Chapter 7: India and China Establish Empires

Essential Questions: How did the Mauryan Empire, the Golden Age, and Asoka affect the development of India? How did the development of Hinduism and Buddhism affect India? How did the Han dynasty affect China?

I. Chandragupta Maurya Builds an Empire A. Chandragupta Unifies North India Chandragupta Maurya defeated Seleucus, Alexander the Great’s general 321 BC- Chandragupta wins, claiming land in Indus River valley= Mauryan Empire Empire stretched 2,000+ miles uniting North India under one ruler- Chandragupta

B. Running the Empire divided empire into 4 provinces, each headed by a royal prince Each province divided into local districts, officials imposed taxes, enforced laws Adviser named Kautilya writes a rulers handbook that recommended spying on the people and employing political assassination.

C. Life in the Mauryan Empire Not much known b/c of a lack of records capital city very beautiful large army assembled farmers exempt from military service heavy taxes to pay for army and building projects

II. Asoka Runs the Empire Asoka, Chandragupta’s grandson, took control of Mauryan Empire At first ruled much like his grandfather, waging bloody wars to expand his empire Began to study Buddhism, which taught nonviolence

built large pillars with his new policies of equality, nonviolence, religious toleration written on them He also had roads built that connected the 4 corners of India After Asoka’s death a power struggle began For the next 500 years Greeks, Persians, and Asians invaded northern India

III. The Gupta Empire After the 500 years of turmoil, another strong leader arose to form India’s 2nd great empire, the Gupta Empire Founded by Chandra Gupta (no relation)

A. Chandra Gupta Builds an Empire Chandra Gupta came to power by marrying into an influential royal family Took the title “Great King of Kings” in 320 AD Included the city of Magadha and the area north of it, central region of the Ganges River being the power basin. 335 AD Gupta’s son took over- a lover of poetry and music, but had a warlike side too

B. Daily Life in India Gupta Empire is 1st period from which historians have information on daily life Lived in small villages Merchants, craftsppl clustered in districts, shops street level, homes in rooms above Families were patriarchal- house hold run by the eldest male Whole family worked in raising crops Drought common, had to irrigate crops

Section Two: Religions In India I. A More Popular Form of Buddhism By 250 BC Buddhism and Hinduism were India’s two main faiths Buddha stressed that each person could reach a state of peace called nirvana. Bodhisattvas-People who wished to achieve enlightenment and become a Buddha themselves Two types of Buddhists Mahayana-Offered salvation to all and allowed popular worship Theravada- Emphasized individual discipline

A. Hindu Rebirth Hinduism began to change, during this time most practices could only be performed by the priest. Three most important gods Brahma- creator of the world Vishnu- preserver of the world Shiva- destroyer of the world People began to devote themselves to Vishnu or Shiva

II. Flowering of Indian Culture A. Literature and Performing Arts Kalidasa- great Indian poet, wrote Shakuntala In Southern India they began to hold writing academies, more than 2,000 poems still exist acting groups began to travel through Southern India, women and men participated in these shows

B. Astronomy, Mathematics, and Medicine Indians began to use a calendar based on sun rather than on cycles of the moon 7 day week- broke each day into hours Discovered earth was round, based on shadow on the moon from a lunar eclipse had medical guides that classified 1,000 diseases and 500 medicinal plants Knew how to perform surgery-even performed plastic surgery

Mathematics Zero, decimal system invented in India Aryabhata- Skilled mathematician calculated the value of pi to four decimal places. Estimated the length of a solar year 365.358 days.

III. The Spread of Indian Trade A. Overland Trade, East and West Silk roads- caravan routes that were used by Asian traders Indians learned of these routes and became middlemen- made huge profits Rome, Africa, and China were all big traders with India

Silk Road- Trade Routes

p. 196 P. 196- Map Skills- answer the questions in your Journal

Section Three: China’s Dynasties CC- Silk Road

I. The Founding of the Han Dynasty Gov’t fell apart under Qin(chin) Dynasty led to a Civil War During civil war 2 powerful leaders emerged - Xiang Yu and Liu Bang two fought for control of China

Bang was victorious, declared himself emperor of the Han Dynasty, which ruled China for 400 years Established a centralized gov’t- adopted Confucian philosophy Lowered taxes and softened harsh punishments

After Liu Bang The Empress Lu Bang died in 195 BC His son became emperor in name only- real ruler was Bang’s wife, Empress Lu After her death, loyalist to Liu Bang executed Lu’s existing family

A Highly Structured Government A. Structures of Han Gov’t Relied on a complex bureaucracy 18 different civil service jobs This important and efficient element remains in place until 1912

III. Han Technology, Commerce, and Culture A. Technology Revolutionized Chinese Life Invented paper= helped spread education as paper cheaper than silk Tsai Lun credited with creation of paper in 104 A.D. Collar harness made it possible for horse to pull heavier loads Wheel barrel and windmills

Agriculture Versus Commerce Due to a huge population- farming viewed as most honored occupation Invention of plow, iron tools, collar harness, wheelbarrow and water mill assist farmers.

Commerce Commerce not seen as important (even thought it really was very important) Government had a monopoly (complete control) on mining of salt, forging of iron, minting of coins, and brewing of alcohol Government also had a large part of the silk industry

p. 208 Complete the Main Ideas questions on a separate sheet of paper. Write the questions.