Indian Empires 321 BC-540 AD

Maurya Empire Founded by Chandragupta Chandragupta created a bureaucracy- government with divided responsibilities He used a secret police to weed out anyone disloyal to him

AsHoka Chandragupta’s grandson Ashoka was the most celebrated Mauryan leader After fighting a bloody war to add territory to the empire, he rejected violence Sent Buddhist missionaries across Asia Built many projects to help the people (hospitals, roads, Buddhist shrines)

Tamil Kingdoms In southern India, a Dravidian people called the Tamils formed kingdoms Tamils traded overseas with China, the Middle East, Rome, etc. Left behind one of the oldest literary traditions in the world

Gupta Empire The Guptas created a “Golden Age” in India Large trade networks Advances in learning at universities Math-Number systems, zero, decimals Medicine-Vaccinations India’s literary tradition grew

Decline Invaders came through the Khyber Pass, destroying Indian cities and trade networks Rivalries among noble families led to civil conflicts No large empire would unite India again for roughly 1,000 years

Why would India be difficult to unify into a single political unit? Division Why would India be difficult to unify into a single political unit?