1. India’s first empires: The Maurya and the Gupta
Dr. Afxendiou
Global History and Geography 9
Sachem North High School

2. Political Structure India was divided into regional city states
Invasion ( by Alexander) helped lead to some unity
Two major empires emerged in Classical India
Maurya and Gupta

3. The Mauryan Empire 321 B.C. – 232 B.C.
Founder: Chandragupta Maurya
Defeats Alexander the Great (Greece)
United India under one ruler
Maintained HUGE army: over 600,000
Set up bureaucracy that included a postal service
(bureaucracy-government officials have different jobs in the government to provide services and get things done).
Asoka – 301B.C. – Chandragupta’s grandson
Greatest ruler of Mauryan
Extended Mauryan conquest – bloody campaigns
Following a bitter battle with heavy casualties, he coverts to Buddhism.
Religious Toleration – still honors Hinduism
Sends missionaries out to spread Buddhism
Built extensive road network
Planted trees
Every 9 miles dug a well and built rest houses
Changed his rule to be more humanistic
The Mauryan Empire B.C. – 232 B.C.

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GHe9m R4Zoc

5. The Gupta Empire 320 – 500 CE Founder:
Chandragupta Maurya I (no relation)
Dominant religion was Hinduism
peace and prosperity enabled the pursuit of scientific and artistic endeavors.
The Golden Age of India

6. The Gupta Empire: India’s Golden Age
Math
concept of zero
decimal system based on the number 10
Arabic Numerals (0-9) 
Medicine –  
plastic surgery
vaccine against smallpox
Architecture
Stone temples to gods
Stupas (shrines)
Arts & Literature Gupta literature consists of fables and folktales written in Sanskrit. 
stories spread west to Persia, Egypt, and Greece
became the basis for many Islamic literary works such as, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Aladdin and his Magic Lamp.