The Maurya The Maurya EmpireEmpire
The Maurya The Maurya EmpireEmpire
321 BCE – 185 BCE321 BCE – 185 BCE
Unified northern India. Indus to GangesUnified northern India. Indus to Ganges
First unified centralized First unified centralized government in Indiagovernment in India
Defeated the Macedon/PersianDefeated the Macedon/Persian
general general Seleucus.Seleucus. Divided his empire intoDivided his empire into provinces, then districts provinces, then districts
for for taxtax assessments and law assessments and law enforcement. enforcement.
He feared assassinationHe feared assassination Used spies, food Used spies, food tasters, tasters, slept in different rooms, etc.slept in different rooms, etc.
301 BCE 301 BCE gave up his throne & became gave up his throne & became a Jainist Monk. Some say he starved a Jainist Monk. Some say he starved
himself to death.himself to death.
ChandraguptaChandragupta: : 321 321 BCE-298 BCEBCE-298 BCE
ChandraguptaChandragupta: : 321 321 BCE-298 BCEBCE-298 BCE
KautilyaKautilyaKautilyaKautilya Chandragupta’s advisor.Chandragupta’s advisor.
Set up a Set up a bureaucraticbureaucratic administrative system that administrative system that
made policies for empire.made policies for empire.
Wrote Wrote The Treatise onThe Treatise on Material Gain Material Gain or the or the ArthashastraArthashastra.. A guide for the king and his ministers:A guide for the king and his ministers:
Supports royal power. Supports royal power. 600,000 infantry, 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 war elephants.30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 war elephants.
The great evil in society is The great evil in society is anarchy.anarchy. Therefore, a single authority is Therefore, a single authority is needed to employ force when needed to employ force when necessary!necessary!
Kautilya advising Kautilya advising ChandraguptaChandragupta
Kautilya advising Kautilya advising ChandraguptaChandragupta
Ashoka the Ashoka the GreatGreat
Ashoka the Ashoka the GreatGreat
Ashoka’s Ashoka’s GovernmentGovernmentUtilized
tightly organized
bureaucracy
Rock and Pillar Edicts – imperial laws based on
Buddhist values
Set up a central treasury to
oversee collection of taxes – used to support officials soldiers, others
Established capital city
at Pataliputra
Stable government led
to growing economy and expansion of agriculture
Built system of roads that connected
major cities
Ashoka the Ashoka the GreatGreat
Ashoka (304 – 232 Ashoka (304 – 232 BCE)BCE)
Ashoka (304 – 232 Ashoka (304 – 232 BCE)BCE) Religious conversion Religious conversion
after the gruesome after the gruesome battle of battle of Kalinga Kalinga in in 262 BCE. 100,000 died 262 BCE. 100,000 died
Dedicated his life to Dedicated his life to BuddhismBuddhism. Ahimsa “Peace”. Ahimsa “Peace”
ConflictConflict how to balance Kautilya’s how to balance Kautilya’s methods of keeping power methods of keeping power and Buddha’s demands to and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless person? become a selfless person?
AshokAshoka’s a’s
EmpireEmpire
AshokAshoka’s a’s
EmpireEmpire
Ashoka’s law Ashoka’s law codecode
Ashoka’s law Ashoka’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 SanskritSanskrit, but one was in , but one was in Greek and Aramaic. Greek and Aramaic.
10 rock edicts, Each pillar 10 rock edicts, Each pillar [[stupastupa]] is 40’-50’ high.is 40’-50’ high.
Buddhist principles dominated Buddhist principles dominated laws. (laws. (Conversion/spread of Buddhism,Moral Conversion/spread of Buddhism,Moral
codes,Conservation, Protection of animalscodes,Conservation, Protection of animals))
Ashoka’s Ashoka’s EdictsEdicts
Ashoka’s Ashoka’s EdictsEdicts
WomenWomenUnder Under
ananAshokaAshoka
treetree
WomenWomenUnder Under
ananAshokaAshoka
treetree
Turmoil & a power Turmoil & a power Vacuum:Vacuum:
220 BCE – 320 CE220 BCE – 320 CE
Turmoil & a power Turmoil & a power Vacuum:Vacuum:
220 BCE – 320 CE220 BCE – 320 CE
Tamils
Tamils
The Maurya Empire is divided into many The Maurya Empire is divided into many kingdoms.kingdoms.
