (Classical India)
375-550 CE• OVERVIEW:• Chandra Gupta
founded it• Peaceful• great traders• strong art, science
and mathematics• Hinduism
dominated• The Gupta have
strong central govt which allowed a degree of local control
Politics
• Chandra Gupta (320-335 AD)– Alliances & Conquest
– Consolidated Power & Territory
– Drove out the Kushans
• Samudra Gupta (335-375 AD)
• Chandra Gupta II (375-415 AD)– Decentralization
– Peace & Prosperity (Faxian)
Gupta Economy
• owned gold mines, silver mines, and vast lands.• rent money from farmers funded government (govt
owned the land)• Silk Road served Gupta, Han, Rome and Persia Dynasties• Indian merchants shipped ivory, jewels, and textiles, salt
and iron• The Romans traded glass, jewels, and clothes.• Chinese merchants traded silk, spices, tea, and porcelain.• The Gupta Empire profited greatly from religious trade
and religious pilgrims.
Gupta social life• VERY wealthy civilization• enjoyed gardens, music,
and daily bathing• ate lots of variety; rice,
bread, fish, milk, fruits and juices.
• slave labor • Hinduism became more
organized & temples became more important.
• Women lost rights compared to under Buddhism- SATI Increased
• Child marriage became common for girls
• HINDUSIM returns as dominant religion
Gupta Math/Science• Invented numbers 1-9, decimal system, pi• Zero invented by Aryabata
• Charted planets and star movements
• recognized the Earth is round and rotates on its axis and revolves around sun.
• Indian physicians excelled in medicines, caesarean section, bone setting, and skin grafting, smallpox vaccination
• Started Hospitals
Gupta Buddhist Art
• AJANTA CAVES
• depict the stories of Buddhism spanning from the period from 200 bce to 650 ce.
.
AJANTA CAVES
• During the 4th century c.e.
• Buddhist monasteries and prayer halls.
• twenty-nine caves • adorned with elaborate
painting and sculptures
Ajanta Caves• The Ajanta caves
depict the stories of Buddhism spanning from the period from 200 bce to 650 ce.
• The 29 caves were built by Buddhist monks using simple tools like hammer & chisel.
• The elaborate and exquisite sculptures and paintings depict stories from Jataka tales.
• The caves also house images of nymphs and princesses.
the Sarnath Buddha
Gupta Decline
Later Gupta rulers lived extravagantly, which weakened the people’s loyalty.
– Guptas weakened by the expense of the War with White Huns and competing India kingdoms
White Huns c. 500ce invade through Kyber Pass and Ganges Valley
• destroyed cities and reduced Hindu temples to rubble.
• Feudal provinces declare independence when Gupta are destroyed
• India seperates into independent kingdoms.
• not unified again until the Muslims in the 11th century
