1. India and China Establish Empires, 400 B.C.– A.D. 550
India and China establish powerful empires and develop strong, vibrant cultures.
Striding infantryman, China.
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2. India’s First Empires Section 1
The Mauryas and the Guptas establish empires,
but neither unifies India permanently.
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3. India’s First Empires The Mauryan Empire Is Established
SECTION 1
India’s First Empires
The Mauryan Empire Is Established
Map
Chandragupta Maurya Seizes Power
• In 321 B.C., Chandragupta Maurya seizes power, starts Mauryan Empire
Chandragupta Maurya Unifies North India
• Chandragupta defeats Seleucus I; north India united for first time
• Chandragupta uses taxes to support his large army
Running the Empire
• Chandragupta’s chief adviser is Kautilya, a priest
• Chandragupta creates bureaucratic government
• He divides the government to make it easier to rule
Continued . . .
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5. Life in the City and the Country
SECTION 1
continued The Mauryan Empire Is Established
Life in the City and the Country
• A Greek ambassador writes glowing praise of the empire
• Chandragupta’s son rules from 301 to 269 B.C., 32 years
• Asoka—Chandragupta’s grandson, brings the empire to its height
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Asoka Promotes Buddhism
• After a bloody war with Kalinga, Asoka promotes Buddhism and peace
• Preaches religious toleration—accepting people of different religions
• Builds roads, with wells along them
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6. A Period of Turmoil The Breakup of the Mauryan Empire
SECTION 1
A Period of Turmoil
The Breakup of the Mauryan Empire
• Asoka dies in 232 B.C.; kingdoms in central India soon break away
• The Andhra Dynasty dominates central India for centuries
• Northern India receives immigrants from Greece, other parts of Asia
• Tamils—a people living in southern India— remain separate and frequently war with rival peoples
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7. The Gupta Empire Is Established
SECTION 1
The Gupta Empire Is Established
Chandra Gupta Builds an Empire
• Chandra Gupta marries into kingship in north India in A.D. 320
• Starts Gupta Empire—India’s second empire; flowering of Indian civilization, especially Hindu culture
• His son Samudra Gupta expands empire with conquest
Map
Continued . . .
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9. SECTION 1
continued The Gupta Empire Is Established
Daily Life in India
• Majority of Indians are farmers; entire family raises crops together
• Families are patriarchal—headed by the eldest male
• Farmers have to contribute work to government and pay heavy taxes
• Some Tamil families are matriarchal—led by mother rather than father
Continued . . .
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10. Height of the Gupta Empire
SECTION 1
continued The Gupta Empire Is Established
Height of the Gupta Empire
• Chandra Gupta II rules from A.D. 375–415
• He defeats the Shakas and adds western coast to empire
• Gupta Empire sees flourishing of arts, religion, and science
• After Chandra Gupta II dies, the empire declines
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11. Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture
Section 2
Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture
Indian religions, culture, and science evolve and spread to other regions through trade.
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12. Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture
SECTION 2
Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture
Buddhism and Hinduism Change
Traditional Hindu and Buddhist Beliefs
• Hinduism blends Aryan and other beliefs; belief in many gods
• To Buddhists, desire causes suffering but suffering can be overcome
Continued . . .
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13. A More Popular Form of Buddhism
SECTION 2
continued Buddhism and Hinduism Change
A More Popular Form of Buddhism
• Belief in bodhisattvas develops—potential Buddhas who save humanity
• Mahayana sect—Buddhists accepting new doctrines of worship, salvation
• Theravada sect—Buddhists who follow original teachings of Buddha
• Wealthy Buddhist merchants build stupas— stone structures over relics
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Continued . . .
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15. SECTION 2
continued Buddhism and Hinduism Change
A Hindu Rebirth
• Hinduism is remote from people by time of Mauryan Empire
• Hinduism moves toward monotheism; gods part of one divine force
• Chief gods:
Brahma—creator of the world
Vishnu—preserver of the world
Shiva—destroyer of the world
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16. Brahma, a Hindu god.

17. Achievements of Indian Culture
SECTION 2
Achievements of Indian Culture
Literature and the Performing Arts
• Kalidasa—poet and dramatist, one of India’s greatest writers
• His skillful and emotionally stirring plays still popular
• Madurai writing academies create literature; 2,000 Tamil poems survive
• Drama and dance troupes gain popularity and travel widely
Continued . . .
