CHAPTER 8, SECTION 2 Empires of South Asia

The Maurya Empire Founded in 321 BCE by Chandragupta Maurya The Maurya dynasty ruled India for 140 years Chandragupta’s grandson, Asoka, ruled from about 269 BCE to 232 BCE and brought the Maurya Empire to the height of its power.

Asoka Maurya Early in Asoka’s reign he fought many wars to expand the territory of his empire. More than 100,000 men died in the fighting.  Sickened by this slaughter, Asoka converted to Buddhism and renounced violence. Asoka preached peace and religious tolerance in his empire. To spread Buddhism, Asoka ordered thousands of stupas, or shrines containing the remains of the Buddha, to be build.  Asoka visited these shrines and encouraged others to do the same. Asoka also sent missionaries to China and Southeast Asia, making Buddhism a major world religion.

Small Kingdoms After Asoka’s death in 232 BCE the Maurya Empire fell apart. During the next 500 years, the northern plain of India became a battleground for northern invaders. These invading groups (Bactrians, Pahlavas, Kushans) each contributed to the cultural diversity of the north. In the south, Dravidian culture remained largely unaffected by these invasions and continued to slowly evolve its culture.

The Gupta Empire In 320 CE, an ambitious young ruler named Chandragupta I united the north. He founded the Gupta dynasty which lasted from 320 CE to 535 CE. Under the Guptas, India enjoyed a golden age of peace, prosperity, and increased trade. The Gupta Empire was overrun by invasions by the Huns.

Muslim Expansion into India In the mid-600s, the religion of Islam rose in the Middle East. These Muslim invaders, including the Mongols, Afghans, Turks, and Persians, swept through northern India and set up their own kingdoms. Around 1200, Muslim rulers set up a capital at Delhi.  For 300 years, these Delhi ruler, or sultans, governed much of northern and central India. The Muslim rulers did not force people to convert to their religion but taxed Hindus and Buddhists.  Some people converted to Islam in order to acquire high-ranking governmental positions.

A Clash of Beliefs These Islamic invaders were never absorbed into Hindu culture because differences between Muslims and Hindus were too great.  Muslims are monotheistic while Hindus are polytheistic.  Muslims believe that all people are equal before God while Hindus believed in the caste system.  Muslims had the strict laws of the Koran while Hindus tolerated many different beliefs.  To Muslims, cattle were a source of food while Hindus believed cattle were sacred animals. Such differences led to conflict and Muslim armies smashed Hindu temples, destroying images of Hindu gods and goddesses. Slowly over time Hindus and Muslims learned to live with one another and their cultures began to intertwine.

The Mughal Empire The Mongols, a group of invaders from central Asia, conquered northern India in  The Mongols were led by Babur who founded the Mughal Empire. The Mughal Empire reached its height under the rule of Babur’s grandson, Akbar. Akbar realized that to rule India he had to lead Hindus as well as Muslims.  Adopting a policy of religious toleration, he married a Hindu princess and abolished the special tax on Hindus.  He also appointed Hindus to jobs in the government.

The Mughal Empire Under the Mughals, Islamic and Hindu styles of art and architecture blended to create a unique Indian style. Akbar’s grandson, Shah Jahan, built the Taj Mahal in honor of his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Decline of the Mughal Empire Mughal power weakened in the 1700s.  Akbar’s successors ended the policy of religious toleration, leading many Hindu princes to revolt.  Civil wars among Muslim princes also weakened Mughal power.  European invaders began to arrive in India in larger numbers.