India Unifies

World History - Libertyville HS

Mauryan Empire (320-230 BC)• Native rulers of northern

India were disorganized, petty and competing for dominance

• In reaction to invasion by Alexander the Great, local leaders banned together to resist Greeks

• Began consolidation into a centralized state

Mauryan Empire• Over next 90 years,

the Mauryan family emerged as dominant– Based in Ganges river

valley– Conquered most of

subcontinent – Recovered territory

from Seleucids in the West

Mauryan Kings• Chandragupta (322-298

BC)– Threw out Seleucids– Recognized as Indian ruler

by Egypt, Syria• Ashoka the Great (278-

232 BC)– Grandson of Chandragupta– Completed conquest of

subcontinent, NW into Asia

Mauryan Kings• Ashoka

– Converted to Buddhism after a particularly brutal war

– Conversion encouraged spread of Buddhism• Cultural diffusion (trade)• Syria, Macedonia• Didn’t “stick” in India

– Ashoka ordered thousands of inscripted pillars throughout India• Sayings, stories of Buddha

written on them

Mauryan Culture• Religious tolerance• Respect for human

dignity• Government

– Autocracy at national level– Democracy at village

(local) level• Caste divisions were

well established– Idea was to promote unity

within kingdom

Mauryan Culture• Complex central

government– Collected taxes– Encouraged trade– Maintained

communications through road building program

– Spy system throughout empire

• Planted banyan trees to give shade to travelers

Post Mauryan India (184 BC to 320 AD)

• Last emperor assassinated; empire fragmented

• Two religions worshipped: Hinduism & Buddhism

• Hinduism in form that would be recognized as modern Hinduism

Gupta Dynasty (320-430s AD)• Ruled along Ganges

River Valley• Ushered in golden age

of Hindu culture– Art, science, architecture

flourished– Buddhism spread into

China due to Chinese pilgrims visiting India

Gupta Empire• Guptas directly ruled

densely populated Ganges River Valley

• Indirectly ruled rest of subcontinent– Traded with Persians,

Byzantines– Influence extended

into SE Asia (Cambodia, Burma)

Decline of Gupta Empire• Series of weak rulers• Invaded by Huns

– Conquered much of India

– Eventually absorbed into dominant Indian culture

• Gupta empire ended in 550 AD w/ death of last king