Maurya and Gupta Empire

2. The Maurya EmpireThe Maurya Empire
321 BCE – 185 BCE321 BCE – 185 BCE

4.  Unified northern India. Indus to GangesUnified northern India. Indus to Ganges
 First unified centralized First unified centralized
government in Indiagovernment in India
 Defeated the Macedon/PersianDefeated the Macedon/Persian
general general Seleucus.Seleucus.
 Divided his empire intoDivided his empire into
provinces, then districts provinces, then districts
for for taxtax assessments and law assessments and law
enforcement. enforcement.
 He feared assassinationHe feared assassination Used spies, food tasters, Used spies, food tasters,
slept in different rooms, etc.slept in different rooms, etc.
 301 BCE 301 BCE  gave up his throne & became gave up his throne & became
a Jainist Monk. Some say he starved a Jainist Monk. Some say he starved
himself to death.himself to death.
ChandraguptaChandragupta: : 321 BCE-298 321 BCE-298
BCEBCE

5. KautilyaKautilya
 Chandragupta’s advisor.Chandragupta’s advisor.
 Set up a Set up a bureaucraticbureaucratic
administrative system that administrative system that
made policies for empire.made policies for empire.
 Wrote Wrote The Treatise onThe Treatise on
Material Gain Material Gain or the or the
ArthashastraArthashastra..
 A guide for the king and his ministers:A guide for the king and his ministers:
 Supports royal power. Supports royal power. 600,000 infantry, 600,000 infantry,
30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 war elephants.30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 war elephants.

The great evil in society is The great evil in society is anarchy.anarchy.
 Therefore, a single authority is Therefore, a single authority is
needed to employ force when necessary! needed to employ force when necessary!

6. Kautilya advising ChandraguptaKautilya advising Chandragupta

7. Ashoka the GreatAshoka the Great

8. Ashoka the GreatAshoka the Great

9. Ashoka’s GovernmentAshoka’s Government
Utilized
tightly
organized
bureaucracy
Rock and Pillar
Edicts – imperial
laws based on
Buddhist values
Set up a central treasury
to oversee collection of
taxes – used to support
officials soldiers, others
Established
capital city at
Pataliputra
Stable government
led to growing
economy and
expansion of
agriculture Built system of
roads that
connected
major cities

10. Ashoka the GreatAshoka the Great

11. Ashoka (304 – 232 Ashoka (304 – 232
BCE)BCE)
 Religious conversion Religious conversion
after the gruesome after the gruesome
battle of battle of Kalinga Kalinga in in
262 BCE. 100,000 died 262 BCE. 100,000 died
 Dedicated his life to Dedicated his life to
BuddhismBuddhism. Ahimsa “Peace”. Ahimsa “Peace”
 ConflictConflict  how to balance Kautilya’s how to balance Kautilya’s
methods of keeping power methods of keeping power
and Buddha’s demands to and Buddha’s demands to
become a selfless person? become a selfless person?

13. Ashoka’s Ashoka’s
EmpireEmpire

14. Ashoka’s law codeAshoka’s law code
 Edicts scattered inEdicts scattered in
more than 30 places more than 30 places
in India, Nepal, in India, Nepal,
Pakistan, & Afghanistan. Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
 Written mostly inWritten mostly in
SanskritSanskrit, but one was in , but one was in
Greek and Aramaic. Greek and Aramaic.
 10 rock edicts, Each pillar 10 rock edicts, Each pillar [[stupastupa]] is is
40’-50’ high.40’-50’ high.
 Buddhist principles dominated laws. Buddhist principles dominated laws.
((Conversion/spread of Buddhism,Moral codes,Conservation, Conversion/spread of Buddhism,Moral codes,Conservation,
Protection of animalsProtection of animals))

15. Ashoka’s Ashoka’s EdictsEdicts

16. WomenWomen
Under anUnder an
AshokaAshoka
treetree

17. Turmoil & a power Turmoil & a power
Vacuum:Vacuum:
220 BCE – 320 CE220 BCE – 320 CE
TamilsTamils
The Maurya Empire is divided into many kingdoms.The Maurya Empire is divided into many kingdoms.

