1. Ancient India

2. Chapter Seven Section One
India’s First Empire
Chapter Seven
Section One

3. India Objective Trace the impact of Indo-
European migration on migration on language, literature,
technology, religion, and social classes

4. Setting the Stage
By 600 B.C. almost 1,000 years after the Aryan migrations, many small kingdoms were scattered throughout India
326 B.C. Alexander the Great brought the Indus Valley under Macedonian control
Chandragupta Maurya (chuhn*druh*GUP*tah MAH*oor*yuh) – a great Indian military leader – seized power

5. First Indian Empires
326 B.C. Alexander the Great conquered parts of India but left almost immediately
the military leader Chandragupta Maurya grabbed the throne in 321 B.C. which began the Mauryan Empire
by 303 B.C. the Muryan Empire stretched more than 2,000 miles = united north India politically for the first time
to win wars of conquest:
he raised an army
nearly 600,000 men
30,000 cavalry men
9,000 elephants
to conquer all of India
which included some areas
still under Macedonian
control

6. First Indian Empires
taxes were extremely high in order to pay for the army
Chandragupta relied on an adviser named Kautilya (kow*TIHL*yuh) who was a member of the priestly caste
Kautilya wrote a ruler’s handbook = Arthasastra (AHR*thuh*SHAHS*truh)
book proposed tough minded policies to hold an empire together
created a highly organized government to run the different provinces = assassination, spying, and other tactics used to keep people in line

7. 1st Indian Empires Asoka (uh*SOH*kuh) = grandson of
Chandragupta Maurya
269 B.C. = upon his father’s death,
Asoka took the thrown
followed in Chandragupta’s footsteps – waging war to expand his empire
Bloody war with the neighboring Kalinga
100,000 soldiers were slain
even more civilians perished
Asoka turned to the practice of Buddhism, which preaches non-violence and religious toleration

8. Asoka Promotes Buddhism
Buddhist pillars and statues were erected spelling out the changes
some edicts guaranteed that Asoka would treat his subjects fairly and humanely
others preached non-violence
others urged religious toleration
Religious tolerance: acceptance of people
who held different
religious beliefs
Asoka helped spread Buddhism
throughout Southeast Asia
Asoka builds extensive roads and rest areas for the government officials and others to travel

9. A period of turmoil
the empire falls apart upon the death of Asoka in 232 B.C.
rival factions and outside invaders soon take over the area
After 500 years of invasion and turmoil, a strong leader again arose Chandra Gupta (GUP*tuh)
there is no relation to the first leader reestablished the Indian Empire

10. The Gupta Empire is Established
Hinduism, trade, and the arts
flourished under Gupta’s reign
the Gupta reign ends in 535 A.D.
when the Hunas (Hun relation)
invaded

11. Gupta Achievements
calendar based on the cycles of the sun instead of the moon (Greek)
adopted 7 day week and divided day into hours
proved the Earth was round almost 1,000 years before Columbus (eclipses)
advanced in math- modern numerals, zero, decimal system invented in India
concluded a solar year was days

12. Gupta Achievements performed surgeries and gave injections
valuable goods such as spices, gems, and fragrances have been traded around the world
used the water a
used the Silk Road

13. Taj Mahal One of 8 Wonders of the World
Taj Mahal was built by a Muslim Emperor Shah Jahan (died
1666 C.E.)
built in the memory of his dear wife and queen Mumtaz
Mahal at Agra, India

14. Essential Question
Which Indian ruler – Gupta or Asoka – would you rather live under? Explain.
Write three complete sentences in the summary location on your note sheet

15. India Objective Trace the impact of Indo-
European migration on migration on language, literature,
technology, religion, and social classes