1. INDIAN EMPIRES

2. MAURYAN EMPIRE  Founded by Chandragupta Maurya – he ruled from 324 B.C. – 301 B.C.  Capital was in northeastern India (modern-day Patna)  Highly centralized gov’t

3. MAURYAN CONT.  Asoka – greatest rule of the empire, maybe all of India????  Adopted Buddhists ideas to improve the empire (hospitals, trees and shelters along roads…)

4. MAURYANS CONT.  Under Asoka, India also became a regional economic/trading power

5.  Nomadic warriors  Prospered from trade between Mediterranean and Pacific Rim countries  Silk Road  Shaped by surrounding societies

6. GUPTA EMPIRE  Founded by Chandra Gupta in 320  Same capital as the Mauryans  Became the dominant power in northern India, loose control of central India

7. GUPTA CONT.  Golden age of Indian culture  Hindu and Buddhist arts flourished

8. GUPTAS CONT.  Traded with China, SE Asia and the Mediterranean  Many pilgrims came to India to see Hindu and Buddhists temples and shrines