India Unites: The Mauryan and Gupta Dynasties...Politics • Founded by Chandragupta Maurya ( 324 to...
Transcript of India Unites: The Mauryan and Gupta Dynasties...Politics • Founded by Chandragupta Maurya ( 324 to...
India Unites: The Mauryan and Gupta Dynasties
Aryan Age ends with Invasion of Darius and Alexander
India begins to Unite c. 400-300BCE
• Persia first united NW India under Cyrus and Darius
c. 330 Alexander the Great conquered Persia Greek empire failed when Alexander died Now a native Indian Empire would begin.
The Mauryan Empire 321-180 BCE
Politics
• Founded by Chandragupta Maurya ( 324 to 301 B.C.)
• Increased centralized govt control over regional kingdoms
• large army of 700,000 • secret police to watch for treason • 301 BCE gave up his throne to & became a
Jain monk (extreme Buddhism)
Ashoka Maurya
Ashoka 268-232 BC • Most important ruler in ancient India • Brutal military commander who extended the Empire
throughout S. and E. India • Battle of Kalinga - 260 BC
o 100,000 Kalingans died o 150,000 Kalingans driven from their home o More died from disease & starvation in the aftermath of the
destruction brought on by the war
• “What have I done?” • Ashoka and many Indian leaders converted to
Buddhism after this battle and became pacifists
• He spent the rest of his life encouraging non-violence, moderation and Buddhist principles to India
Asoka’s Buddhist Rock and Pillar
Edicts • spread Buddhist principles
• scattered in more than 30 places in India, Nepal,Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
• Each pillar is 40’-50’ high. • helped bring order and unity
to India
Trade/Economy Agricultural economy
• New canals and irrigation systems for trade and agriculture.
• renovated major roads throughout India. • built towns for spinning & weaving textiles
• uniform system of currency, weights and
measures
• Created provinces ruled by governors for tax
assessments and law enforcement • Taxes rose over time to build Ashoka’s
projects which led to Empire’s fall at Ashoka’s death
• Increased trade by uniting India
• India traded silk, cotton, and spices to
Mesopotamia, China, Egypt and Rome
Silver punch mark coin
Indian Agriculture • State farms operated and
cultivated by slaves.
o Grew Rice, Pepper, Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Sugar Cane, Medicinal Roots
Religion
• Buddhism grows • built thousands of Stupas for Buddhist followers. • built Buddhist schools and universities • the unnecessary eating of animals was abolished. • Wildlife became protected including the first national parks
in the world • promoted vegetarianism and built animal hospitals. • Ashoka’s empire died out slowly after he died
The Sanchi Stupa (Buddhist temple) by Ashoka
Similarities between Buddhist Stupas and Pagodas
• Buddhist architecture spread from India when Buddhism spread over the next 1000 years
The Mauryan Empire at its Height
Social
• The Caste System limited social opportunities & determined who people could marry
• Families are patriarchal—headed by the eldest male
• Laws limited women’s life and abilities
• Sati was sometimes practiced
“Even a man in the grip of rage will not be harsh to a woman, remembering that on her depends the joy of love, happiness and virtue” Mahabharata epic
Indian Population
• 50 million people during Mauryan Empire
The Arts transition from wood to stone in their architecture and art Indian Stupa
Ashoka's Pillars
After the Mauryans: Regional Rule and the Rise of Jainism
and Buddhism
Regional Kingdoms and local rule - 185 BCE to CE 300
• Northern India o Invading HUNS built new small regional kingdoms
• Hindu Kush civilizations o Most powerful regional kingdoms for trade across the region and along the
Silk Road
• Jainism grew in influence during this time of confusion since the leaders pushing Hinduism and Buddhism were weakened
Jainism – like Hindu and Buddhism
• Believe in karma, dharma and Moksha • expected to follow five principles of living: • Ahimsa: "non violence in all parts of a person -- mental, verbal and physical." • Satya: speaking truth; avoiding falsehood • Asteya: to not steal from others • Brahma-charya: (soul conduct); remaining sexually monogamous to one's
spouse only • Aparigraha: detach from people, places and material things. Avoiding the
collection of excessive material possessions, abstaining from over-indulgence, restricting one's needs,
Gupta Dynasty Re-Unites India (Classical India)
375-550 CE • OVERVIEW: • Chandra Gupta
founded it • Peaceful • great traders
• strong art, science and mathematics
• Hinduism dominated
• The Gupta had strong central govt which allowed a degree of local control
Politics
• Chandra Gupta (320-335 AD) o Alliances & Conquest o Consolidated Power & Territory
o Drove out the Kushans
• Samudra Gupta (335-375 AD) • Chandra Gupta II (375-415 AD)
o Decentralization
o Peace & Prosperity (Faxian)
Chandra Gupta I (reigned AD 320-c. 330), • Pataliputra : Mauryan capital: magnificent palaces,
temples, parks
• Path to Power o Increased the power and territory of his regional kingdom
by marrying Princess Kumaradevi whose family controlled northern India/Nepal.
• Other N. Indian territories joined this alliance for protection and trade as his power grew
Kumardevi and Chandragupta I 335-370 ce
Gold Dinar
Samudra Gupta (son of Chandra)
• launched wars of conquest across N. India
• Built a larger Gupta empire
• Wealth came from many mines owned by govt
Gupta Economy
• owned gold mines, silver mines, and vast lands. • rent money from farmers funded government (govt
owned the land) • Silk Road served Gupta, Han, Rome and Persian
Dynasties
• Indian merchants shipped ivory, jewels, and textiles, salt and iron
• The Romans traded glass, jewels, and clothes. • Chinese merchants traded silk, spices, tea, and
porcelain. • The Gupta Empire profited greatly from religious
trade and religious pilgrims.
Gupta social life • VERY wealthy civilization
• enjoyed gardens, music, and daily bathing
• ate lots of variety; rice, bread, fish, milk, fruits and juices.
• slave labor • Hinduism became more
organized & temples became more important.
• Women lost rights compared to under Buddhism
• Child marriage became common for girls
• HINDUSIM returns as dominant religion
Gupta Math/Science
• Invented numbers 1-9, decimal system, pi • Zero invented by Aryabata • Charted planets and star movements
• recognized the Earth is round and rotates on its axis and revolves around sun.
• Indian physicians excelled in medicines, caesarean section, bone setting, and skin grafting, smallpox vaccination
Gupta Buddhist Art
• AJANTA CAVES • depict the stories of
Buddhism spanning from the period from 200 bce to 650 ce.
.
AJANTA CAVES
• During the 4th century c.e.
• Buddhist monasteries and prayer halls.
• twenty-nine caves • adorned with elaborate
painting and sculptures
Ajanta Caves • The Ajanta caves
depict the stories of Buddhism spanning from the period from 200 bce to 650 ce.
• The 29 caves were built by Buddhist monks using simple tools like hammer & chisel.
• The elaborate and exquisite sculptures and paintings depict stories from Jataka tales.
• The caves also house images of nymphs and princesses.
the Sarnath Buddha
Gupta Decline
Later Gupta rulers lived extravagantly, which weakened the people’s loyalty. • Guptas weakened by the expense of the
War with White Huns and competing India kingdoms
White Huns c. 500ce invade through Kyber Pass and Ganges Valley
• destroyed cities and reduced Hindu temples to rubble.
• Feudal provinces declare independence when Gupta are destroyed
• India seperates into independent kingdoms.
• not unified again until the Muslims in the 11th century