1. 7 India and China Establish Empires, 300 B.C.–A.D. 550
QUIT 7
CHAPTER
India and China Establish
Empires, 300 B.C.–A.D. 550
Chapter Overview
Time Line
MAP
SECTION 1
First Empires of India
SECTION 2
Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture
GRAPH
SECTION 3
Han Emperors in China
Visual Summary

2. 7 India and China Establish Empires, 300 B.C.–A.D. 550
HOME 7
CHAPTER
India and China Establish
Empires, 300 B.C.–A.D. 550
Chapter Overview
Empires in both India and China establish powerful dynasties and develop strong, vibrant cultures. Invaders in India introduce new customs and knowledge to Indian society. In China, conquered peoples are made part of Chinese culture through marriage and education. Ruling styles and cultural advances vary in each empire.

3. 7 India and China Establish Empires, 300 B.C.–A.D. 550 HOME Time Line
CHAPTER
India and China Establish
Empires, 300 B.C.–A.D. 550
Time Line
321 B.C. Chandragupta Maurya founds Mauryan Empire.
A.D. 65 Buddhism takes root in China.
A.D. 220 Han Dynasty falls.
300 B.C.
A.D. 550
202 B.C. Liu Bang establishes China’s Han Dynasty.
A.D. 105 Chinese invent paper.
A.D. 320 Gupta Empire forms in India and encourages a renewal of Hindu faith.

4. First Empires of India Key Idea 1
HOME 1
First Empires
of India
MAP
Key Idea
Both the Mauryan and Gupta empires temporarily unify India. During part of the Mauryan Empire, government policies are based on Buddhist teachings of nonviolence and tolerance. Indian culture thrives during the Gupta Empire.
Overview
Assessment

5. First Empires of India Overview 1 • Mauryan Empire • Asoka
HOME 1
First Empires
of India
MAP
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Mauryan Empire
• Asoka
• religious toleration
• Tamil
• Gupta Empire
• patriarchal
• matriarchal
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The Mauryas and the Guptas established Indian empires, but neither unified India permanently.
The diversity of peoples, cultures, beliefs, and languages in India continues to pose challenges to Indian unity today.
Assessment

6. HOME 1
First Empires
of India
MAP
Section 1
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. Compare the Mauryan and Gupta empires.
Mauryan Empire Only
Gupta Empire Only
Both
Chandragupta
used spies,
Asoka followed
teachings of Buddha.
Unified through force, required high taxes, lasted for about 100 years
Defeated the Shakas,
period of great cultural
achievements,
invaded by Hunas
continued . . .

7. HOME 1
First Empires
of India
MAP
Section 1
Assessment
2. Which of the Indian rulers described in this section would you rather live under? Explain your opinion.
THINK ABOUT
• whether the ruler maintained peace and order—and how
• what methods the ruler used to influence his subjects
• developments in art and culture during the ruler’s reign
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
• Chandragupta Maurya, because he tried to control crime.
• Asoka, because he believed in nonviolence and promoted his subjects’ welfare.
• Chandra Gupta II, because there was a cultural flowering during his reign.
End of Section 1

8. Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture Key Idea 2
HOME 2
Trade Spreads Indian
Religions and Culture
Key Idea
Changes in Buddhism and Hinduism make these religions more personal and appealing to the masses. India enters a highly productive period in art, literature, science, and mathematics. Through trade, Indian culture spreads to much of Asia.
Overview
Assessment

9. Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture Overview 2 • Mahayana
HOME 2
Trade Spreads Indian
Religions and Culture
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Mahayana
• Theravada
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Kalidasa
• Silk Roads
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
Indian religions, culture, and science evolved and spread to other regions through trade.
The influence of Indian culture and religions is very evident throughout Southeast Asia today.
Assessment

10. Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture 2 2
HOME 2
Trade Spreads Indian
Religions and Culture
Section 2
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. For each category shown below, list one or more specific developments in Indian culture.
Indian Culture
Religion
Literature/Arts
Science/Math
Trade
Mahayana Buddhism; Hinduism became more personal.
Buddhist sculptures; Kalidasa wrote Shakuntala.
The decimal system; medical guides.
Profited from Silk Roads trade; traded with Rome, Africa, Southeast Asia, Arabia, China
continued . . .

11. Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture 2 2
HOME 2
Trade Spreads Indian
Religions and Culture
Section 2
Assessment
2. What do you think was the most significant effect of the changes in Buddhism and Hinduism? Explain.
THINK ABOUT
• the effect on people who practiced the religion
• the effect on art and culture
• the effect on other countries
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
• More people were able to take part in popular worship.
• Religion inspired art.
• Both religions spread to many other countries.
continued . . .

12. Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture 2 2
HOME 2
Trade Spreads Indian
Religions and Culture
Section 2
Assessment
2. Cite three of the cultures that interacted with India. Explain the result of each cultural interaction.
THINK ABOUT
• interaction because of trade
• the influence of art, science, religion
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
• Greeks–Indians learned western timekeeping.
• Central Asian nomads–They taught Indians about Silk Roads trade.
• Southeast Asia–Indians spread Hinduism, Buddhism, and artistic styles.
End of Section 2

13. Han Emperors in China Key Idea 3
HOME 3
Han Emperors
in China
GRAPH
Key Idea
The Han Dynasty unifies China and develops a highly structured, bureaucratic government, which lasts about 400 years. Advances in technology and culture are made, but laws favoring landowners create economic and political instability.
Overview
Assessment

14. Han Emperors in China Overview 3 • Han Dynasty
HOME 3
Han Emperors
in China
GRAPH
TERMS & NAMES
Overview
• Han Dynasty
• centralized government
• civil service
• monopoly
• assimilation
MAIN IDEA
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The Han Dynasty expanded China’s borders and developed a system of government that lasted for centuries.
The pattern of a strong central government has remained a permanent part of Chinese life.
Assessment

15. Centralized Government
HOME 3
Han Emperors
in China
GRAPH
Section 3
Assessment
1. Look at the graphic to help organize your thoughts. List the methods that Han rulers used to centralize the government.
Centralized Government
Required local officials to report to central government
Built up bureaucracy
Established monopolies
in many industries
Created civil service,
based on exams
continued . . .

16. HOME 3
Han Emperors
in China
GRAPH
Section 3
Assessment
2. What problem do you think was most responsible for weakening the Han Dynasty’s power? THINK ABOUT
• problems at court
• problems with non-Chinese peoples
• economic and social problems
ANSWER
Possible Responses:
• The method of choosing an heir, because it led to distracting plots and power plays.
• The nomads, because they forced China to levy taxes to maintain a large army.
• The distribution of wealth, because poor people kept losing land to the rich, which caused peasant uprisings.
End of Section 3