1. Unit 10 India Ancient Indian Dynasties and Empires
Objectives:
Explain how the Mauryan rulers increased their power.
Examine the reasons for the decline of Gupta rule.

2. Ancient Indian Empires
1/21/15
Red
Purple

3. Rise of the Mauryan Empire
Geography
Chandragupta Maurya
kept out invaders; India not unified
established this empire that lasted about 150 years.

4. Chandragupta Maurya
Raised army of 600,000 soldiers, had thousands of chariots and elephants
Army united northern India
Established strict government to carry out his commands

5. Asoka (came to power around 270 B.C.)
Chandragupta’s grandson
Even greater ruler
Fought bloody wars to increase the size of his kingdom
Became a Buddhist when he was sick of all the bloodshed
Spread the faith of Buddhism and reversed many of the polices of those before him
Enlarged the Empire until it included all of India except the southern tip of the subcontinent. (AKA—the first imperial dynasty to hold nearly all of India)
Asoka (came to power around 270 B.C.)

6. Asoka’s Empire How did he unite a diverse empire?
Improved living conditions
Planted trees
Dug wells
Rest houses along trade routes
After his death, the empire began to split apart due to fighting of his sons
Asoka’s Empire How did he unite a diverse empire?

7. Gupta Rulers (300 to 550 A.D.)
New dynasty emerged due to decline of Buddhism and growth of Hinduism
Chandra Gupta I-founder
Empire spread due to conquest
Empire included all of northern India

8. Gupta Rule Indian civilization flourished
Favored Hinduism but allowed Buddhism; Hinduism is the dominant religion
“Golden Age”early years of Gupta rule where the Indian civilization flourished
Chandra Gupta II
Progress made in the arts
Gupta political system gave much power to the local rulers.

9. Review
1) Why was the Gupta empire so different from the Mauryan Empire?
2) How was Asoka able to unite the entire empire?
3) About how long did the Mauryan Empire last in years?
4) By the end of the Mauryan Empire, how much of India fell under their rule?
5) How much of India fell under the Gupta rule?
6) About how many years did Chandragupta Maurya lead the Mauryan Empire?
7) How was Asoka related to Chandragupta Maurya?
8) What caused Asoka to convert to Buddhism?
9) What religion was favored by the Gupta Empire?