Ancient India

Chapter Seven Section One India’s First Empire Chapter Seven Section One

India Objective Trace the impact of Indo- European migration on migration on language, literature, technology, religion, and social classes

Setting the Stage By 600 B.C. almost 1,000 years after the Aryan migrations, many small kingdoms were scattered throughout India 326 B.C. Alexander the Great brought the Indus Valley under Macedonian control Chandragupta Maurya (chuhn*druh*GUP*tah MAH*oor*yuh) – a great Indian military leader – seized power

First Indian Empires 326 B.C. Alexander the Great conquered parts of India but left almost immediately the military leader Chandragupta Maurya grabbed the throne in 321 B.C. which began the Mauryan Empire by 303 B.C. the Muryan Empire stretched more than 2,000 miles = united north India politically for the first time to win wars of conquest: he raised an army nearly 600,000 men 30,000 cavalry men 9,000 elephants to conquer all of India which included some areas still under Macedonian control

First Indian Empires taxes were extremely high in order to pay for the army Chandragupta relied on an adviser named Kautilya (kow*TIHL*yuh) who was a member of the priestly caste Kautilya wrote a ruler’s handbook = Arthasastra (AHR*thuh*SHAHS*truh) book proposed tough minded policies to hold an empire together created a highly organized government to run the different provinces = assassination, spying, and other tactics used to keep people in line

1st Indian Empires Asoka (uh*SOH*kuh) = grandson of Chandragupta Maurya 269 B.C. = upon his father’s death, Asoka took the thrown followed in Chandragupta’s footsteps – waging war to expand his empire Bloody war with the neighboring Kalinga 100,000 soldiers were slain even more civilians perished Asoka turned to the practice of Buddhism, which preaches non-violence and religious toleration

Asoka Promotes Buddhism Buddhist pillars and statues were erected spelling out the changes some edicts guaranteed that Asoka would treat his subjects fairly and humanely others preached non-violence others urged religious toleration Religious tolerance: acceptance of people who held different religious beliefs Asoka helped spread Buddhism throughout Southeast Asia Asoka builds extensive roads and rest areas for the government officials and others to travel

A period of turmoil the empire falls apart upon the death of Asoka in 232 B.C. rival factions and outside invaders soon take over the area After 500 years of invasion and turmoil, a strong leader again arose Chandra Gupta (GUP*tuh) there is no relation to the first leader reestablished the Indian Empire

The Gupta Empire is Established Hinduism, trade, and the arts flourished under Gupta’s reign the Gupta reign ends in 535 A.D. when the Hunas (Hun relation) invaded

Gupta Achievements calendar based on the cycles of the sun instead of the moon (Greek) adopted 7 day week and divided day into hours proved the Earth was round almost 1,000 years before Columbus (eclipses) advanced in math- modern numerals, zero, decimal system invented in India concluded a solar year was 365.3 days

Gupta Achievements performed surgeries and gave injections valuable goods such as spices, gems, and fragrances have been traded around the world used the water a used the Silk Road

Taj Mahal One of 8 Wonders of the World Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim Emperor Shah Jahan (died 1666 C.E.) built in the memory of his dear wife and queen Mumtaz Mahal at Agra, India

Essential Question Which Indian ruler – Gupta or Asoka – would you rather live under? Explain. Write three complete sentences in the summary location on your note sheet

India Objective Trace the impact of Indo- European migration on migration on language, literature, technology, religion, and social classes