1. Maurya
&
Gupta
India
Kerry Giordano Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School
Adapted from Ms. Susan M. Pojer Chappaqua, NY

2. Chandragupta: 321 BCE-298 BCE
Unified northern India – 1 mil
square miles
Defeated the Persian general Seleucus -uses 700,000
soldiers/9000 elephants
Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law enforcement.
He feared assassination [like Saddam Hussein]  food tasters, slept in different rooms, etc.
301 BCE  gave up his throne & became a Jain – an ascetic

3. Chandragupta: 321 BCE-298 BCE
Accomplishments:
* wrote laws
* protected water supply
* roads – 1000 miles long

4. The Maurya Empire
321 BCE – 185 BCE

5. Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)
Religious conversion after the gruesome battle of Kalinga in BCE - buddhist
Dedicated his life to Buddhism.
Built extensive roads.
Sends Mahinda (son) to spread Buddhism – Ceylon (Sri Lanka)
Allows slavery/execution –
conflict with religion!

6. Asoka (304 – 232 BCE) Asoka edicts
Buddhist Values – love, lack of wordly possesions
General Welfare – shelter, health, clean water, food
Justice – fair laws
Security – peace and conquest of enemies

7. Asoka’s law code
Edicts scattered in more than 30 places in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
Written mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic.
10 rock edicts.
Each pillar [stupa] is 40’-50’ high.
Buddhist principles dominate his laws.

8. Asoka’s Empire

9. One of Asoka’sStupas

10. Women Under an Asoka tree

11. Turmoil & a power Vacuum: 220 BCE – 320 CE
Tamils
The Maurya Empire is divided into many kingdoms.