1. & the Quest for Salvation
Chapter 9:
State, Society,
& the Quest for Salvation
in India

2. Alexander the Great Bellwork
What were the three new systems of thought in Hellenistic culture?
Cynicism, Epicureanism, Stoicism
The development of Hellenistic Culture is perfect example of_______________
Cultural Diffusion

3. Objective
WWBAT: Discuss the Maurya Empire and the rule of Ashoka

4. The Mauryan Empire 321–184 BCE

5. India Before the Mauryan Dynasty
520 BCE Persian Emperor Darius conquers north-west India
Introduces Persian ruling pattern
327 Alexander of Macedon destroys Persian Empire in India
Troops mutiny, departs after 2 years
Political power vacuum

6. Kingdom of Magadha
Most significant remaining kingdom after Alexander’s departure
Central Ganges plain
Economic strength
Agriculture
Trade in Ganges valley, Bay of Bengal
Dominated surrounding regions in north-eastern India

7. Interactive Notebook Setup
10/5/2016
The Maurya Empire
This will be one page

8. Economy
Chandragupta
Ashoka
Decline

9. Chandragupta: 321 BCE-298 BCE
Chandragupta Maurya created the 1st unified Indian Empire
Maurya dynasty (321–184 BCE)
Took advantage of power vacuum left by Alexander
Overthrew Magadha rulers

10. The Maurya Empire
321 BCE – 185 BCE

11. Chandragupta: 321 BCE-298 BCE
Defeated the Persian general Seleucus.
Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law enforcement.
He feared assassination  food tasters, slept in different rooms, etc.
301 BCE  gave up his throne & became a Jain.

12. Chandragupta: 321 BCE-298 BCE
Kautilya
Chandragupta’s advisor.
Brahmin caste.
Wrote The Treatise on Material Gain or the Arthashastra.
A guide for the king and his ministers:
Supports royal power.
The great evil in society is anarchy.
Therefore, a single authority is needed to employ force when necessary!

13. Chandragupta’s Government
Like Persia & China, built a bureaucratic administrative system.
Domestic policies
Network of spies
Legend: Chandragupta retires to become a monk, starves himself to death

14. Ashoka (304 – 232 BCE) Grandson of Chandragupta
Represents high point of Mauryan Empire, r BCE
Expanded empire to include all of Indian subcontinent except for south
Positive leadership integrated Indian society
Established capital at Pataliputra
Better known as a governor than conqueror

15. Ashoka
Religious conversion after the gruesome battle of Kalinga in BCE.
Dedicated his life to Buddhism
Built extensive roads.
Conflict  how to balance Kautilya’s methods of keeping power and Buddha’s demands to become a selfless person?

16. Ashoka’s law code Wrote law code on rocks or pillars (Stupas)
Edicts scattered in more than 30 places in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
Written mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic.
10 rock edicts.
Buddhist principles dominate his laws

18. Economy State farms operated and cultivated by slaves
Grew Rice, Pepper, Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Sugar Cane, Medicinal Roots

19. Economy Participated in the Silk Road trade
Served as a middle ground for the West(Greece, Hellenistic Kingdoms) and China
The main exports sent to those empires were silk, textiles, spices and exotic foods.

20. Decline of the Mauryan Empire
Economic crisis follows death of Ashoka
High costs of bureaucracy, military not supported by tax revenue
Frequent devaluations of currency to pay salaries
Regions begin to abandon Mauryan Empire
Disappears by 185 BCE