1. Indian Empires
321 BC-540 AD

2. Maurya Empire Founded by Chandragupta
Chandragupta created a bureaucracy- government with divided responsibilities
He used a secret police to weed out anyone disloyal to him

3. AsHoka
Chandragupta’s grandson Ashoka was the most celebrated Mauryan leader
After fighting a bloody war to add territory to the empire, he rejected violence
Sent Buddhist missionaries across Asia
Built many projects to help the people (hospitals, roads, Buddhist shrines)

4. Tamil Kingdoms
In southern India, a Dravidian people called the Tamils formed kingdoms
Tamils traded overseas with China, the Middle East, Rome, etc.
Left behind one of the oldest literary traditions in the world

5. Gupta Empire The Guptas created a “Golden Age” in India
Large trade networks
Advances in learning at universities
Math-Number systems, zero, decimals
Medicine-Vaccinations
India’s literary tradition grew

6. Decline
Invaders came through the Khyber Pass, destroying Indian cities and trade networks
Rivalries among noble families led to civil conflicts
No large empire would unite India again for roughly 1,000 years

7. Why would India be difficult to unify into a single political unit?
Division
Why would India be difficult to unify into a single political unit?