 Young Hindu prince who lived around 500BC Lived life of luxury, never saw sickness/death Wandered outside palace at age 30  Saw death and sickness  Wondered why there was pain in the world  Wandered for 7 years to find cause of suffering Unhappy with answers of Hinduism Didn’t like idea that only Hindu priests could pass on knowledge

 Gautama decided to start searching internally Meditation  Under a fig tree  Came to understand suffering’s roots after 49 days  Spent 45 years travelling and teaching  Called the Buddha “Enlightened One” His teachings became known as Buddhism

 Also known as the Eightfold Path Avoids life of extreme pleasure or unhappiness People can be free from suffering by avoiding selfishness  People do this by being wise, acting properly, and developing their minds  Tell truth, avoid violence, all are equal  People in caste system like this  Monastic life  Nirvana Lasting peace at end of a truly good life Ends cycle of reincarnation

 Buddhist monks spread their faith Hinduism won out in India in long run Buddhism eventually mostly died out in India  Buddhism won out in much of the rest of Asia  Buddhism and Hinduism survived side by side Both said wrong to harm living creatures Believed in dharma and reincarnation Some Hindus believed Budha was a reincarnation of Vishnu  Buddhists did not follow Hindu’s sacred texts

 Founded the Maurya Empire 321 BC in N.E. India  Born to poor family, sold into slavery at a young age  Became king Conquered most of northern and central India

 Arthasastra Book of advice given to him by an advisor Taught king needed to have absolute power  Dominate people, spy on them  Huge army Thousands of soldiers, 9000 war elephants  Economic success Wealth primarily came from farming Trade with Greece, Rome and China  Improvements: Irrigation systems Cleared forests, set up farms, built crafts, dug mines Roads allowed trade to be easier

 Afraid for his life Food taster Slept in different room each night  Left throne to his son Became monk Starved himself to death while fasting and praying  Son died in 273 BC

 Chandragupta’s grandson  Name means “without sorrow”  Expanded empire Ruled BC Led many battles

 261 BC  Thousands and thousands died  Asoka was filled with sorrow Gave up war Freed prisoners, gave back their lands  Converted to Buddhism Forbid animal sacrifice, gave up hunting Built hospitals Wells dug every mile alongside roads Sent missionaries all over Asia  Moral writings Obey parents, speak truth, be tolerant Had laws along these lines carved on stone pillars

 India more united at his death than ever before Maurya Empire  Empire declined without his leadership Territories fought one another Took 600 years for India to become united again