Asian Classical Civilizations:

Mauryan, Gupta, & Han

The Mauryan Empire

• Chandragupta Maurya seized Northeast India

Chandragupta's empire when he founded it circa 320 BC, by the time he was about 20 years old.

The Mauryan Empire

• Chandragupta Maurya’s Army of 600,000 men aided by chariots and 9,000 war elephants conquered more kingdoms

The Mauryan Empire• Chandragupta Maurya Centralized Government

followed advice of Kautilya, a Brahman

(Strict rule, use of spies, use of assassination, set up districts run by a bureaucracy of loyal

supporters, government controlled the economy, and taxed the farmers and made them pay rent for

their land).

The Mauryan Empire• Chandragupta Maurya gave up his throne to

his grandson Ashoka

The Mauryan Empire• Ashoka expanded Indian empire to the

south.

The Mauryan Empire

• Why did Ashoka switch from Hinduism to Buddhism?

The Mauryan Empire

• Ashoka converted to Buddhism (nonviolence).

• Religious tolerance• Built roads and dug wells

The Gupta’sThe Gupta’s

The Gupta’sThe Gupta’s

Chandra Gupta I United India as a single empire

The Gupta’sThe Gupta’s

Chandra Gupta IIRuled India empire during

its Golden Age

The Gupta’sThe Gupta’s

Chandra Gupta II India’s Golden Age

•Hinduism became main religion•Building of Hindu temples

•Concept of zero•Decimal system•Herbal remedies•Plastic surgery

•Vaccinated against smallpox

Buddhism Hinduism Under Ashoka

Ancient Empires of India

Ike Always Makes Great MealsNDUS

RYANS

AURYANS

UPTAS

OGULS

Han Dynasty

Han Dynasty• The two Chinese dynasties studied before the Han’s

Shang•1st Chinese Dynasty(Yellow River Valley)

•Started 1st writing system(Pictograph)

•Oracle bones(Predict future)

Zhou•Dynastic cycle

•Mandate of Heaven

Han DynastyChina’s first Golden Age!

Han Dynasty

Chinese PhilosophyChinese Philosophy3 “schools of thought”3 “schools of thought”

• Confucianism

• Daoism (Taoism)

• Legalism

Chinese PhilosophyChinese Philosophy3 “schools of thought”3 “schools of thought”

•Founded by Kong Fu Zi

• Proper Respect (knowing one’s role in society)

•Stressed five relationships

•Stressed education

•Bring quality people into government (educated, civil service test)

•Filial Piety

Stressed the Five RelationshipsStressed the Five Relationships1) Father to

2) Older Brother to younger

3) Husband to

4) Ruler to

5) Friend to

Chinese PhilosophyChinese Philosophy3 “schools of thought”3 “schools of thought”

•Founded by Lao Tze

•Nature follows a universal force called “the way” or

•Order will be restored by human beings living in = “Go with the flow”

LightMaleHeavenlyActive

DarkFemaleEarthlyPassive

Chinese PhilosophyChinese Philosophy3 “schools of thought”3 “schools of thought”

•Founded by Han Fei

•Order and peace will be restored by having and

•People are naturally weak and selfish. Therefore, a strong / is needed to keep society on the straight and narrow.

Legal = Laws = (severe) Punishment if broken

漢朝Han Dynasty

•Paper making•Agriculture ImprovementsWheelbarrow, plow, collar harness, water mills

Monopoly by theGovernment on salt,Iron, coins, & alcohol.

•Centralized Government•Civil Service Exams

•One common written language•Reinforcement of Confucianist principals•Low status of women

•Peasants rebelled due to high taxes and poverty•Millions left homeless after great flood

•Gap between rich and poor•Empire became too large & corrupt