Early Empires of South Asia

Identifying Essential Information Read pages 183-186 Using any note taking technique we have used in class Identify Leaders Accomplishments Decline of the Maurya Empire and Gupta Empire

Maurya Empire From 321-200 BC – Chandragupta Maurya founded empire Major Accomplishments United Northern Plains – large empire Government – tax collecting, trade, military Architecture – buildings, palaces Economy – irrigation, trade Religion – spread of Buddhism

Asoka: 269B.C -232 B.C. Brought empire to height of its power

Asoka: 269B.C -232 B.C. Brought empire to height of its power + united Military power He embraced Buddhism after witnessing the mass deaths of the war of Kalinga Tolerance “All faiths deserve to be honored for one reason or another” Promoted Buddhism spread to missionaries to China and Southeast Asia = diffusion – built stupas

Asoka Asoka's Major Rock Edict at Junagadh contains inscriptions by Asoka Asoka The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls, made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty during his reign from 269 BCE to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan and represent the first tangible evidence of Buddhism. The edicts describe in detail the first wide expansion of Buddhism through the sponsorship of one of the most powerful kings of Indian history. Sanchi Gate and Stupa, built at time of Asoka

Ashoka's Major Rock Edict at Junagadh contains inscriptions by Ashoka Asoka The four animals in the Lion Capital are believed to symbolize different phases in Lord Buddha’s life.. National Emblem of India Sanchi Gate and Stupa, built at time of Asoka

Decline After Asoka’s death empire lasted 50 more years Followed by 500 years of unrest with many invaders

Gupta Empire From 320-535 AD – Northern India Leader: Chandragupta I Trade = Peace and prosperity Leader: Chandragupta I Major Accomplishments Government – well organized Art & Architecture – buildings, palaces, paintings of daily life, literature Mathematics – “0”, size/shape earth, Arabic numerals Trade – with Arabs = diffusion

Decline Conquered by the Huns from Central Asia 1000 years of fighting among rival Indian princes

Muslim Expansion into India **Second significant migration to South Asia

Expansion Starting in 600’s Muslim invaders to South Asia Mongols, Turks, Afghans, Persians

Delhi Sultans Sultan -Muslim ruling monarch From 1200-1500 No forced conversion – special taxes (jizya) on non-Muslims Major Accomplishments Government – toleration, military, services (education, irrigation, hospitals) Sultan Firuz Tughlak Architecture – buildings, palaces Economy – irrigation, trade with Middle East Religion – Islam; cause of future conflicts

Mongol Invasion 1398 – Tamerlane – Destroyed and left Timur the Lame Destroyed and left “The lightning speed with which Tamerlane’s armies struck Delhi was prompted by their desire to escape the stench of rotting corpses they were leaving behind them. Sultans back in power for short time but fragmented

Incompatibilities BETWEEN ISLAM AND HINDUISM Polytheistic -worship many gods, caste system born into the religion- no idea of conversion Diet cow is sacred Monotheistic - worship one God all people are seen as equal under the eyes of God dietary restrictions proselytizers-seek to convert others Creedal - statement of beliefs

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ISLAM AND HINDUISM Resulted in conflict and destruction

Mughal Empire Also Mongol Last Muslim Empire in South Asia Persian word for Mongol Last Muslim Empire in South Asia 1527 – 1800’s: at height united most of South Asia Founded by Babur – Battle of Panipat

Akbar the Great

Akbar the Great – 1556-1605 Golden Age of Mughal Empire Ruling innovations - compromise religious toleration Eliminated tax on non-Muslims Hindus in government Supported Hindu poets/artists Cultural Blending Architecture – Indian style Urdu: language – Hindi and Persian

Akbar the Great – 1556-1605 Divine Faith: combination of several faiths – universal religion Hope to end religious conflict Died with Akbar No mass conversion to Islam

Taj Mahal Shah Jahan – Akbar’s grandson Agra – mausoleum to his wife Mumtaz Mahal

Virtual Tour Taj Mahal Mosque National Geographic Secrets of the Taj Mahal Part 1 National Geographic Secrets of the Taj Mahal Part 4 National Geographic Secrets of the Taj Mahal Whole Vid Start 1:37 – 5:25 add Shah Jahan to - Then 28:00 – 38:00

Taj Mahal Year of Construction: 1631 - 1632 Completed In: 1653 Time Taken: 22 years Built By: Shah Jahan Dedicated to: Mumtaz Mahal the wife of Shah Jahan Location: Agra (Uttar Pradesh) Building Type: Islamic tomb

Shah Jahan

Taj Mahal

Results of Mughal Diversity is the norm Cultural blending Separation will be emphasized

Mughal Decline By 1700’s Wasteful spending Loss of tolerance Tax on Hindus, closed Hindu schools, Hindus out of government Hindu princes revolted Civil war among Muslim princes All weakened empire = opened the door for Europeans British East Indian Company

Identify similarities between the Empires Maurya, Gupta, Mughal Crash Course Mongols