Mauryan Empire And Gupta Dynasty

The Mauryan and Gupta empires 321 B.C.E.-550 C.E.

India Before the Mauryan Dynasty 520 BCE Persian Emperor Darius conquers north-west India Introduces Persian ruling pattern 327 Alexander of Macedon destroys Persian Empire in India Troops mutiny, departs after 2 years Political power vacuum

Kingdom of Magadha Most significant remaining kingdom after Alexander’s departure Central Ganges plain Economic strength Agriculture Trade in Ganges valley, Bay of Bengal Dominated surrounding regions in north-eastern India

Chandragupta Maurya Took advantage of power vacuum left by Alexander Overthrew Magadha rulers Founder of Maurya Empire - creates 1st unified Indian empire

The Maurya Empire 321 BCE – 185 BCE

Chandragupta: 321 BCE-298 BCE Founder of Mauryan Empire Unified northern India. Defeated the Persian general Seleucus. Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law enforcement. He feared assassination  food tasters, slept in different rooms, etc. 301 BCE  gave up his throne & became a Jain.

Kautilya (or Chanakya) Chandragupta’s advisor. Brahmin caste. Wrote The Treatise on Material Gain or the Arthashastra (advice manual). A guide for the king and his ministers: Supports royal power. The great evil in society is anarchy. Therefore, a single authority is needed to employ force when necessary!

Chandragupta’s Government Like Persia & China, built a bureaucratic administrative system. Domestic policies Network of spies Legend: Chandragupta retires to become a monk, starves himself to death

Ashoka (304 – 232 BCE) Grandson of Chandragupta Represents high point of Mauryan Empire, r. 268-232 BCE Expanded empire to include all of Indian subcontinent except for south Positive leadership integrated Indian society Est. capital @ Pataliputra Better known as a governor than conqueror

Ashoka Religious conversion after the gruesome battle of Kalinga in 262 BCE. Dedicated his life to Buddhism. Built extensive roads. Conflict  how to balance Kautilya’s methods of keeping power and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless person?

Ashoka’s law code Wrote law code on rocks or pillars (Stupas) Edicts scattered in more than 30 places in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan. Written mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic. 10 rock edicts. Buddhist principles dominate his laws.

Women Under an Asoka tree

Decline of the Mauryan Empire Economic crisis follows death of Ashoka High costs of bureaucracy, military not supported by tax revenue Frequent devaluations of currency to pay salaries Regions begin to abandon Mauryan Empire Disappears by 185 BCE

Regional Kingdom: Bactria Northwestern India Ruled by Greek-speaking descendants of Alexander’s campaigns Intense cultural activity accompanies active trade

Turmoil & a Power Vacuum: 220 BCE – 320 CE Tamils The Maurya Empire is divided into many kingdoms.

Regional Kingdom: Kush Nomads of Central Asia Ruled C. 1-300 CE Maintained silk road trade network High point under the rule of Kashika, empire expands thruout So. Asia.

The Gupta Dynasty Based in Magadha Founded by Chandra Gupta (no relation to Chandragupta Maurya), c. 320 CE Slightly smaller than Mauryan Empire Highly decentralized leadership Foundations for studies in natural sciences and mathematics

Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 647 CE

Gupta Rulers Chandra Gupta I Chandra Gupta II Hindu revival. r. 320 – 335 CE “Great King of Kings” Chandra Gupta II r. 375 - 415 CE Profitable trade with the Mediterranean world! Hindu revival. Huns invade – 450 CE

Fa-Xian: Life in Gupta India Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the Silk Road and visited India in the 5c. He was following the path of the Buddha. He reported the people to be happy, relatively free of government oppression, and inclined towards courtesy and charity. Other references in the journal, however, indicate that the caste system was rapidly assuming its basic features, including "untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest class that is doomed to menial labor.

International Trade Routes during the Guptas

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.

Kalidasa The greatest of Indian poets. His most famous play was Shakuntala. During the reign of Chandra Gupta II.

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

Gupta Decline Frequent invasions of White Huns, 5th c. CE Gupta Dynasty disintegrates along regional fault lines Smaller local kingdoms dominate until Mughal Empire founded in 16th c.