1. Lesson 3: The Mauryan empire

2. I. The origin of an empire
500 B.C. India was divided into many small warring kingdoms, which left them open to foreign invasion. Persian armies arrived to conquer them, but by 325 B.C, Alexander the Great managed to oust them. He would’ve continued his conquest, but turned back when his troops threatened to rebel.
A. India’s First Empire
After Alexander the Great turned back, Chandra Gupta Maurya rose to power, and built a strong army in order to unite India and protect them all from potential invasion. He set to conquer northern India.
First ruler of the Mauryan Dynasty, and was a capable administrator, with Pataliputra becoming the capital of his city.
Devised a postal system to improve communications throughout his empire.
Eliminated any resistance to his rule, and utilized spies to inform him of any disloyalty from his subjects. He regularly had his servants taste his food for fear of poisoning, and never slept two nights in the same bed.

3. I. The origin of an empire
B. Ashoka Maurya
Maurya empire peaked with Ashoka Maurya, grandson to Chandra Gupta. He had the same militaristic approach as his grandfather, until he decided to become a Buddhist.
Established laws that encouraged good deeds from his subjects, practiced nonviolence, and respect.
Created Hospitals for people and animals, roads with rest houses, and planted trees to shade weary travelers.
Promoted Buddhism and regularly sent teachers to spread Buddhist teachings, with most of these teachings and his laws being carved on rocks and stone pillars for all to see.
PS: “mother and father must be hearkened to; Similarly, respect for living creatures must be firmly established; truth must be spoken. These are the virtues of the law of piety (devotion) which must be practiced.”
Stupas (Indian shrine mounds) were built. Despite this, Ashoka allowed religious freedom.
At this height, the city of Pataliputra became a hub for a large trade network that stretched as far as the Mediterranean sea.

4. Ashoka Maurya
An Indian Stupa

5. I. The origin of an empire
C. The end of the Mauryan empire
Empire declined after Ashoka’s death. His successors did not share the same believes he held.
Made merchants pay heavy taxes, and regularly stole land from peasants.
183 B.C: the last Mauryan king was murdered by one of his own generals, and the empire was once again split into many small kingdoms.

6. II. The Gupta Empire
320 A.D: Gupta Dynasty rose as Chandra Gupta I came to power, once again setting Pataliputra as the capital of his dynasty.
Samudra Gupta: expanded the Gupta empire northward, and was regarded as a great military leader and patron of the arts and literature. India entered a golden age.
Practiced Hindu religion, donated money to Hindu scholars, and built temples.
Trade: Salt, iron and cloth were common goods traded in the empire, trading with china, and lands in the southeast and the Mediterranean. Gupta rulers also owned large silver and gold mines.
Pilgrims regularly used the trade routes to journey to holy sites, and temples grew wealthy from regular visits from pilgrims.

7. III. Culture in Ancient India
A. Literature
Vedas were the first written texts
Epics, which were deemed sacred texts that teach important lessons.
Mahabharata: longest epic poem ever written, with 90K verses. Describes the struggle of an Indian kingdom in B.C.
Bhagavad Gita: “the song of the lord,” is the most famous portion of the Mahabharata, were in the god Krishna fights alongside a warrior who does not want to fight his family on the opposing side, making the ultimate choice.
The Ramayana: tells the story of Rama, a famous king, and his wife Sita, whom he must rescue after she is kidnapped.
Bhagavad Gita

8. III. Culture in Ancient India
B. The arts and architecture
Many ancient texts were believed to have been sung.
Yearly festivals had people sing, dance and play instruments such as tambourines, flutes, drums, and lutes.
Most art that is left is religious art, such as elaborate sculptures carved into stone.
The most important structures were the palaces of rulers and religious temples.
C. Mathematics
Aryabhata: scientist who used algebra
Developed the concept of infinity, and the number 0, which has influenced technology today (use of binary number systems for computers)
Created symbols for numbers 1-9, which were then adopted by arab traders in 700 A.D.
A.D. 1200’s: roman numerals are replaced in favor of numbers in Europe.

9. III. Culture in Ancient India
C. Advances in science
Made advancements in astronomy and technology
Astronomers mapped the movements of stars and planets
Proposed the heliocentric theory before Galileo
Metalworking advancements led to the Pillar of Iron Delhi, which stands to this day.
D. Advances in medicine
Treated dental problems with tools such as the bow drill (originally used to start fires)
Could set broken bones, close wounds, and could perform complicated surgeries by crafting scalpels and needles.
Shushruta: early form of plastic surgery by fixing noses.
Regularly sought the causes of illnesses and how to treat them, usually with the use of herbs.