Empires in India & ChinaEmpires in India & ChinaChapter 7Chapter 7

• Today’s GoalToday’s Goal Compare the first two Compare the first two Indian empires and their rulers.Indian empires and their rulers.

• Essential Questions Essential Questions What impacts What impacts did Chandragupta Maurya, Asoka, did Chandragupta Maurya, Asoka, and Chandra Gupta have on India? and Chandra Gupta have on India? What similar rise/fall did these two What similar rise/fall did these two empires have? empires have?

Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya• Established Established

Mauryan Mauryan Empire by Empire by military military successsuccess

• Divided Divided empire into empire into provincesprovinces

Kautilya – Chandragupta’s Kautilya – Chandragupta’s AdvisorAdvisor

• Arthasastra – describes how a Arthasastra – describes how a ruler should govern, lawsruler should govern, laws

• Political assassination, Political assassination, spiesspies

AsokaAsoka• Converted to Buddhism Converted to Buddhism helped helped

spreadspread• Brought empire Brought empire

to to greatest heightsgreatest heights

• Built roads, Built roads, canalscanals

Asoka’s Rock EdictsAsoka’s Rock Edicts• Religious tolerance, nonviolence, Religious tolerance, nonviolence,

welfare of his subjectswelfare of his subjects

Principles of Asoka’s EdictsPrinciples of Asoka’s Edicts1)1) Buddhist philosophyBuddhist philosophy

2)2) Promote general welfarePromote general welfare

3)3) Promote justicePromote justice

4)4) Ensure security Ensure security

Fall of MauryansFall of Mauryans• Poor/weak leaders after AsokaPoor/weak leaders after Asoka

– Regional kings challenged gov’tRegional kings challenged gov’t– Last leader, Brihadratha, killed by his own general, Last leader, Brihadratha, killed by his own general,

Pushyamitra SungaPushyamitra Sunga

• Internal conflicts Internal conflicts – Priests unhappy w/changes in religionPriests unhappy w/changes in religion

• Refugees from other landsRefugees from other lands• Invasions by outsiders & Invasions by outsiders &

rival kingdomsrival kingdoms– Weak military due to Weak military due to

emphasis on peaceemphasis on peace– No unified defenseNo unified defense

Tamil LandTamil Land

Chandra Gupta IChandra Gupta I

• Gupta Empire = Golden AgeGupta Empire = Golden Age– Back to HinduismBack to Hinduism– Flowering of Indian cultureFlowering of Indian culture– Extensive trade (use of Silk Roads)Extensive trade (use of Silk Roads)

Fall of Gupta EmpireFall of Gupta Empire

• Hephthalites (the “White Huns”) = Hephthalites (the “White Huns”) = nomadic group nomadic group invaded Gupta invaded Gupta

• Fragmentation/dissolution of empireFragmentation/dissolution of empire– Weak economyWeak economy– Disputes within royal familyDisputes within royal family– Provinces wanted independenceProvinces wanted independence– Small wars between local rulersSmall wars between local rulers