1. Empires in India & China
Chapter 7

2. Today’s Goal Compare the first two Indian empires and their rulers.
Essential Questions  What impacts did Chandragupta Maurya, Asoka, and Chandra Gupta have on India? What similar rise/fall did these two empires have?

3. Chandragupta Maurya Established Mauryan Empire by military success
Divided empire into provinces

4. Kautilya – Chandragupta’s Advisor
Arthasastra – describes how a ruler should govern, laws
Political assassination, spies

5. Asoka Converted to Buddhism  helped spread
Brought empire to greatest heights
Built roads, canals

6. Asoka’s Rock Edicts
Religious tolerance, nonviolence, welfare of his subjects

8. Principles of Asoka’s Edicts
Buddhist philosophy
Promote general welfare
Promote justice
Ensure security

9. Fall of Mauryans Poor/weak leaders after Asoka Internal conflicts
Regional kings challenged gov’t
Last leader, Brihadratha, killed by his own general, Pushyamitra Sunga
Internal conflicts
Priests unhappy w/changes in religion
Refugees from other lands
Invasions by outsiders & rival kingdoms
Weak military due to emphasis on peace
No unified defense

10. Tamil Land

11. Chandra Gupta I Gupta Empire = Golden Age Back to Hinduism
Flowering of Indian culture
Extensive trade (use of Silk Roads)

12. Fall of Gupta Empire
Hephthalites (the “White Huns”) = nomadic group  invaded Gupta
Fragmentation/dissolution of empire
Weak economy
Disputes within royal family
Provinces wanted independence
Small wars between local rulers