1. Ancient Civilizations: India
Maurya & Gupta Empires

2. Geography & Environment

3. The Geography On which continent is India located?
Asia; India is a subcontinent of Asia

4. The Geography On which river did the ancient Indians settle?
The Indus & Ganges Rivers

5. Early Indian Empires

6. The Mauryan Empire

7. Mauryan Empire
Established in 322 BC by the great Indian military leader, Chandragupta Maurya

9. Mauryan Empire Politically united North India for the first time ever
Created a highly effective government; included tax collection & the enforcement of laws

10. Mauryan Empire
In 269 BC Asoka, Chandragupta’s grandson, became emperor of the Mauryan Empire

11. Mauryan Empire
After many years of violent conquest, Asoka felt remorseful

12. Mauryan Empire
Converted to Buddhism & ruled by Buddha’s teaching of “peace to all beings”
Spread Buddhism throughout India & other parts of Asia via missionaries

13. Asoka’s Rock Edicts
Laws carved on rock pillars were placed throughout the empire
Stressed concern for other human beings

14. The Gupta Empire

15. Gupta Empire
After the fall of the Mauryan Empire India experienced 500 years of chaos
Finally in AD 320 a strong leader known as Chandra Gupta rose to power in Northern India

16. Gupta Empire
320 AD to AD
India’s “Golden Age,” or the flourishing of arts & sciences

17. Gupta’s Golden Age Achievements in Mathematics: Principles of algebra
Infinity & Zero
Value of Pi
Arabic numerals  1, 2, 3…

18. Gupta’s Golden Age Achievements in Science: Earth is round
Identified 7 planets
Invented medical instruments, performed operations, set bones, etc.

19. The THREE PILLARS of Indian Life

20. 1) The Caste System The Caste System:
System of social hierarchy within India
5 different castes (social classes)

21. Untouchables: Outcasts = outside caste system
Brahmins
Kshatriyas
Vaisyas
Sudras
Priests
Nobles, warriors, royalty
Caste System
Merchants & skilled workers
Servants, peasants, slaves, laborers
Untouchables: Outcasts = outside caste system

22. Caste Purity? Members of higher castes were considered more pure
Untouchables were considered spiritually polluted; ignored by members of other castes

23. Caste Roles Different castes were viewed as being different species
Castes were separated from each other (location, housing, clothing, occupation, etc.)

24. Caste Roles
If you were obedient to the restrictions of your caste, you would be reincarnated into a higher caste

25. 2) Family One was aware of his or her caste from childhood
It was the FAMILY’S responsibility to teach children about caste, as well as their expected duties/behaviors

26. 2) Family Family needs ALWAYS came before individual wishes
Patriarchal society

27. 3) Village Community served as the heart of Indian life
Community needs ALWAYS came before individual wishes

28. 3) Village Different castes lived together in the SAME village
WHY IS THIS SO?

29. The Indian Caste System – An Introduction