Aim: How did the

Mauryas & Guptas Rule

India?

DO NOW: Explain the Basic beliefs of

Buddhism

1. All life is filled with

suffering

2. Suffering is caused by

desire

3. The way to end

suffering is to end

desire

4. Follow the Eightfold

Path to end suffering

The Background History...

Do you remember the Aryans?The Mauryan period of Indian history was really began

northwestern India was conquered by Alexander the Great, in

326 BC. This seems to have destroyed the the Aryan’s ruling

of the states in the region. The first great conqueror in Indian

history was Chandragupta Maurya (reigned 322-298 BC).

Chandragupta Maurya

- Conquered Northern

India

- drove out Alexander

the Great’s successors

- Chandragupta Maurya

(reigned 322-298 BC)

- Extended his conquest

into Afghanistan and

eastern Iran.

- Was succeeded by his son,

Bindusara (reigned 298-272

BC).

King Asoka

Asoka/ Ashoka

Bindusara was followed by his

son, Asoka (reigned 272-232

BC). Asoka was one of the most

remarkable, and admirable, rulers

in the whole of world history.

Why might a ruler be admired?

Why is Asoka considered to be a great ruler?

- He fought a bloody war against Kalinga (eastern India)

- After seeing how many people were killed, Asoka renounced

warfare and converted to Buddhism.

- He sent Buddhist Monks on missions to China and Central

Asia

- He had pillars carved with Buddhist teachings and placed

around his empire

- He built schools, hospitals, old people’s homes, and took care

of the poor

- Buddhism flourished under the Maurya

Indian Achievements:

Indian mathematicians

devised the number

system we use today,

featuring nine numerals,

the zero, and the decimal.

Medicine

Ayurveda

Ayurveda is the name which the ancient Indians gave to

their science of medicine. Ayuh means life and veda to

know or attain. Ayurveda is the science by the knowledge

of which life can be prolonged or its nature understood.