1. The Golden Ages of India
The Mauryan and Gupta Empires

2. Do Now:
Please take out your homework reading on Chandragupta and answer the following question in your groups:
What were some of Chandragupta’s main strengths and weaknesses as a ruler? (record at least 3 for each)

3. Mauryan Empire takes shape!
Chandragupta Maurya established the Mauryan Empire in 322 BC
Bindusara took over from Chandragupta as emperor in 299 BC(maintained control/ expanded trade)
Bindusara’s son became Ashoka the Great

4. Based on the map, why do you think it was important for Ashoka to expand his empire? (What could he gain?)
How do you believe he went about accomplishing this task?

5. The Battle of Kalinga!
•Ashoka sought to expand his empire and invaded the Republic of Kalinga, c BCE.
•His forces won but at a terrible cost. More than 250,000 people died.

6. Why Kalinga?
Based in the map, why was Kalinga a strategic place for Ashoka to capture?
Discuss in your groups!

7. DISCUSS!
Based on Ashoka’s victory of Kalinga and the map you just viewed, why might you presume that he would be motivated by conquest?
Discuss in your groups!

8. Do Now:
How did the Battle of Kalinga alter Ashoka’s (Mauryan) governing practices?
Discuss in your groups!

9. Ashoka’s Edicts
•Ashoka’s words spread throughout South Asia and convinced many to adopt Buddhism.
•The belief system spread across modern-day India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

11. DISCUSS!
To what extent are Ashoka’s policies radical for this time period? Why is that the case?
Discuss in your groups!

12. Strategic Location of the Edicts
Where did Ashoka choose to place his edicts? How was his placement of his edicts strategic? (Why did he place them where he did?)

13. SUMMARY!
Complete the following statement: Ashoka is thought to be one of the great leaders of the Ancient world because ____________.

14. What part of India was not under Ashoka’s rule?
How do you think this influenced Indian society?

15. The Dravidians The Dravidians fled southward from the Aryan invasion.
The group remained free and developed a distinctive culture!
Practiced Hinduism
Spoke a different language (Tamil)
Embraced Different customs and traditions
Incredible merchants and traders!!

16. Take a look at the map!
Predict! Why did the Gupta Empire lose ground after the fall of the Mauryan Empire?

17. Mauryan Empire Breaks up!
Ashoka’s successors were ineffective and weak
Over the next 500 years, northern and central India splintered off into many small kingdoms and states….
Greeks
Tribes from Central Asia
Persians
All established states in India!

18. Rise of the Guptas!
Because foreigners established states in India, it became a more difficult task to reunite the empire.
320 AD after centuries of warfare Chandragupta was able to take back certain territories and create an empire!
Hindu revival!!

19. What is a golden age? How does a society show that it is experiencing a golden age?

23. Based on the last few slides, how do the images reveal the goals of Gupta society?

24. Gupta Society Indicators of a Gupta Golden Age
Peace settled over India!
Culture Blossomed
Trade Expanded
Art Flourished
Literature Revived

25. Literature
Gupta literature showed the importance of Hinduism in everyday Indian life.
India’s greatest poet and playwright was Kalidasa
Wrote a play called Shakuntala based on the Hindu epics is still performed in India today!

26. Downfall!
The two centuries of the Gupta Empire were the high point of Indian culture
The Guptas even prospered during the decline of the Roman Empire!
5th century a group of barbarians from Central Asia attacked the borders of the empire!

28. Decline!
The attacks weakened the the central government and power passed to the local leaders
550 AD the northern part of India was once again made up of several states and kingdoms!

29. SUMMARY!
What was the primary reason that caused the Guptas to lose their power?