Ms. Susan M. PojerHorace Greeley HS

Chappaqua, NY

ChandraguptaChandragupta: : 321 321 BCE-298 BCEBCE-298 BCE

Unified northern India.Unified northern India. Defeated the PersianDefeated the Persian general general SeleucusSeleucus.. Divided his empire intoDivided his empire into provinces, then districts provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law for tax assessments and law enforcement. enforcement. He feared assassination [like SaddamHe feared assassination [like Saddam Hussein] Hussein] food tasters, slept in food tasters, slept in differentdifferent rooms, etc. rooms, etc. 301 BCE 301 BCE gave up his throne & gave up his throne & becamebecame a Jain. a Jain.

The Maurya The Maurya EmpireEmpire

321 BCE – 185 BCE321 BCE – 185 BCE

KautilyaKautilya Chandragupta’s advisor.Chandragupta’s advisor. Brahmin caste.Brahmin caste. Wrote Wrote The Treatise onThe Treatise on Material Gain Material Gain or the or the ArthashastraArthashastra.. A guide for the king and his A guide for the king and his ministers:ministers:

Supports royal power.Supports royal power. The great evil in society is The great evil in society is anarchyanarchy.. Therefore, a single authority is Therefore, a single authority is needed to employ force when needed to employ force when necessary! necessary!

Asoka (304 – 232 Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)BCE) Religious conversion Religious conversion

after the gruesome after the gruesome battle of battle of KalingaKalinga in in 262 BCE. 262 BCE. Dedicated his life to Dedicated his life to Buddhism. Buddhism. Built extensive roads.Built extensive roads. ConflictConflict how to balance how to balance Kautilya’sKautilya’s methods of keeping methods of keeping powerpower and Buddha’s demands to and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless become a selfless person?person?

AsokAsoka’s a’s

EmpiEmpirere

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 dominate his Buddhist principles dominate his laws.laws.

One One of of

AsokAsoka’sa’sStStupasupas

WomenWomenUnder Under

ananAsokaAsokatreetree

Turmoil & a power Turmoil & a power Vacuum:Vacuum:

220 BCE – 320 CE220 BCE – 320 CE

TamilsTamils

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 RulersGupta Rulers Chandra GuptaChandra Gupta II

r. 320 – 335 CEr. 320 – 335 CE “ “Great King of Great King of Kings”Kings”

Chandra Gupta IIChandra 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

Fa-Hsien: Life in Fa-Hsien: Life in Gupta IndiaGupta India Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along

the the Silk Road and visited India in the 5c. Silk Road 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 caste system was that the caste system was rapidly assuming its basic features, rapidly assuming its basic features, includingincluding "untouchability," the social isolation of a "untouchability," the social isolation of a lowestlowest class that is doomed to menial labor. class that is doomed to menial labor.

Chandra Gupta Chandra Gupta 1111

International Trade International Trade Routes during the Routes during the

GuptasGuptas

Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:4c4c

spices

spices

spicesspices

gold & gold &

ivoryivorygold & gold & ivoryivory

rice & rice & wheatwheathorseshorses

cotton goodscotton goods

cotton goodscotton goodssilkssilks

KalidasaKalidasa

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

Greatly influenced Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & Southeast Asian art &

architecture.architecture.

MedicineMedicine LiteratureLiterature

MathematicsMathematicsAstronomyAstronomy

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 AchievemeAchieveme

ntsnts

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, even the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even thoughthough at first, the Guptas defeated them. at first, the 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 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.

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?

BhartrhariBhartrhari 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.