18. Gupta Empire:Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 647 320 CE – 647
CECE

19. Gupta RulersGupta Rulers
 Chandra GuptaChandra Gupta II
 r. 320 – 335 CEr. 320 – 335 CE
 “ “Great King of Kings”Great King of Kings”
HinduHindu revival. revival.
 Chandra Gupta IIChandra Gupta II
 r. 375 - 415 CEr. 375 - 415 CE
 Profitable trade withProfitable trade with
the Mediterranean the Mediterranean
world. world.
HunsHuns invade–450 CE invade–450 CE

20. Fa-Hsien (Faxian): Life in Gupta IndiaFa-Hsien (Faxian): Life in Gupta India
 Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along the
Silk RoadSilk Road and visited India in the 5c. and visited India in the 5c.
 He was following the pathHe was following the path
of the Buddha. of the Buddha.
 He reported the people to He reported the people to
be happy, relatively free of be happy, relatively free of
government oppression, and government oppression, and
inclined towards courtesy and inclined towards courtesy and
charity. Other references in charity. Other references in
the journal, however, indicate the journal, however, indicate
that the that the caste systemcaste system was was
rapidly assuming its basic features, including rapidly assuming its basic features, including
"untouchability,""untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest the social isolation of a lowest
class that is doomed to menial labor. class that is doomed to menial labor.

21. Chandra Gupta IIChandra Gupta II

22. International Trade Routes International Trade Routes
during the Guptasduring the Guptas

23. Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:
Land Route = Silk RoadLand Route = Silk Road
Water Route = Water Route = Indian OceanIndian Ocean
spices
spices
spicesspices
gold & ivorygold & ivory
gold & ivorygold & ivory
rice & wheatrice & wheat
horseshorses
cotton goodscotton goods
cotton goodscotton goods
silkssilks
PearlsPearls

24. KalidasaKalidasa
 The greatest of Indian poets.The greatest of Indian poets.
 His most famous play was His most famous play was ShakuntalaShakuntala..
 During the reign of Chandra Gupta II. During the reign of Chandra Gupta II.

25. GuptaGupta
ArtArt
Greatly influenced Greatly influenced
Southeast Asian art & architecture.Southeast Asian art & architecture.

26. MedicineMedicine LiteratureLiterature
MathematicsMathematics
AstronomyAstronomy
PrintedPrinted
medicinal guidesmedicinal guides
1000 1000 diseasesdiseases
classifiedclassified
PlasticPlastic
SurgerySurgery
C-sectionsC-sections
performedperformed
InoculationsInoculations
500 healing500 healing
plants identifiedplants identified
DecimalDecimal
SystemSystem
ConceptConcept
of of ZeroZero
PI = 3.1416PI = 3.1416
KalidasaKalidasa
SolarSolar
CalendarCalendar
The earthThe earth
is roundis round
GuptaGupta
IndiaIndia
Gupta Gupta
AchievementsAchievements
MahabbarataMahabbarata
Ramayana

27. The Decline of the The Decline of the
GuptasGuptas Invasion of the White Huns in the 4Invasion of the White Huns in the 4
thth
century century
signaled the end of the Gupta signaled the end of the Gupta Golden AgeGolden Age, even , even
though at first, the Guptas defeated them.though at first, the Guptas defeated them.
 After the decline of the Gupta empire, northAfter the decline of the Gupta empire, north
India broke into a number of separate Hindu India broke into a number of separate Hindu
kingdomskingdoms and was not really unified again until and was not really unified again until
the coming of the Muslims in the 17 the coming of the Muslims in the 17
thth
century. century.
QUESTIONQUESTION::
Is the best literature and art written as Is the best literature and art written as
the civilization is on the rise, at its the civilization is on the rise, at its
height, or in its decline? height, or in its decline?

28. BhartrhariBhartrhari
 5c India court poet and philosopher.5c India court poet and philosopher.
Knowledge is man's crowning mark,Knowledge is man's crowning mark,
A treasure secretly buried,A treasure secretly buried,
The source of luxury, fame, and bliss,The source of luxury, fame, and bliss,
A guru most venerable,A guru most venerable,
A friend on foreign journeys,A friend on foreign journeys,
The pinnacle of divinity.The pinnacle of divinity.
Knowledge is valued by kings Knowledge is valued by kings
beyond wealth--- beyond wealth---
When he lacks it, a man is a brute.When he lacks it, a man is a brute.

29. Gupta ReviewGupta Review
Draw another frame to the cartoon that
reflects why the Gupta is a Classic
Empire.