50 Minute Tour of the History of India

Before the Guptas in India Two major empires rose to unify the region that would become India Mauryan Empire (326 BC – 184 BC) Kushan Empire (30 AD – 360 AD)

Mauryan Empire (326 BC – 184 BC) India’s recorded history at this time pretty much ignored Alexander the Great's attempts to conquer the region in 326 B.C But, cultural diffusion between India and Greek art, architecture, language and coinage was evident during the Mauryan Empire.

Rise of Mauryan Empire Alexander the Great died in 323 BC without ever conquering the Indian subcontinent. As the Greek Empire retreated from South Asia, King Chandragupta took control over Magadha and conquered his way well into Afghanistan.

Reasons: King Chandragupta Maurya’s Success and the Mauryan Rise: Farming and trade around Ganges River Iron deposits in Magadha Kautilya, the Brahman author of the Arthashastra (Science of Material Gain) Very organized, highly structured government—excellent control over tax collection. Large standing army Well developed system of espionage

Emperor Ashoka Ashoka renounced war and adopted a policy of nonviolence He promoted religious and cultural tolerance. Also personally worked to spread the teachings of Buddhism. He is famous for his public inscriptions. Called his message of peace and love Dharma

The Mauryan Empire reached its height of prosperity during the reign of Emperor Ashoku

Decline and Fall of Mauyan Empire Ashoka died in 232 BC During the last half of Ashoka’s reign, there were no military campaigns The military became weak from lack of practice. After Ashoka, there wasn’t another strong Mauyan leader.

The Kushan Empire (30 AD – 360 AD) The Kushan Kingdom was the meeting point of trade among the Indian, Persian, Chinese, and Roman empires and controlled a critical part of the Silk Road. Kanishka, who reigned for two decades starting around A.D. 78, was the most noteworthy Kushana ruler. He converted to Buddhism and convened a great Buddhist council in Kashmir.

The Kushan Empire The Kushans were patrons of Gandharan art, (a combination of Greek and Indian styles) and Sanskrit literature. They declared a new era called Shaka in 78 AD, and this calendar was formally adopted by India in 1957. It is still in use today.

Kushan Empire’s Decline After the death of Vasudeva I in 225 AD, the Kushan empire split into western and eastern halves. The remnants of the Kushan empire were ultimately wiped out in the 5th century by the invasions of the Huns, and later the expansion of Islam.

The Gupta Dynasty (320-550) Under Chandragupta I (320 AD -335 AD), empire was revived in the north. First conquered Magadha, set up his capital where the Mauryan capital had stood Chandragupta revived many of Ashoka's principles of government.

Gupta Dynasty Chandragupta’s son Samudragupta (335-376), and later his grandson, Chandragupta II (376-415), extended the kingdom into an empire over the whole of the north and the western Deccan Plateau. This period is regarded as the golden age of Indian culture. Continued expansion of Buddhism

Accomplishments of the Guptas Mathematics Invented a numeral system. Developed a concept of negative numbers. Calculated square root of 2 Developed table of sines. Computed value of Pi. Astronomy Identified seven planets. Determined that planets and moon reflect sun's light. Understood daily rotation of earth on its axis. Predicted eclipses. Developed theory of gravity.

Accomplishments of the Guptas Medicine Understood importance of spinal cord. Knew how to set bones. Performed plastic surgery. Practiced sterilization of wounds

Fall of the Guptas Beginning in the 400's AD, the Huns began to put pressure on the Guptas. In 480 they conquered the Guptas and took over northern India. Western India was overrun by 500 The last of the Gupta kings died in 550.

After the Fall of the Guptas Buddhism was interpreted in different ways in India Theravada  understanding of one’s self is the key to Nirvana. (strict) Mahayana  Nirvana can be achieved through devotion to Buddha. Buddha is a divine figure. (less strict) Then Hinduism gained popularity

as Hinduism gained popularity Theravada Buddhism almost disappeared Mahayana Buddhism was absorbed by Hinduism. The introduction of Islam completed the decline of Buddhism in India.

The Eastward Expansion of Islam Islam reached South Asia after the fall of the Gupta Empire After the Gupta Empire, there was no centralized power in the region. The Indian subcontinent was divided into over 70 separate powers that were in constant conflict.

Early Islamic States Near India Arab armies reached India in the 700s AD Mamluk Turkish soldiers established the Islamic state Ghazni in what would be Afghanistan. Mahmud of Ghazni succeeded as Ghazni ruler after his father died in 997 AD Attacked the nearby Hindu kingdoms and by Mahmud’s death in 1030 the Ghazni took over the Indus Valley.

Sultanate of Delhi By 1200 a Muslim state called the “Sultanate of Delhi” had taken all of northern India. During the 1300s, the Sultanate of Delhi reached across the Deccan Plateau. Soon after, 1369, Timur Lenk took control over the Mogul state in Samarkand and aggressively began to expand the territory

Fall of the Sultanate of Delhi Timur Lenk attacked Delhi in 1398 and completely destroyed it. After killing 100,000 Hindu captives The last dynasty of the Sultanate was the Lodi dynasty The last Lodi ruler, Ibrahim Lodi, was hated by his court and subjects Alam Khan sent an invitation to Babur, the ruler of Kabul, to conquer Delhi.

Islam and Indian Society Muslim rulers in India saw themselves as foreign conquerors They kept themselves strictly separate from the Hindu population They were generally intolerant of Hinduism, and destroyed many Hindu temples Conflict between Indian Muslims and Hindus continues to the present day.