1. Maurya
And
Gupta Empires

2. Essential Question:
What were the lasting achievements of the Maurya and Gupta?

3. The next classical civilization is India: The Mauryan and Gupta Empires.

4. The Mauryan Empire of India
Chandragupta Maurya became king of India in 321 BCE (Before Common Era), created a vast army, and conquered surrounding lands
The Mauryan Empire of India
Chandragupta’s empire controlled most of the Indian subcontinent

5. MAURYAN EMPIRE’S GOVERNMENT
King Chandragupta Maurya used tactics similar to the Persians’ to control his empire
The king divided his empire into provinces, each ruled by a local prince that reported to him

6. The Culture of the Mauryan’s
A second, less popular religion was Buddhism.

7. The Buddhist King Ashoka
In 269 BCE, King Ashoka took over; he expanded the Empire to its greatest extent
Indus River Valley

8. The Buddhist King Ashoka
During his wars of expansion, Ashoka converted to Buddhism
After witnessing an extremely bloody battle, Ashoka developed new policies of tolerance and non-violence for his empire
Buddhism spread as a result of Ashoka’s influence
Indus River Valley

9. The Gupta Empire of India
After Ashoka’s death, the Mauryan Empire declined and was replaced by the Gupta Empire
Chandra Gupta formed the Gupta Empire in 320 CE and expanded the empire

10. Golden Age of Hindu Culture
India experienced a period of peace in which they made many culture achievements
Mathematicians invented modern numerals, the number zero, the idea of infinity, and the decimal system
Astronomy, Mathematics, and Medicine The expansion of trade spurred the advance of science. Because sailors on trading ships used the stars to help them figure their position at sea, knowledge of astronomy increased. From Greek invaders, Indians adapted Western methods of keeping time. They began to use a calendar based on the cycles of the sun rather than the moon. They also adopted a seven-day week and divided each day into hours. During the Gupta Empire (A.D. 320 to about 500), knowledge of astronomy increased further. Almost 1,000 years before Columbus, Indian astronomers proved that the earth was round by observing a lunar eclipse. During the eclipse, the earth’s shadow fell across the face of the moon. The astronomers noted that the earth’s shadow was curved, indicating that the earth itself was round. Indian mathematics was among the most advanced in the world. Modern numerals, the zero, and the decimal system were invented in India. Around A.D. 500, an Indian named Aryabhata (AHR•yuh•BUHT•uh) calculated the value of pi (π) to four decimal places. He also calculated the length of the solar year as days. This is very close to modern calculations made with an atomic clock. In medicine, two important medical guides were compiled. They described more than 1,000 diseases and more than 500 medicinal plants. Hindu physicians performed surgery—including plastic surgery—and possibly gave injections

11. Golden Age of Hindu Culture
Astronomers put forward the idea that the Earth was not flat, but round and rotated on it’s own axis.

12. Golden Age of Hindu Culture
Artists painted colorful murals, and intricate architecture and temples were built.

13. Golden Age of Hindu Culture
Physicians set bones, performed minor skin grafts, and wrote books on diseases.
Astronomers also calculated the solar year and the shape and movement of bodies in spaces with remarkable accuracy.

14. Gupta Economics: Trade
Impact of Geography on Gupta Identify one GEOGRAPHIC FEATURE and propose how it might impact the culture of Gupta
Indian Ocean trade increased; Traders used coastal routes around the rim of the Ocean.

15. Gupta Economics: Trade
Indian merchants acted like middlemen on the Silk Road, selling exotic spices and silks to people throughout Asia and the Mediterranean world, increasing India’s prosperity

16. Gupta Fall
Huns, a nomadic warlike tribe from Central Asia, invaded India and caused the Gupta Empire to fall in 535 CE