FROM THE MAURYANS TO THE GUPTAS CLASSICAL INDIA FROM THE MAURYANS TO THE GUPTAS

RISE OF MAURYAN EMPIRE Ganges Republics Western Intrusions Prior to Alexander, kshatriyan republics dominated, vied for power Maghda was one of the most dominant Western Intrusions Intrusions of Persians (520 B.C.E.) and Alexander (327 B.C.E.) Persians established Indus satrapy Alexander’s withdrawal left a political vacuum Magadha kingdom filled the vacuum 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 Chandragupta's government Government procedures devised by Kautalya, the advisor of the empire The political handbook, Arthashastra, outlined administrative methods

ASHOKA 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 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 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 a effective resolution The empire collapsed by 185 B.C.E.

THE GUPTAS The Gupta Dynasty Gupta decline After Mauryans, India was controlled by regional kingdoms The Gupta state rose to power in Magadha 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 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

POPULAR HINDUISM The epics The Bhagavad Gita Hindu ethics Mahabharata A secular poem revised by brahmin scholars Honored the god Vishnu, the preserver of the world Ramayana Secular story of Rama and Sita was changed into a Hindu story The Bhagavad Gita A short poetic work within the Mahabharata A dialogue between the god Vishnu and Prince Arjuna Illustrated expectations of Hinduism and promise of salvation Hindu ethics Lower demands for achieving salvation Individuals should meet their responsibilities in detached fashion Balance of dharma, artha, karma to attain moksha, end samsara Popularity of Hinduism Became more popular than Buddhism; Buddhism too aesthetic The Guptas helped Hinduism become the dominant religion