Classical India 1. How did India’s government change during the Maurya Dynasty? 2. What are some of the contributions of the Gupta Dynasty? 3. Which belief systems were practiced in Classical India?

Who ruled during the Maurya Dynasty? l Chandragupta: 1st ruler of the Maurya Dynasty 1st to unite India and create an EMPIRE CENTRALIZED GOVERNMENT Effective but harsh ruler l How did he rule India? Used a secret police Harsh punishments Hinduism

Who ruled during the Maurya Dynasty? l Asoka: Grandson of Chandragupta Converted to Buddhism Improved daily life l How did he rule India? Rejected violence Ruled by Example Buddhism

Which belief systems were practiced in Classical India? l Hinduism: Polytheistic Karma Dharma Ahimsa Reincarnation Moksha Caste System l Buddhism: Four Noble Truths Eightfold Path Karma Dharma Ahimsa Reincarnation Nirvana

What should we know about the Gupta Dynasty? l Golden Age of India AD l Power to rule was given to individual villages Lacked a strong, centralized government l Hinduism & Buddhism

What are some contributions from the Gupta Dynasty? Religious schools Mathematics: Arabic Numerals Zero Decimal System Medicine: surgery, smallpox vaccinations Architecture: Hindu Temples Buddhist Stupas Buddhist Paintings Literature: Kalidasa Sanskrit

What caused the decline of the Gupta Dynasty? l Civil Wars l Weak Rulers l Foreign Invaders: White Huns l India divided into separate kingdoms after the fall of the Gupta Dynasty. l India was ruled by Muslim invaders from AD 711 until the late 1600s. l The British controlled India as a colony until the mid-1900s. Are there any similarities between the decline of the Gupta Dynasty and the fall of Rome?

Exit Ticket l Draw an example of a contribution from the Gupta Dynasty