1. Development of the Mauryan Empire
Prior to Alexander, Republics along the Ganges River dominated, vied for power
Magadha Republic was one of the most dominant until…

2. Development of the Mauryan Empire
Intrusions of Persians (520 B.C.E.) and Alexander (327 B.C.E.)
Persians established Indus satrapy
Alexander’s withdrawal left a political vacuum
Maurya Empire filled that vacuum

3. Development of the Mauryan Empire
Chandragupta Maurya
The founder of the Mauryan empire
Overthrew the Magadha kingdom in 321 B.C.E.
Conquered the Greek state in Bactria, Selecuid control of Indus
Chandragupta's empire embraced all of northern India

4. Impact of the Caste System
The caste system in India dictates your roll in life – you were born to it, couldn’t do anything to move up or down.
Brahmans belong to the highest caste. These are the priests and scholars.

5. Impact of the Caste System
The Kshatriyas are soldiers and warriors.
The Vaishyas are merchants and professionals such as carpenters and artisans.

6. Impact of the Caste System
The Sudra are the second lowest caste – they are the laborers and the servants.
The lowest caste is the Untouchables. These are extremely poor people who work the filthy jobs – cleaning up the streets, carting away the dead. This would be outlawed later.

7. Ashoka Maurya Ashoka Maurya (reigned 268-232 B.C.E.)
Chandragupta's grandson,
The high point of the Mauryan empire
Conquered the kingdom of Kalinga, 260 B.C.E.
Ruled through tightly organized bureaucracy

8. Ashoka Maurya Ashoka Maurya Also established capital at Pataliputra
Policies of encouraging agriculture and trade
Converted to Buddhism
Established a tolerant rule of righteousness
Sent out missionaries to Sri Lanka, SE Asia, Central Asia

9. Ashoka Maurya Decline of the Mauryan Empire Ashoka died in 232 B.C.E.
Suffered from acute financial and economic difficulties
High cost for maintaining army and bureaucrats
Debasing the currency, not an effective resolution
The empire collapsed by 185 B.C.E.

10. Gupta Dynasty The Gupta Dynasty
After Mauryans, India was controlled by regional kingdoms
The Gupta state rose to power in place of the Mauryans in 320 CE (AD) to 550

11. Gupta Dynasty Chandra Gupta founded the new dynasty
Gupta dynasty was relatively decentralized
Officially supported revival of Hinduism as state faith
Era seen as the Golden Age of Hinduism

12. Gupta Dynasty Gupta decline Invasion of White Huns weakened the empire
After 5th century C.E., Gupta dynasty ruled in name only
Large regional kingdoms dominated political life in India

13. Buddhism
Buddhism and Hinduism were the two major religions during this time
Reminders of Buddhism:
The word comes from 'budhi', 'to awaken'. It has its origins about 2,500 years ago when Siddhartha Gotama, known as the Buddha, was himself awakened (enlightened) at the age of 35.

14. Buddhism Buddhism continued:
Buddhism goes beyond religion and is more of a philosophy or 'way of life'. It is a philosophy because philosophy 'means love of wisdom' and the Buddhist path can be summed up as:
(1) to lead a moral life
(2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions
(3) to develop wisdom understanding.

15. Hinduism Hinduism: The caste system comes from Hinduism
Multiple gods, the top three called the Hindu Trinity
Shiva
Krishna
Vishnu

16. Gupta Declines Guptan Dynasty Decline Lacked strong central government
Provinces only owed tribute, tax, respect to central ruler
Provincial rulers viewed emperor as related to gods

17. Gupta Empire Declines Gupta Empire Decline continued
Relied on provincial rule, type of feudalism
But local areas largely self- governing
Regional leaders often stronger than emperor

18. Gupta Empire Declines Indian Empires Collapse
Civil war between regional leaders
Invasions by Central Asian nomads including White Huns
Beaten off by Guptas but seriously weakened empire
Continued raids by Huns, Central Asians kept empire in turmoil
Large scale migrations from Northern India to Southern parts
Dynasty ceased to exist; attempted revival failed
Regional states broke off, constant warfare follows

19. Major Developments Major Developments
Spread of bureaucracy - to successfully implement the actions of an organization of any size
Roads were created to connect major cities
Spread of Buddhism under the Mauryan

20. Major Developments Major Developments:
Gupta empire had India’s Golden Age
Spread of literature, astronomy, medicine, and mathematics
Also had gold coins for money

21. Major Developments Major Developments:
Believed the Earth was round in astronomy
Math – modern numbers, zero, decimals, value of pi
Medical improvements included surgery and the first plastic surgery