Unit-3-India Empires and Accomplishments Impact the Modern World

Mauryan Empire and Asoka India’s first empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya. He founded the Mauryan dynasty in 321 BCE, but many historians think the empire’s greatest king was Asoka. Asoka ruled from 273 BCE to 232 BCE. After a bloody fight, Asoka walked over the battlefield. When he saw the dead and wounded, he was horrified and made a vow. He would dedicate his life to peace and follow the teachings of Buddha.

Buddhism Spreads Asoka was history’s first great Buddhist king. He built hospitals for people and for animals, too. He built new roads so it was easier to trade and put shelters and shade trees along the roads where travelers could rest. Asoka sent many Buddhist teachers throughout India and the rest of Asia. They carried the religion to new believers. In India, Buddha’s teachings were carved on stone pillars for people to read. Stupas, Buddhist shrines were built for worship. Although Asoka was a Buddhist, he allowed Hindus freedom of worship. Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world.

Asoka and Mauryan Empire Mauryan Empire ruled by Asoka Asoka makes rules posted around India.

Various forms of Buddhism spread throughout Asia

The Gupta Empire Preserves Hinduism In AD 320, the Gupta Empire emerged along the Ganges River. The Gupta Empire grew wealthy from trading with China and the Mediterranean. Asoka had converted to Buddhism, but the Guptas were Hindus like many of their subjects. They gave their full support to Hinduism and gave money to support Hindu scholars and Hindu shrines. The shrines were built to Hindu deities. They often had brightly painted sculptures of images from Upanishads and other sacred writings. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world.

Gupta Empire Preserves Hinduism

Literature The Mahabharata is along sacred text which describes a great war for control of an Indian Kingdom. The best known section is the Bhagavad Gita, or “Song of the Lord”. It is very important in Hindu writings. In it, the deity Krishna preaches a sermon before a battle, He tells his listeners how noble it is to do one’s duty even when it is difficult and painful The teachings in the Mahabharata, especially the Bhagavad Gita, contain many of the central beliefs in Hinduism. They provide important religious and moral lessons. For this reason, they have had a great impact on Hinduism and continue to influence Indian philosophy (teachings and beliefs) in modern times.

Mahabharata Teaches Hindu BeliefsHindu Reincarnation

Music Music played an important part in the religious and social lives of people in India. Many of the early sacred texts like the Bhagavad Gita were probably sung in group settings. At annual festivals today, people dance and sing to ancient Indian songs. They also use music in plays. Musical instruments include tambourines, flutes, drums, and lutes.

Music

Art Much of early Indian art was made of material that have not survived. What exists today is mostly religious art made in stone. There are many sculptures of the Buddha for example. These statues teach different Buddhist messages based of the figure’s pose. Buddhist temples also included carvings of local scenes.

Statue of the Buddha

The “0” The invention of Zero, A.D Early humans understood the idea of nothing, but they did not have a symbol to represent that idea. During the Gupta dynasty, Indian mathematicians invented the symbol “0” and connected it with the idea of nothing. The Indians’ invention of zero had a great impact on the study of mathematics and science – then and now. Without the concept of zero, modern technology, such as computers would not be possible.

Hindu-Arabic Numerals 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 Gupta mathematicians created the symbols for the numbers 1 to 9 that we uses today. These number symbols, or numerals, were adopted by Arab traders in the A.D. 700s. European traders borrowed them from the Arabs. Use of these numbers spread throughout Europe in the A.D. 1200s, replacing Roman numerals. Today, this system of number symbols is known as the Hindu- Arabic numerical system. Some find this numeric system simpler to use than Roman Numerals.

Roman Numerals

Algorithms Early Indians also invented mathematical algorithms. An algorithm is a series of steps that solve a problem. If you follow the steps, you get the right answer. Computer programmers today often use algorithms to tell computers what to do.

Inoculation Indian doctors knew how to protect people from diseases. The Indians practiced inoculation, or injecting a person with a small dose of a virus to help him or her build up defenses to a disease. By fighting off this small dose, the body learns to protect itself. This has helped to prevent the: flu, chicken pox, small pox, polio, and other life threatening diseases.

Astronomy Indian astronomers, people who study planets and stars, knew of 7 planets in our solar system. They knew the sun was a star and planets revolved around it. Indians, also knew the Earth was a sphere and that it rotated on its axis. In addition, they could predict eclipses of the sun and moon.

Solar System

Review 1. How did empires assist in preserving and spreading religion? 2. What accomplishments of the ancient Indian’s do we enjoy today?

Independent Compile a list of the accomplishments from the Indian Empire’s which greatly impact society today. Justify your responses in a written explanation. Be sure to include the most important accomplishment that has impacted society the most today.