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 GuptaChandra Gupta II
r. 320 – 335 CEr. 320 – 335 CE
“ “Great King of Great King of Kings”Kings”
HinduHindu revival. revival.
Chandra Gupta IIChandra Gupta II r. 375 - 415 CEr. 375 - 415 CE
Profitable trade Profitable trade withwith the Mediterranean the Mediterranean world. world.
HunsHuns invade–450 invade–450 CECE
Fa-Hsien (Faxian): Life in Gupta Fa-Hsien (Faxian): Life in Gupta IndiaIndia
Fa-Hsien (Faxian): Life in Gupta Fa-Hsien (Faxian): Life in Gupta IndiaIndia
Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the the Silk RoadSilk Road and visited India in the 5c. and visited India in the 5c.
He was following the pathHe was following the path of the Buddha. of the Buddha.
He reported the people to He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of be happy, relatively free of government oppression, and government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and inclined towards courtesy and charity. Other references in charity. Other references in the journal, however, indicate the journal, however, indicate that the that the caste systemcaste system was was rapidly assuming its basic features, rapidly assuming its basic features, includingincluding "untouchability,""untouchability," the social isolation of a the social isolation of a lowestlowest class that is doomed to menial labor. class that is doomed to menial labor.
Chandra Gupta Chandra Gupta IIII
Chandra Gupta Chandra Gupta IIII
International Trade International Trade Routes during the Routes during the
GuptasGuptas
International Trade International Trade Routes during the Routes during the
GuptasGuptas
Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:Land Route = Silk RoadLand Route = Silk Road
Water Route = Water Route = Indian OceanIndian Ocean
Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:Land Route = Silk RoadLand Route = Silk Road
Water Route = Water Route = Indian OceanIndian Ocean
spices
spices
spicesspices
gold & gold &
ivoryivory
gold & gold & ivoryivory
rice & rice & wheatwheathorseshorses
cotton goods
cotton goods
cotton goods
cotton goodssilkssilks
PearlsPearls
KalidasaKalidasaKalidasaKalidasa
The greatest of Indian poets.The greatest of Indian poets.
His most famous play was His most famous play was ShakuntalaShakuntala.. During the reign of Chandra Gupta During the reign of Chandra Gupta II. II.
GuptGuptaa
ArtArt
GuptGuptaa
ArtArt
Greatly influenced Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & Southeast Asian art &
architecture.architecture.
MedicineMedicineMedicineMedicine LiteratureLiteratureLiteratureLiterature
MathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematicsAstronomyAstronomyAstronomyAstronomy
PrintedPrintedmedicinal medicinal
guidesguides
1000 1000 diseasesdiseasesclassifiedclassified
PlasticPlasticSurgerySurgery
C-sectionsC-sectionsperformeperforme
dd
InoculatioInoculationsns
500 healing500 healingplants plants
identifiedidentified
DecimalDecimalSystemSystem
ConceptConceptof of ZeroZero
PI = 3.1416PI = 3.1416
KalidasKalidasaa
SolarSolarCalendarCalendar
The The earthearth
is roundis round
GuptaGuptaIndiaIndia
Gupta Gupta AchievemeAchieveme
ntsnts
Gupta Gupta AchievemeAchieveme
ntsntsMahabbaratMahabbarataa
Ramayana
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 4Invasion of the White Huns in the 4thth
century signaled the end of the Gupta century signaled the end of the Gupta Golden AgeGolden Age, even though at first, the , even though at first, the Guptas defeated them.Guptas defeated them.
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 kingdomskingdoms and was not really unified again and was not really unified again untiluntil the coming of the Muslims in the 17 the coming of the Muslims in the 17thth century.century.
QUESTIONQUESTION:: 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?
BhartrhariBhartrhariBhartrhariBhartrhari 5c India court poet and 5c India court poet and philosopher.philosopher.
Knowledge is man's crowning Knowledge is man's crowning mark,mark,A treasure secretly buried,A treasure secretly buried,The source of luxury, fame, and The source of luxury, fame, and bliss,bliss,A guru most venerable,A guru most venerable,A friend on foreign journeys,A friend on foreign journeys,The pinnacle of divinity.The pinnacle of divinity.Knowledge is valued by kings Knowledge is valued by kings beyond wealth--- beyond wealth---When he lacks it, a man is a When he lacks it, a man is a brute.brute.
Gupta ReviewGupta Review
Draw another frame to the cartoon that reflects why the Gupta is a
Classic Empire.