Bell Ringer 1. Architecture in every country is different. Have you seen anything like this before? 2. What interests you about this style? 3. If you could, would you like to go on a tour of the temple? Famous Hindu Akshardham temple in South Delhi

Empires, Trade and Influences

Three New Empires After 400 B. C. India faced threats from invaders. First came the Persians, who extended their empire into Western India. Then came the Greeks and Macedonians. After conquering Persia, Alexander the Great swept into India in 327 BC. A year later, his army refused to go further, and he withdrew from India. Alexander’s raid played a role in the creation of the first pan-Indian empire. Empires: Mauryan, Kushan and Gupta

Mauryan Empire The new Indian state was founded by Candragupta Maurya. He ruled from 324 B.C. to 301 B.C. The Mauryan established political influence in India through a well- organized and highly centralized empire. The king divided his empire into 2 provinces, ruled by governors whom he appointed. Mauryan rule was also reinforced by a large army and a massive network of spies.

Mauryan Empire Historical Power in Ancient India Iron Age Maximum Expansion

Mauryan Empire His grandson, Asoka, is considered to be the greatest ruler in the history of India. Asoka converted to Buddhism and used its ideals to guide his rule and shape Indian civilization. Asoka also set up hospitals for people and animals. He also sent out missionaries throughout India and eventually into China.

Mauryan Empire Asoka was a kind ruler and his kingdom prospered under his reign. Commerce expanded and India became a major crossroads in the trade network that expanded from the Mediterranean Sea all the way into China. After his death in 232 B.C. The Mauryan Empire began to decline.

Kushan Empire The Kushans, nomadic warriors from Central Asia, established a kingdom that overspread and dominated North India for the next 2 centuries. Kushans prospered from the trade (Silk Road) that passed through their empire between the Mediterranean countries and the countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. The Kushans developed a calendar based on the sun and the moon, and their calendar is the basis for today’s Indian calendar.

Kushan Empire Current day Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern India

Gupta Empire When the Kushan Empire fell due to Persian invaders, a new state was created by a local prince named Candra Gupta. Eventually, the Gupta Empire became the most influential political force in northern India.

Gupta Empire Under a series of competent monarchs (single ruling governments), the Gupta empire created a golden age of Indian culture. Most often seen in Hindu and Buddhist arts. Empire was considered to be a “Classical Civilization” – A society that serves as a model of excellence and has lasting value and relevance.

Golden Age of Gupta Empire

Gupta Empire

Very active in trade. Most of the trade was managed by the Gupta rulers who owned silver and gold mines and vast amounts of land. Much of their wealth came from religious trade and pilgrims. Many temples were built during this time and pilgrims (a person who travels to a holy place) would journey to India to visit the Hindu and Buddhist temples and shrines. Eventually invading Huns weakened the empire and led to its collapse.

Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh The Gupta Age, being an age of intense religion interests, saw the construction of large number of temples / religious architectures. This is one of the few remaining original standing temples. Others were destroyed when invaders entered into the provinces. The body of the temple is covered with sculpture with many figures.

Changes in Buddhism and Hinduism By 250 B.C., Hinduism and Buddhism were India’s two main faiths. Over the centuries, both religions had become increasingly removed from the people. Hinduism became dominated by priests, while the Buddhist ideal of self-denial proved difficult for many to follow.

A More Popular Form of Buddhism After the Buddha died, his followers developed many different interpretations of his teachings. Although the Buddha had forbidden people to worship him, some began to teach that he was a god. Some Buddhists also began to believe that many people could become Buddhas. They could choose to give up nirvana and work to save humanity through good works and self-sacrifice.

A More Popular Form of Buddhism The new ideas changed Buddhism from a religion that emphasized individual discipline to a mass religion that offered salvation to all and allowed popular worship. These new trends in Buddhism inspired Indian art. For example, artists carved huge statues of the Buddha for people to worship.

A More Popular Form of Buddhism Merchants also commissioned the carving of cave temples out of solid rock. Artists then adorned these temples with sculptures and paintings. Standing Buddha

The Caves at Ajanta. This group of caves is a Buddhist cave temple complex, carved between B.C. Archeologists think that the caves were used as refuge by monks in monsoon season.

The Caves at Ajanta 29 rock-cut cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE. The caves include paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of Buddhist religious art. Sculptured Buddha.

Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture MAIN IDEA Cultural Interaction: Indian religions, culture, and science evolved and spread to other regions through trade. WHY IT MATTERS NOW The influence of Indian culture and religions is very evident throughout South Asia today.

Achievements of Indian Culture Indian culture and learning also changed. India entered a highly productive period in literature, art, science, and mathematics that continued until roughly A.D Southern India also has a rich literary tradition. In the second century A.D., the city of Madurai in southern India became a site of writing academies. More than 2,000 Tamil poems from this period still exist.

Achievements of Indian Culture In southern India, traveling troupes of actors put on performances in cities across the region. Women as well as men took part in these shows, which combined drama and dance. Many of the classical dance forms in India today are based on techniques explained in a book written between the first century B.C. and the first century A.D. p-2Kudaqk&index=14 p-2Kudaqk&index=14

Astronomy, Mathematics and Medicine The expansion of trade helped advance science and astronomy. Sailors on trading ships used the stars to help them figure their position at sea. Almost 1,000 years before Columbus, Indian astronomers proved that the earth was round by observing a lunar eclipse. During the eclipse, the earth’s shadow fell across the face of the moon. The astronomers noted that the earth’s shadow was curved, indicating that the earth itself was round.

Astronomy, Mathematics and Medicine Indian mathematics was among the most advanced in the world. Modern numerals, the zero, and the decimal system were invented in India. In medicine, two important medical guides were compiled. They described more than 1,000 diseases and more than 500 medicinal plants. Hindu physicians performed surgery —including plastic surgery— and possibly gave injections.

The Spread of Indian Trade India was rich in precious resources. Spices, diamonds, sapphires, gold, pearls, and beautiful woods—including ebony, teak, and fragrant sandalwood—have been valuable items of exchange. Trade between India and regions as distant as Africa and Sumeria began more than 4,000 years ago. Groups who invaded India helped to expand India’s trade to new regions. Central Asian nomads told Indians about an enormous network of caravan routes known as Silk Roads.

India Trade Routes

The Spread of Indian Trade These routes were called the Silk Roads because traders used them to bring silk from China to western Asia and then on to Rome. Silk was China’s most valuable product. Once Indians learned of the Silk Roads, they realized that they could make great profits by acting as middlemen. Indian traders would buy Chinese goods and sell them to traders traveling to Rome. Indians built trading stations at oases along the Silk Roads.

Sea Trade, East and West Traders used coastal routes around the rim of the Arabian Sea and up the Persian Gulf to bring goods from India to Rome. Traders from southern India would sail to Southeast Asia to collect spices. They brought the spices back to India and sold them to merchants from Rome. Archaeologists have found hoards of Roman gold coins in southern India.

Sea Trade, East and West Import Vs. Export India also imported African ivory and gold, and exported cotton cloth. India sent rice and wheat went to Arabia in exchange for dates and horses. India’s sea trade with China and the islands of Southeast Asia increased. The Chinese imported Indian cotton cloth, monkeys, parrots, and elephants and sent India silk.

Effects of Indian Trade Increased trade increased banking in India. Bankers were willing to lend money to merchants and charge them interest on the loans. Traders also brought Indian religions to new regions. Hinduism spread northeast to Nepal and southeast to Sri Lanka and Borneo. Buddhism spread because of traveling Buddhist merchants and monks. In time, Buddhism even influenced China.