1. Indian Empires
Section 4, Chapter 6

2. Mauryan Empire Unites India
Chandragupta Maurya seized control of northern India in 320s BC
Began an empire that lasted for 150 years
He ruled with a complex government

3. He had a large network of spies and an army of 600,000
It included thousands of war elephants and chariots
Farmers paid for his protection
In 301 he became a Jainist monk and turned over the throne to his son

4. Mauryan
Empire BC

5. Asoka
He was Chandragupta’s grandson
He became king in about BC and was a strong ruler
He conquered most of India by fighting many bloody battles

6. A few years into his reign, however, he became a Buddhist
He improved his people’s lives by digging wells and building roads and planting trees
He spread Buddhism to Asia
He died in 233 BC
Mauryan Empire fell in 184 BC

7. The Gupta Empire
After about 500 years of division, a new dynasty was established
The Gupta Dynasty came to power in about 320 AD
India was united and prosperous

8. Under Candra Gupta I, Indian civilization flourished
These rulers were Hindus, so Hinduism became the major religion
They built many Hindu temples
But they also supported Buddism and Jainism

9. Gupta
Empire
400 AD

10. Gupta Society
Candra Gupta II becomes emperor in 375 AD
Empire grew to its high point during his rule
Fine works of art and literature were created

11. They believed the strict following of the caste system would strengthen their rule
This was not good news for women who had almost no rights in the caste system
In the 400s AD the Huns invaded. Gupta rule ends by 500s