India and China Establish India and China Establish Empires 400 B.C.-AD.550Empires 400 B.C.-AD.550

Chapter OpenerChapter Opener

Asoka: The Asoka: The Buddhist King of Buddhist King of IndiaIndia• Buddhism turned Buddhism turned

Asoka, the Asoka, the bloodthirsty king of bloodthirsty king of ancient India’s ancient India’s Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire, into a peace-loving into a peace-loving ruler.ruler.

Section 1: India’s First EmpiresSection 1: India’s First Empires

The Mauryan Empire is EstablishedThe Mauryan Empire is Established

Chandragupta Maurya Chandragupta Maurya Seizes PowerSeizes Power• In 321 B.C. In 321 B.C.

Chandragupta Maurya Chandragupta Maurya seizes power, starts seizes power, starts Mauryan EmpireMauryan Empire

Chandragupta Maurya Chandragupta Maurya Unifies North IndiaUnifies North India• Chandragupta defeats Chandragupta defeats

Seleucus I; north India Seleucus I; north India is united for the first is united for the first timetime

• Chandragupta uses Chandragupta uses taxes to support his taxes to support his large armylarge army

The Mauryan Empire is EstablishedThe Mauryan Empire is Established

Running the EmpireRunning the Empire• Chandragupta’s chief adviser is Kautilya, Chandragupta’s chief adviser is Kautilya,

a priesta priest• Chandragupta creates a bureaucratic Chandragupta creates a bureaucratic

governmentgovernment• He divides the government to make it He divides the government to make it

easier to ruleeasier to rule

The Mauryan Empire is EstablishedThe Mauryan Empire is Established

Life in the City and the Life in the City and the CountryCountry• A Greek ambassador A Greek ambassador

writes glowing praise of writes glowing praise of the empirethe empire

• Chandragupta’s son Chandragupta’s son rules from 301 to 269 rules from 301 to 269 B.C., (32 years)B.C., (32 years)

• AAŝŝokaoka——Chandragupta’s Chandragupta’s grandson, brings the grandson, brings the empire to its heightempire to its height

Mahabodhi Temple, site of first temple built by Asoka (3rd century B.C.) on spot of Buddha’s enlightenment. Bihar, India

The Mauryan Empire is EstablishedThe Mauryan Empire is Established

Asoka Promotes BuddhismAsoka Promotes Buddhism• After a bloody war with Kalinga, Asoka After a bloody war with Kalinga, Asoka

promotes Buddhism and peacepromotes Buddhism and peace• Preaches religious toleration—accepting Preaches religious toleration—accepting

people of different religionspeople of different religions• Builds roads, with wells along themBuilds roads, with wells along them

A Period of TurmoilA Period of Turmoil

The Breakup of the Mauryan EmpireThe Breakup of the Mauryan Empire• Asoka dies in 232 B.C.; kingdoms in Asoka dies in 232 B.C.; kingdoms in

central India soon break awaycentral India soon break away• The Andhra Dynasty dominates central The Andhra Dynasty dominates central

India for centuriesIndia for centuries• Northern India receives immigrants from Northern India receives immigrants from

Greece and other parts of AsiaGreece and other parts of Asia• TamilsTamils—a people living in southern India—a people living in southern India

—remain separate and frequently war —remain separate and frequently war with rival peoples.with rival peoples.

The Gupta Empire is The Gupta Empire is EstablishedEstablished

Chandra Gupta Builds Chandra Gupta Builds an Empirean Empire• Chandra Gupta Chandra Gupta

marries into kingship marries into kingship in north India in A.D. in north India in A.D. 320320

• Starts Starts Gupta EmpireGupta Empire—India’s second —India’s second empire; flowering of empire; flowering of Indian civilization, Indian civilization, especially Hindu especially Hindu culture (see next slide)culture (see next slide)

• His son Samudra His son Samudra Gupta expands empire Gupta expands empire with conquestwith conquest

Radha and Krishna in the grove.

Painting (about 1780)

The Gupta Empire is The Gupta Empire is EstablishedEstablished

Daily Life in IndiaDaily Life in India• Majority of Indians are farmers; entire Majority of Indians are farmers; entire

family raises crops togetherfamily raises crops together• Families are Families are patriarchalpatriarchal—headed by —headed by

the eldest malethe eldest male• Farmers have to contribute work to Farmers have to contribute work to

government and pay heavy taxesgovernment and pay heavy taxes• Some Tamil families are Some Tamil families are matriarchalmatriarchal——

led by mother rather than fatherled by mother rather than father

The Gupta Empire is The Gupta Empire is EstablishedEstablished

Height of the Gupta EmpireHeight of the Gupta Empire• Chandra Gupta II rules from A.D. 375-Chandra Gupta II rules from A.D. 375-

415415• He defeats the Shakas and adds western He defeats the Shakas and adds western

coast to empirecoast to empire• Gupta Empire sees flourishing of arts, Gupta Empire sees flourishing of arts,

religion, and sciencereligion, and science• After Chandra Gupta II dies, the empire After Chandra Gupta II dies, the empire

declinesdeclines