1. Ancient India Empires of India

2. Mauryan Empire ► In 320 BC, the military leader Chandragupta Maurya took control of the entire northern part of India. This would be the beginnings of the Maurya Empire that would last almost 150 years.

3. Mauryan Empire ► Chandragupta ruled with the help of 600,000 soldiers, a network of spies, thousands of war elephants and chariots and weapons. Farmers paid heavy taxes for the protection of the army.

4. Maurya Empire ► In 301 BC, Chandragupta decided to become a Jainist monk. He would give up his throne to his son who would continue to expand the empire. Quickly, the Maurya’s would control all of northern India and much of central India.

5. Asoka ► Around 270 BC, Chandragupta’s grandson became the ruler. Ashoka would become the strongest of the Maurya rulers. Under Asoka, the empire would extend to almost all of India and the empire would become stronger and richer.

6. Asoka ► Asoka watched many bloody battles – so many that finally he became a Buddhist and swore he would not fight any more wars. He would instead improve the lives of his people, building wells and roads, planting shade trees and building rest houses for travelers. He pushed for the spread of Buddhism throughout Asia.

7. Asoka the Great ► Asoka died in 233 BC. After his death, the empire quickly declined and fell apart. His sons fought each other and invaders would threaten the empire. In 184 BC the last Mauryan ruler was killed and the empire would break into smaller states.

8. Gupta Rulers ► India will be divided for about 500 years until the Gupta Empire is established in AD 320. India now united, will become prosperous again.

9. Candra Gupta I ► The first of the Gupta rulers was Candra Gupta I. Nuch like the Maurya emperor, he used his armies to bring most of northern India under his control. There even seems to be a similarity in their names.

10. Samudra Gupta ► Samudra Gupta, son of Candra Gupta I would follow as the next ruler. He was a brilliant military leader and through him more territory was added. At the time of his death he had added almost all of the Ganges River valley.

11. Gupta Civilization Flourishes ► Indian civilization flourishes during Gupta rule, and since they were Hindu, Hinduism became the official religion of India. They built many Hindu temples and promoted a revival in Hindu writings and rituals.

12. Tolerance ► Although the Gupta rulers were Hindu, they supported the beliefs of Buddhism and Jainism. They supported Buddhist art and built Buddhist temples and established a university at Nalanda.

13. Gupta Society ► In 375, Candra Gupta II takes the throne. Indian society will hit a high point under his rule. The empire will grow, economy will strengthen and people prosper. They will create great works of art and literature.

14. Gupta Society ► Guptas also believed the caste system is important to Indian society and strengthened it. Gupta society was strong until the 400’s when the Huns would lay seige and by 500, ended Gupta rule.

15. And so … ► Exit: What was the greatest achievement of the Gupta rulers? ► Stay tuned next time for Indian Achievements.