1. THE MAURYAN AND GUPTA EMPIRES INDIA’S GOLDEN AGE

2.  You are a merchant in India in about 240 B.C.E. You travel from town to town on your donkey, carrying bolts of colorful cloth. In the heat of summer, you are grateful for the banyan trees along the road. They shelter you from the blazing sun. You stop at wells for cool drinks of water and rest houses for a break in your journey. You know these are all the work of your king, Asoka.  How do you feel about your king? IF YOU WERE THERE…

3.  For centuries after the Aryan invasion, India was divided into small states each with its own ruler and no central government.  300s B.C.E: Alexander the Great (foreign conqueror) took over part of northwestern India.  His armies left eventually but were influential in Indian society.  A strong leader soon united India for the first time. BACKGROUND

4. COMPARING EMPIRES

5.  Objective: Research the rise, the accomplishments, and the decline of the Mauryan or Gupta Empire (whichever you are assigned).  Read the information provided and answer the discussion questions in your group.  Use the discussion questions as a guide to create a an outline.  Use the outline to create a poster.  Your group will present your poster to the class and the will take notes from. YOUR TASK Things to Remember: Discussion Questions: Answer in COMPLETE SENTENCES!! Poster: Must have the title of your Empire Divided into 3 categories Rise Accomplishments Fall Short, concise notes (no need for long sentences) BE NEAT!

6.  Candragupta Maurya unites India in 321 B.C.E.  He uses a strong army and network of spies to help run the country  He decides to become a Jainist monk and leaves the empire to his son  Asoka, who is Candragupta Maurya’s grandson, takes over  Asoka conquers many lands and watches his armies fight bloody battles  He decides to turn to Buddhism THE RISE OF THE MAURYAN EMPIRE

7.  Asoka decides in his free time to help out his people  He builds:  Shade trees along the road for weary travelers  Wells for drinking water  Houses to rest  Hospitals for people and animals  Spreads Buddhism throughout India by sending teachers THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE MAURYAN EMPIRE

8.  Asoka dies (232 B.C.E) and the empire begins to fall apart  His sons fight for power to be in charge  The last emperor is killed by one of his generals  The Mauryan Empire collapses and India splits into many states once again THE FALL OF THE MAURYAN EMPIRE

9.  Candra Gupta II (no relation to Candragupta Maurya!) unites by invading and conquering neighboring lands in A.D. 320  Unlike Asoka who had been Buddhist, Gupta Emperors were Hindu and promoted Hinduism  Believed that enforcing the caste system was important in the empire because it would create a strong nation THE RISE OF THE GUPTA EMPIRE

10.  They build a university at Nelanda  Built many Hindu shrines and Buddhist temples  Art, architecture, and science  Wealthy from trade ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE GUPTA EMPRE

11.  The Huns invaded and the constant attacks broke down the empire THE FALL OF THE GUPTA EMPIRE