India’s First Empirespgs 189-192

I. Mauryan Empire• Chandragupta Maurya killed Nanda king• Claimed throne in 321bc

A. Maurya Unifies North India

1. battled and defeated Seleucus I in 303bc for control of northern India

2. raised a vast army; 600,000 foot soldiers, 30,000 cavalry and 9,000 elephants

3. high taxes

B. Running the Empire1. advisor-Kautilya wrote Arthasastra 2. Kautilya’s advice tough minded policies

C. Life in the City and the Country1. Megasthenes, Roman

ambassador2. description of Chandragupta’s city3. 269bc grandson Asoka takes

Empire to its height

D. Asoka promotes Buddhism

1. slaughter at Kalinga

2. (p69) Buddhism, “peace to all beings” 3. improved roads for travel and

communication

4. empire failed after his death in 232bc.

II. Gupta Empire• Chandra Gupta (no relation), oversaw a great

flowering of Indian civilization and Hindu cultureA. Chandra Gupta Builds an Empire

1. power base along the Ganges2. “Great King of Kings” in 320ad3. son, Samudra Gupta took over in

335ad4. Samudra Gupta was warlike, ruled for

40 years

B. Daily Life in India

1. lived in small villages

2. majority of the people were farmers

3. were families patriarchal

4. droughts, irrigation, taxes on water, and crops

5. southern India,or matriarchal

III. Height of the Gupta EmpireA. Chandra Gupta II ruled from 375 to 415ad

1. profitable trade

2. strength through peace and negotiation

3. Gupta period was a period of achievement in(?)

4. After Chandra Gupta’s death Hunas invaded, empire ended in 535ad.