Post on 21-Dec-2015
transcript
India’s First Empires• By 600 BCE, almost
1000 years after the Aryan migrations, many small kingdoms were scattered throughout India
• In 326, BCE, Alexander the Great conquered the region- left a Macedonian general-Seluecus I-in control
Mauryan Empire: Chandragupta Maurya
• 321 BCE, claimed the NW. region-lower Ganges River
• By 305 BCE, defeated Seluecus I
• 303 BCE Empire united northern India– 600,000 foot soldiers– 30,000 cavalry– 9,000 elephants
• Imposed high taxes
How did Chandragupta govern the Empire?
• Relied on Katilya- a Brahmin
• Arthashastra-(a rulers handbook)
• Tough policies• Spies• Assassination• Bureaucratic • 4 provinces ruled
by prince• divided into local
districts to collect taxes & enforce law
What was Life Like in Pataliputra?• Very wealthy• Gold covered pillars• Fountains• Thrones• Parks• Markets
Who was Asoka?
• Chandragupta’s grandson
• Became king in 269 BCE
• Started out brutal• Changed after
Battle of Kalinga• Ruled by
Buddhist principles
Asoka’s Edicts
• Huge stone pillars inscribed with new policies
• Fairness• Humane treatment• Nonviolence• Religious toleration
A Period of Turmoil
• Power vacuum after Ashoka’s death• Many kingdoms with overlapping boundaries• MIGRATION, CULTURAL DIFFUSION, TRADE• New peoples, new languages, new ideas• Syncretism-blending of cultures into new form
Gupta Empire• After 500
years, Chandra Gupta reunited India years
• Expansion & consolidation of empire
• Golden Age
Daily Life
• Small villages• Farmers• Craftspeople &
merchants • Mostly patriarchal• Entire family worked
together • Irrigation essential• Taxes paid in labor
on irrigation projects
Trade Spreads Indian Religions & Culture:
• Both religions had become increasingly removed from the people
• Hinduism was dominated by priests
• Buddhist ideal of self-denial proved difficult for many to follow
Buddhism & Hinduism Change
• More Popular Form of Buddhism– Belief in bodhisattvas
develops—Buddhas who save humanity
– Mahayana sect—Buddhists accept new doctrines of worship/salvation
– Theravada sect—Buddhists who follow original teachings of Buddha
– Wealthy Buddhist merchants build stupas—stone structures over relics
A Hindu Rebirth (Get It?)
– Hinduism is remote from people by time of Mauryan Empire
– moves toward monotheism; gods are part of one divine force
• Brahma—creator of the world
• Vishnu—preserver of the world
• Shiva—destroyer of the world
Achievements of Indian Culture: Literature & Performing Arts
– Kalidasa—poet & dramatist, one of India’s greatest writers
– Skillful & emotionally stirring plays still popular
– Madurai writing academies create literature; 2,000 Tamil poems survive
– Drama/dance troupes gain popularity & travel widely
Indian Achievements: Astronomy, Math, Medicine
– Ocean trade leads to advances in astronomy
– Indian astronomers in Gupta Empire prove world is round
– Mathematicians develop idea of zero & decimal system
– Doctors write medical guides- make advances in surgery
Spread of Indian Trade
• Valuable Resources– spices,
diamonds,– Ivory, precious
stones, & good quality wood
Silk Roads & Indian Ocean Trade
– Overland trade routes called Silk Roads connect Asia & Europe
– Maritime routes monsoon winds to connect India east to China & west to Arabian Peninsula & Africa