The Maurya Empire 321 BCE – 185 BCE

The Mauryan Empire 326 B.C. Alexander the Great invades India leaves soon after due to exhaustion of supplies

The Mauryan Empire Alexander’s attack motivated CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA to centralize the kingdoms of India and eliminate the remaining Greek armies. - Used elephants as a means of cavalry

Ashoka Chandragupta Maurya’s grandson, __________________, discontinued trend of expanding the empire Horrified by the brutality of warfare Abandoned fighting Becomes Buddhist ASHOKA

Ashoka’s Accomplishments Improved the lives of people; inscribed codes of right conduct on pillars (stones) across the empire – Edicts Centralized power and built up trade Sent Buddhist missionaries all over Asia to spread the religion

Spread of Buddhism under Ashoka

The Rise of the Gupta Empire The Mauryan Empire declined as Ashoka’s sons fought for power

Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 647 CE

Gupta Rule Roman-Style Coinage ↑ Fair and prosperous Hinduism, but religiously tolerant TRADE (Outside Influence) Known for various cultural and scientific achievements Roman-Style Coinage ↑

Gupta Advances HINDU-ARABIC NUMERALS Sanskrit Language Indian astronomers found the Earth was round and revolves around the sun (almost 1,000 years before Europeans discovered the same!)

Extensive Trade: 4c spices silks cotton goods rice & wheat spices horses gold & ivory gold & ivory cotton goods

Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & architecture. Gupta Art Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & architecture.

500 healing plants identified Printed medicinal guides Gupta Achievements 1000 diseases classified 500 healing plants identified Printed medicinal guides Kalidasa Literature Plastic Surgery Medicine Inoculations Gupta India C-sections performed Solar Calendar Astronomy Mathematics Decimal System The earth is round PI = 3.1416 Concept of Zero

Gupta Decline Frequent invasions of White Huns, 5th c. CE Gupta Dynasty disintegrates along regional fault lines

MUGHAL EMPIRE Gupta Empire ends India broke into a number of small kingdoms. Muslim traders settled in Indian towns and lived peaceably with the Hindus and Buddhists.

Arrival of Islam Early 700s: Muslims begin to enter the area that is now Pakistan Around 1000 CE, pour into Northern India. By the 1200s, most of Northern India was under Muslim control.

New Government Delhi Sultanate ↓ Muslims established a new government for Northern India called the ____________________ Very tolerant of religion and culture A blending of Muslim and Indian culture Remained strong for almost 300 years!!! Delhi Sultanate ends  Mughal Empire begins Delhi Sultanate ↓

AKBAR’S ACHIEVEMENTS INCREDIBLE religious tolerance! Increased territory Increased the Empire’s wealth

After Akbar… SHAH JAHAN ____________ took the throne. Period of incredible advances in art and architecture Came at the expense of high taxes Did NOT practice religious tolerance (he was MUSLIM)

The TAJ MAHAL Indian, Persian, and Muslim architectural styles Tomb for Shah Jahan’s beloved wife

The Beginning of the End As Shah Jahan became old, his sons fought for the throne _______________ seized power Military conquests to expand the empire INTENSELY Muslim Persecuted Hindus and others AURANGZEB

DECLINE OF THE MUGHALS Frequent rebellions broke out Invaders entered from the North British trading colonies began building up and soon India fell under control of the ever expanding BRITISH EMPIRE!