1. CLASSICAL EMPIRES
SSWH2 The student will identify the major achievements of Chinese and Indian societies from 1100 BCE to 500 CE.
a. Describe the development of Indian civilization; include the rise and fall of the Maurya Empire, the “Golden Age” under Gupta, and the emperor Ashoka.
MAURYA EMPIRE, RECALL FROM LAST UNIT

2. MAURYA EMPIRE
The Mauryas: Indian dynasty in the fourth-third centuries BCE, which unified the subcontinent for the first time and contributed to the spread of Buddhism.

3. MAURYA EMPIRE, EMPERORS
Chandragupta Maurya (c.321-c.297)
Bindusara Maurya (c.297-c.272)
Ashoka Maurya (c.272-c.232)

4. Ashoka Maurya (c.272-c.232)
great conqueror, and the first to unite the Indian subcontinent, except for the extreme south.
converted to Buddhism established dhamma, 'the law of justice', everywhere in India
Left rock edicts behind on several places in his realm

6. Ashoka was sincere when he proclaimed his belief in ahimsa (non-violence) and cooperation between religions ("contact between religions is good").

7. DECLINE
After the death of Ashoka, the Mauryan empire declined.

8. ASHOKA STUPA (STATUES)

9. VIDEO, ASHOKA

10. GOLDEN AGE OF INDIA UNDER THE GUPTA

11. CHANDRAGUPTA II
Chandragupta II The Great (Sanskrit: चन्द्रगुप्त विक्रमादित्य; was one of the most powerful emperors of the Gupta empire in northern India
rule spanned c. 380–413/415 CE
the Gupta Empire achieved its zenith, art, architecture, and sculpture flourished, and the cultural development of ancient India reached its climax

13. HINDUISM
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

14. HINDUISM
Hinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent
includes a wide spectrum of laws and prescriptions of "daily morality" based on karma, dharma, and societal norms
no single founder
oldest living major religionin the world

15. HINDUISM
Hindu texts INCLUDE TEXTS which discuss theology, philosophy, mythology, rituals, and temple building
Major scriptures include the Vedas, Upanishads and others
Hinduism, with about one billion followers, is the world's third largest religion, after Christianity and Islam.

16. Hinduism
belief in reincarnation (samsara), determined by the law of karma, and the idea that salvation is freedom from this cycle of repeated birth and death
other religions of the region, such as Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, also believe in karma, outside the scope of Hinduism
beliefs spanning monotheism, polytheism
caste system in India is a system of social stratification

17. Brahminical texts grouped the four well-known caste categories
VARNAS
Brahmins PRIESTS
Kshatriyas WARRIORS
Vaishyas MERCHANTS
Shudras ARTISANS
untouchables

18. Prominent themes in Hindu beliefs o), Dharma (ethics/duties)
Samsāra (the continuing cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth)
Karma (action and subsequent reaction)
Moksha (liberation from samsara)
Yogas (paths or practices)

19. HINDUISM (Creation Hymn) of the Rig Veda thus says:]
Who really knows? Who will here proclaim it? Whence was it produced? Whence is this creation? The gods came afterwards, with the creation of this universe. Who then knows whence it has arisen?