18
Division of IndiaDivision of India
• Before 3rd C. BCE Politically fragmented due to:– Terrain (Mountains, valleys, forests,
steppes, deserts)• Led to different languages & cultural
beliefs• Transportation and communication difficult
– Caste system• Hundreds of jati separated people
Chandragupta Maurya:Chandragupta Maurya: Chandragupta Maurya:Chandragupta Maurya: Maurya Empire: 321 BCE-184 BCE
Unified northern India.
India’s first centralized government
Defeated the Persians
Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law enforcement.
He feared assassination [like Saddam Hussein] food tasters, slept in different rooms, etc.
301 BCE gave up his throne & became a Jain.
The Maurya The Maurya EmpireEmpire
The Maurya The Maurya EmpireEmpire
321 BCE – 185 BCE321 BCE – 185 BCE
Asoka (304 – 232 Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)BCE)
Asoka (304 – 232 Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)BCE)Chandragupta’s GrandsonChandragupta’s Grandson
Religious conversion Religious conversion after the gruesome after the gruesome battle of Kalinga in battle of Kalinga in 262 BCE. 262 BCE.
Dedicated his life to Dedicated his life to Buddhism Buddhism
Emphasis on peace, tolerance, and Emphasis on peace, tolerance, and nonviolencenonviolence
He restricted slaughter of animals and encouraged vegetarianism
Built extensive roads.Built extensive roads.
AsokAsoka’s a’s
EmpiEmpirere
AsokAsoka’s a’s
EmpiEmpirere
Asoka’s law Asoka’s law codecode
Asoka’s law Asoka’s law codecode Edicts scattered in
more than 30 places in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
Written mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic.
10 rock edicts.
Each pillar [stupa] is 40’-50’ high.
Buddhist principles dominate his laws.
One One of of
AsokAsoka’sa’sStStupasupas
One One of of
AsokAsoka’sa’sStStupasupas
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 Gupta I
Modeled himself after Chandragupta Maurya by taking his name
r. 320 – 335 CE
“Great King of Kings”
Chandra Gupta II
r. 375 - 415 CE
Profitable trade with the Mediterranean world!
Hindu revival.
Huns invade – 450 CE
More GuptaMore Gupta
• Smaller than MauryaSmaller than Maurya– Never as much control as AshokaNever as much control as Ashoka– Drew tribute from subjects, but still Drew tribute from subjects, but still
allowed regional warlords to ruleallowed regional warlords to rule
GenderGender• Men dominated the Aryan world Men dominated the Aryan world
(patriarchal) - (patriarchal) - • Aryan women had choice of Aryan women had choice of
choosing husband; choosing husband; • Indian women could remarry if Indian women could remarry if
widowed; took part on social widowed; took part on social affairs; high ranking boys and affairs; high ranking boys and girls could attend school; were girls could attend school; were educated in household taskseducated in household tasks
• Status of women declines after Status of women declines after Aryans arriveAryans arrive
• Gupta- women & mothers highly Gupta- women & mothers highly respected, but had little respected, but had little independenceindependence
Chandra Gupta Chandra Gupta 1111
Chandra Gupta Chandra Gupta 1111
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:4c4c
Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:4c4c
spices
spices
spicesspices
gold & gold &
ivoryivory
gold & gold & ivoryivory
rice & rice & wheatwheathorseshorses
cotton goods
cotton goods
cotton goods
cotton goodssilkssilks
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 Zeroof Zero
PI = 3.1416PI = 3.1416
KalidasKalidasaa
SolarSolarCalendarCalendar
The The earthearth
is roundis round
GuptaGuptaIndiaIndia
Gupta Gupta AchievemeAchieveme
ntsnts
Gupta Gupta AchievemeAchieveme
ntsnts
The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptaGupta
The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptaGupta Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaled
the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even though at first, the Gupta defeated them.
After the decline of the Gupta empire, north India broke into a number of separate Hindu kingdoms and was not really unified again until the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.