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18. Astronomy, Mathematics, and Medicine
SECTION 2
continued Achievements of Indian Culture
Astronomy, Mathematics, and Medicine
• Ocean trade leads to advances in astronomy
• Indian astronomers in Gupta Empire prove that world is round
• Mathematicians develop idea of zero and decimal system
• Doctors write medical guides and make advances in surgery
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19. The Spread of Indian Trade
SECTION 2
The Spread of Indian Trade
India’s Valuable Resources
• India has spices, diamonds, precious stones, and good quality wood
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Overland Trade, East and West
• Trade routes called Silk Roads connect Asia and Europe
• Indians build trading posts to take advantage of the Silk Roads
Sea Trade, East and West
• Indian merchants carry goods to Rome by sea
• Merchants trade by sea with Africa, Arabia, China, Southeast Asia
Continued . . .
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20. Effects of Indian Trade
SECTION 2
continued The Spread of Indian Trade
Effects of Indian Trade
• Increased trade leads to rise of banking
• Bankers lend money to merchants, careful of degree of risk
• Increased trade spreads Indian culture to other places
• Trade brings Hinduism, Buddhism to other lands
Interactive
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21. Han Emperors in China Section 3
The Han Dynasty expands China’s borders and develops a system of government that lasts for centuries.
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22. Han Emperors in China The Han Restore Unity to China Troubled Empire
SECTION 3
Han Emperors in China
The Han Restore Unity to China
Troubled Empire
• In Qin Dynasty peasants resent high taxes and harsh labor, rebel
Liu Bang Founds the Han Dynasty
• Liu Bang defeats Xiang Yu, a rival for power, and founds Han Dynasty
• Han Dynasty—begins in 202 B.C., lasts 400 years
• Han Dynasty has great influence on Chinese people, culture
• Liu Bang establishes centralized government—a central authority rules
• Liu Bang lowers taxes and reduces punishments to keep people happy
Interactive
Continued . . .
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23. The Empress Lü The Martial Emperor
SECTION 3
continued The Han Restore Unity to China
The Empress Lü
• Liu Bang dies in 195 B.C.; wife Lü seizes control of empire
• Empress Lü rules for her young son, outlives him
• Palace plots and power plays occur throughout Han Dynasty
The Martial Emperor
• Liu Bang’s great-grandson Wudi rules from 141 to 87 B.C.
• “Martial Emperor” Wudi defeats Xiongnu (nomads) and mountain tribes
• Colonizes Manchuria, Korea, and as far south as what is now Vietnam
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24. A Highly Structured Society
SECTION 3
A Highly Structured Society
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Emperor’s Role
• Chinese believe their emperor has authority to rule from god
• Believe prosperity reward of good rule; troubles reveal poor rule
Structures of Han Government
• Complex bureaucracy runs Han government
• People pay taxes and supply labor, military service
• Government uses peasant labor to carry out public projects
Continued . . .
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25. Confucianism, the Road to Success
SECTION 3
continued A Highly Structured Society
Confucianism, the Road to Success
• Wudi’s government employs 130,000; bureaucracy of 18 ranks of jobs
• Civil service jobs—government jobs obtained through examinations
• Job applicants begin to be tested on knowledge of Confucianism
• Wudi favors Confucian scholars, builds school to train them
• Only sons of wealthy can afford expensive schooling
• Civil service system works well, continues until
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26. Han Technology, Commerce, and Culture
SECTION 3
Han Technology, Commerce, and Culture
Technology Revolutionizes Chinese Life
• Invention of paper in A.D. 105 helps spread education
• Collar harness, plow, wheelbarrow improve farming
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Agriculture Versus Commerce
• As population grows, farming regarded as important activity
• Government allows monopolies—control by one group over key industries
• Techniques for producing silk become state secret as profits increase
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27. The Han Unifies Chinese Culture
SECTION 3
The Han Unifies Chinese Culture
Bringing Different Peoples Under Chinese Rule
• To unify empire, Chinese government encourages assimilation
• Assimilation—integrating conquered peoples into Chinese culture
• Writers encourage unity by recording Chinese history
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Women’s Roles—Wives, Nuns, and Scholars
• Most women work in the home and on the farm
• Some upper-class women are educated, run shops, practice medicine
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28. The Fall of the Han and Their Return
SECTION 3
The Fall of the Han and Their Return
The Rich Take Advantage of the Poor
• Large landowners gain control of more and more land
• Gap between rich and poor increases
Wang Mang Overthrows the Han
• Economic problems and weak emperors cause
political instability
• In A.D. 9, Wang Mang seizes power and stabilizes
empire
• Wang Mang is assassinated in A.D. 23; Han soon
regain control
The Later Han Years
• Peace restored, Later Han Dynasty lasts until A.D. 220
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