India Unites:The Mauryan and Gupta Dynasties

Aryan Age ends with Invasion of Darius and Alexander

India begins to Unite c. 400-300BCE

• Persia first united NW India under Cyrus and Darius

c. 330 Alexander the Great conquered Persia Greek empire failed when Alexander diedNow a native Indian Empire would begin.

The Mauryan Empire 321-180 BCE

Politics

• 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)

Ashoka Maurya

Ashoka 268-232 BC• Most important ruler in ancient India• Brutal military commander who extended the Empire

throughout S. and E. India• Battle of Kalinga - 260 BC

o 100,000 Kalingans diedo 150,000 Kalingans driven from their homeo 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

Trade/EconomyAgricultural 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

Indian Agriculture• State farms operated and

cultivated by slaves.o Grew Rice, Pepper,

Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Sugar Cane, Medicinal Roots

Religion

• 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

The Sanchi Stupa (Buddhist temple) by Ashoka

Similarities between Buddhist Stupas and Pagodas

• Buddhist architecture spread from India when Buddhism spread over the next 1000 years

The Mauryan Empire at its Height

Social

• 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

Indian Population

• 50 million people during Mauryan Empire

The Artstransition from wood to stone in their architecture and art Indian Stupa

Ashoka's Pillars

After the Mauryans: Regional Rule and the Rise of Jainism

and Buddhism

Regional Kingdoms and local rule - 185 BCE to CE 300

• Northern Indiao Invading HUNS built new small regional kingdoms

• Hindu Kush civilizationso 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 Hinduism and Buddhism were weakened

Jainism – like Hindu and Buddhism

• Believe in karma, dharma and Moksha• expected to follow five principles of living: • Ahimsa: "non violence in all parts of a person -- mental, verbal and physical." • Satya: speaking truth; avoiding falsehood • Asteya: to not steal from others • Brahma-charya: (soul conduct); remaining sexually monogamous to one's

spouse only • Aparigraha: detach from people, places and material things. Avoiding the

collection of excessive material possessions, abstaining from over-indulgence, restricting one's needs,