India Unites: The Mauryan and Gupta Dynasties

Aryan Age ends with Invasion of Darius and Alexander

India begins to Unite c. 400-300BCE

• Persia first united NW India under Cyrus and Darius

c. 330 Alexander the Great conquered Persia Greek empire failed when Alexander died Now a native Indian Empire would begin.

The Mauryan Empire 321-180 BCE

Politics

• Founded by Chandragupta Maurya ( 324 to 301 B.C.)

• Increased centralized govt control over regional kingdoms

• large army of 700,000 • secret police to watch for treason • 301 BCE gave up his throne to & became a

Jain monk (extreme Buddhism)

Ashoka Maurya

Ashoka 268-232 BC • Most important ruler in ancient India • Brutal military commander who extended the Empire

throughout S. and E. India • Battle of Kalinga - 260 BC

o 100,000 Kalingans died o 150,000 Kalingans driven from their home o More died from disease & starvation in the aftermath of the

destruction brought on by the war

• “What have I done?” • Ashoka and many Indian leaders converted to

Buddhism after this battle and became pacifists

• He spent the rest of his life encouraging non-violence, moderation and Buddhist principles to India

Asoka’s Buddhist Rock and Pillar

Edicts • spread Buddhist principles

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

• Each pillar is 40’-50’ high. • helped bring order and unity

to India

Trade/Economy Agricultural economy

• New canals and irrigation systems for trade and agriculture.

• renovated major roads throughout India. • built towns for spinning & weaving textiles

• uniform system of currency, weights and

measures

• Created provinces ruled by governors for tax

assessments and law enforcement • Taxes rose over time to build Ashoka’s

projects which led to Empire’s fall at Ashoka’s death

• Increased trade by uniting India

• India traded silk, cotton, and spices to

Mesopotamia, China, Egypt and Rome

Silver punch mark coin

Indian Agriculture • State farms operated and

cultivated by slaves.

o Grew Rice, Pepper, Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Sugar Cane, Medicinal Roots

Religion

• Buddhism grows • built thousands of Stupas for Buddhist followers. • built Buddhist schools and universities • the unnecessary eating of animals was abolished. • Wildlife became protected including the first national parks

in the world • promoted vegetarianism and built animal hospitals. • Ashoka’s empire died out slowly after he died

The Sanchi Stupa (Buddhist temple) by Ashoka

Similarities between Buddhist Stupas and Pagodas

• Buddhist architecture spread from India when Buddhism spread over the next 1000 years

The Mauryan Empire at its Height

Social

• The Caste System limited social opportunities & determined who people could marry

• Families are patriarchal—headed by the eldest male

• Laws limited women’s life and abilities

• Sati was sometimes practiced

“Even a man in the grip of rage will not be harsh to a woman, remembering that on her depends the joy of love, happiness and virtue” Mahabharata epic

Indian Population

• 50 million people during Mauryan Empire

The Arts transition from wood to stone in their architecture and art Indian Stupa

Ashoka's Pillars

After the Mauryans: Regional Rule and the Rise of Jainism

and Buddhism

Regional Kingdoms and local rule - 185 BCE to CE 300

• Northern India o Invading HUNS built new small regional kingdoms

• Hindu Kush civilizations o Most powerful regional kingdoms for trade across the region and along the

Silk Road

• Jainism grew in influence during this time of confusion since the leaders pushing Hinduism and Buddhism were weakened

Jainism – like Hindu and Buddhism

• Believe in karma, dharma and Moksha • expected to follow five principles of living: • Ahimsa: "non violence in all parts of a person -- mental, verbal and physical." • Satya: speaking truth; avoiding falsehood • Asteya: to not steal from others • Brahma-charya: (soul conduct); remaining sexually monogamous to one's

spouse only • Aparigraha: detach from people, places and material things. Avoiding the

collection of excessive material possessions, abstaining from over-indulgence, restricting one's needs,

Gupta Dynasty Re-Unites India (Classical India)

375-550 CE • OVERVIEW: • Chandra Gupta

founded it • Peaceful • great traders

• strong art, science and mathematics

• Hinduism dominated

• The Gupta had strong central govt which allowed a degree of local control

Politics

• Chandra Gupta (320-335 AD) o Alliances & Conquest o Consolidated Power & Territory

o Drove out the Kushans

• Samudra Gupta (335-375 AD) • Chandra Gupta II (375-415 AD)

o Decentralization

o Peace & Prosperity (Faxian)

Chandra Gupta I (reigned AD 320-c. 330), • Pataliputra : Mauryan capital: magnificent palaces,

temples, parks

• Path to Power o Increased the power and territory of his regional kingdom

by marrying Princess Kumaradevi whose family controlled northern India/Nepal.

• Other N. Indian territories joined this alliance for protection and trade as his power grew

Kumardevi and Chandragupta I 335-370 ce

Gold Dinar

Samudra Gupta (son of Chandra)

• launched wars of conquest across N. India

• Built a larger Gupta empire

• Wealth came from many mines owned by govt

Gupta Economy

• owned gold mines, silver mines, and vast lands. • rent money from farmers funded government (govt

owned the land) • Silk Road served Gupta, Han, Rome and Persian

Dynasties

• Indian merchants shipped ivory, jewels, and textiles, salt and iron

• The Romans traded glass, jewels, and clothes. • Chinese merchants traded silk, spices, tea, and

porcelain. • The Gupta Empire profited greatly from religious

trade and religious pilgrims.

Gupta social life • VERY wealthy civilization

• enjoyed gardens, music, and daily bathing

• ate lots of variety; rice, bread, fish, milk, fruits and juices.

• slave labor • Hinduism became more

organized & temples became more important.

• Women lost rights compared to under Buddhism

• Child marriage became common for girls

• HINDUSIM returns as dominant religion

Gupta Math/Science

• Invented numbers 1-9, decimal system, pi • Zero invented by Aryabata • Charted planets and star movements

• recognized the Earth is round and rotates on its axis and revolves around sun.

• Indian physicians excelled in medicines, caesarean section, bone setting, and skin grafting, smallpox vaccination

Gupta Buddhist Art

• AJANTA CAVES • depict the stories of

Buddhism spanning from the period from 200 bce to 650 ce.

.

AJANTA CAVES

• During the 4th century c.e.

• Buddhist monasteries and prayer halls.

• twenty-nine caves • adorned with elaborate

painting and sculptures

Ajanta Caves • The Ajanta caves

depict the stories of Buddhism spanning from the period from 200 bce to 650 ce.

• The 29 caves were built by Buddhist monks using simple tools like hammer & chisel.

• The elaborate and exquisite sculptures and paintings depict stories from Jataka tales.

• The caves also house images of nymphs and princesses.

the Sarnath Buddha

Gupta Decline

Later Gupta rulers lived extravagantly, which weakened the people’s loyalty. • Guptas weakened by the expense of the

War with White Huns and competing India kingdoms

White Huns c. 500ce invade through Kyber Pass and Ganges Valley

• destroyed cities and reduced Hindu temples to rubble.

• Feudal provinces declare independence when Gupta are destroyed

• India seperates into independent kingdoms.

• not unified again until the Muslims in the 11th century