Chapter 5 Section 4 Indian Empires

Indian Empires The Big Idea The Mauryas and the Guptas built great empires in India. Main Ideas The Mauryan Empire unified most of India. Gupta rulers promoted Hinduism in their empire.

Origin of an Empire By the 500s B.C., India was divided into many small kingdoms. The Greeks, under Alexander the Great, entered India but turned back when his homesick troops threatened to rebel.

Mauryan Empire Unifies India Candragupta Maurya, in the 320s BC, seized control of the entire northern part of India and founded the Mauryan Empire. The Empire would last for 150 years.

A Day in the life as an Emperor His days were divided into 16 periods of 90 minutes each. His daily activities ranged from morning meditations, to reading reports of his secret agents, and to meeting with his Council for state matters. Real power was in the hands of the vizier (prime minister), named Kautilya Chanakya He believed every means was justifiable if used in the service of the state.

The Mauryan Empire Candragupta Maurya developed a complex government to rule his empire. He set up a government in the capital city of Pataliputra where he set up an efficient postal system. It included a network of spies and 600,000 soldiers. (The army had large numbers of chariots and war elephants). Farmers would pay taxes in return for the army’s protection.

The Mauryan Empire Candragupta Maurya, in 301 BC, converted to Jainism in response to a famine. He renounced his throne, and eventually starved himself to death. The Mauryan Empire would continue to expand under the next emperors until if ruled the entire subcontinent.

Asoka The grandson of Candragupta, Asoka was the most powerful of all the Mauryan Emperors Asoka extended Mauryan rule over most of India. He made the empire stronger and even richer.

Asoka After seeing many bloody battles against other peoples, Asoka converted to Buddhism and renounced any form of violence or conquest. Asoka improved the lives of his people, he had wells dug, roads and way stations built, and even sent Buddhist missionaries into the rest of Asia. Asoka died in 233 BC, his sons fought one another and the empire disappeared in 184 BC. India divided into smaller states once again.

Gupta Rulers Promote Hinduism After the decline of the Mauryan Empire, India remained primarily Buddhist for 500 years and the popularity of Hinduism declined. Eventually, a new dynasty was established in India. The Gupta dynasty took over India around 320 AD. Once again India would be united and prosperous.

A New Hindu Empire Candra Gupta’s I armies conquered and controlled much of Northern India and became the first emperor of the Gupta Empire. Samurada Gupta, a brilliant military leader, continued to add more territory to the Gupta empire. By the time he died, he controlled nearly all of the Ganges River Valley.

A New Hindu Empire The Indian Civilization flourished under the Gupta’s. The rulers were Hindu and promoted a revival of Hindu writing, worship practices, and built many Hindu temples. They also supported Buddhism and Jainism. They promoted Buddhist art and built Buddhist temples. They also established a Buddhist university at Nalanda.

Candra Gupta II Under Candra Gupta II, the Gupta Empire reached the height of its power. It spread across northern India and prospered. Growth The economy boomed, allowing citizens the time and money to create great works of art and literature. Economy and Culture The Caste System It was believed that keeping citizens under strict caste rule would stabilize the empire and preserve their power. Social Ramifications Women in the caste system were not seen as equals and had few basic rights.

The Fall of the Gupta Empire Gupta rule remained strong in India until the late 400’s. At that time the Huns, a group from Central Asia, invaded from the northwest. The Huns drained the power and wealth of the Gupta Empire. By the middle of the 500s, Gupta rule had ended, and India divided into small kingdoms yet again.

Questions pages 142-145 Answer in a complete sentence Who was Candragupta Maurya? How did becoming a Buddhist change Asoka’s behavior? What was India like after the fall of the Mauryan Empire? Why did the Gupta rulers support the caste system? What led to the decline of the Gupta Empire?