The Maurya The Maurya EmpireEmpire

The Maurya The Maurya EmpireEmpire

321 BCE – 185 BCE321 BCE – 185 BCE

ChandraguptaChandragupta: : 321 - 321 - 298 BCE298 BCE

ChandraguptaChandragupta: : 321 - 321 - 298 BCE298 BCEFirst emperor of Mauryan First emperor of Mauryan

Dynasty Dynasty

Unified subcontinent of India Unified subcontinent of India under strong central under strong central government.government.

Divided his empire into Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for provinces, then districts for tax assessments and lawtax assessments and lawenforcement.enforcement.

His administration of the His administration of the empire would be copied and empire would be copied and imitated by other Indian imitated by other Indian DynastiesDynasties

Ashoka (304 – 232 Ashoka (304 – 232 BCE)BCE)

Ashoka (304 – 232 Ashoka (304 – 232 BCE)BCE) Greatest Mauryan Greatest Mauryan

Emperor – grandson of Emperor – grandson of

ChandraguptaChandragupta

Converted to BuddhismConverted to Buddhism after the gruesome after the gruesome battle of Kalinga in battle of Kalinga in 262 BCE 262 BCE..

Dedicated his life to Buddhism.Dedicated his life to Buddhism.

Built extensive roads across India.Built extensive roads across India.

SpreadSpread Teachings of Buddhism Teachings of Buddhism throughout India by building Stupas, throughout India by building Stupas, temples, shrines. temples, shrines.

AshokAshoka’s a’s

EmpireEmpire

AshokAshoka’s a’s

EmpireEmpire

Asoka’s law Asoka’s law codecode

Asoka’s law Asoka’s law codecode Edicts scattered inEdicts scattered in

more than 30 places more than 30 places in India, Nepal, in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan. Pakistan, & Afghanistan.

Written mostly inWritten mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic. Greek and Aramaic.

10 rock edicts.10 rock edicts.

Each pillar [Each pillar [stupastupa] is 40’-50’ high.] is 40’-50’ high.

Buddhist principles dominated his Buddhist principles dominated his laws.laws.

One One of of

AsokaAsoka’s’sStuStupaspas

One One of of

AsokaAsoka’s’sStuStupaspas

Asoka Asoka Movie Movie PostePoste

r, r, 20012001

Asoka Asoka Movie Movie PostePoste

r, r, 20012001

Spread of BuddhismSpread of BuddhismSpread of BuddhismSpread of Buddhism From India to China - Buddhist monks, From India to China - Buddhist monks, merchants, and missionaries traveled merchants, and missionaries traveled along the Silk Road and across Asia. along the Silk Road and across Asia.

Gupta Empire:Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 320 CE – 647 CE647 CE

Gupta Empire:Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 320 CE – 647 CE647 CE

Gupta RulersGupta RulersGupta RulersGupta Rulers Chandra Gupta IChandra Gupta I

r. 320 – 335 CEr. 320 – 335 CE

“ “Great King of Great King of Kings”Kings”

Chandra Gupta II Chandra Gupta II r. 375 - 415 CEr. 375 - 415 CE

Profitable trade Profitable trade withwith the Mediterranean the Mediterranean world! world!

Hindu revival.Hindu revival.

Huns invade – 450 Huns invade – 450 CECE

Gupta Wealth Gupta Wealth Thru Trade:Thru Trade:

4c4c

Gupta Wealth Gupta Wealth Thru Trade:Thru Trade:

4c4cspices

spices

spicesspices

gold & gold &

ivoryivory

gold & gold & ivoryivory

rice & rice & wheatwheathorseshorses

cotton goods

cotton goods

cotton goods

cotton goodssilkssilks

MedicineMedicineMedicineMedicine LiteratureLiteratureLiteratureLiterature

MathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematicsAstronomyAstronomyAstronomyAstronomy

PrintedPrintedmedicinal medicinal

guidesguides

1000 1000 diseasesdiseasesclassifiedclassified

PlasticPlasticSurgerySurgery

C-sectionsC-sectionsperformeperforme

dd

InoculatioInoculationsns

500 healing500 healingplants plants

identifiedidentified

DecimalDecimalSystemSystem

ConceptConceptof Zeroof Zero

PI = 3.1416PI = 3.1416

KalidasKalidasaa

SolarSolarCalendarCalendar

The The earthearth

is roundis round

GuptaGuptaIndiaIndia

Gupta Gupta

Golden Age Golden Age AchievementsAchievements

Gupta Gupta

Golden Age Golden Age AchievementsAchievements

During During Gupta Gupta RuleRule

India India hadhad

A A GoldenGolden

AgeAge

During During Gupta Gupta RuleRule

India India hadhad

A A GoldenGolden

AgeAgeA time of peace, prosperity and A time of peace, prosperity and cultural achievements in math, cultural achievements in math, medicine, astronomy and the medicine, astronomy and the

arts.arts.

The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptasGuptas

The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptasGuptas

Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaledsignaled the end of the Gupta Golden Age. the end of the Gupta Golden Age.

After the decline of the Gupta empire, After the decline of the Gupta empire, northnorth India broke into a number of separate India broke into a number of separate HinduHindu kingdoms and was not really unified again kingdoms and was not really unified again untiluntil the coming of the Muslims in the 7c. the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.

Something to think about…Something to think about… Is the best literature and art written as Is the best literature and art written as the civilization is on the rise, at its the civilization is on the rise, at its height, or in its decline? height, or in its decline?