First Empires of India

Chandragupta Maurya Gathered army and killed Nanda (king) of Magadha kingdom -> claimed throne Moved N.W. claiming all land from Magadha to India Maurya Empire stretches 2,000 + miles Unites north India politically for 1st time Relied on advisor Kautily (priestly caste member) Ruler’s handbook called Arthasastra Created highly bureaucratic government Chose officials that were closely supervised Divided empire into 4 provinces lead by prince Divided provinces into districts in which officials taxed and enforced laws

Asoka Takes throne in 269 B.C. – brings kingdom to greatest heights First followed Kautilya’s philosophy of waging war to expand power Led successful campaign against neighboring Kalinga Felt sorrow -> began studying Budhism Peace and prosperity Religious toleration -> acceptance of different beliefs Built roads and improved their conditions Soon after death empire began to break apart

Turmoil In northern and central India regional kings challenged the imperial government Central India regains independence Andhra Dynasty arose and dominated Profited from trade between north and south India as well as Rome, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia Northern India had to absorb flood of new people fleeing political instability in other regions of Asia Disrupted Indian society but also introduced new languages and customs Southern India rulers began breaking away from the empire after Asoka’s death Southern tip had 3 kingdoms not conquered by Mauryans Spoke Tamil or language spoke by Tamil people

Gupta Empire (2nd Empire) After 500 yrs -> strong ruler arose in the Northern state of Magadha Chandra Gupta Saw great influence of Hindu culture Came to power through marriage Gupta’s son, Samudra, takes power and expands through war

Daily Life 1st period in which historians have information about Indian daily life Lived in small villages Craftspeople and merchants located in certain districts Majority of villagers = farmers Most families = patriarchal Headed by eldest male Irrigation caused by drought (tax on water) Southern India (Tamil) were matriarchal (mother)

Height of Empire Chandra Gupta II (3rd Emperor) Defeated the Shakas and added their west coast territory (Trade between Mediterranean and India) Negotiated peaceful diplomatic marriage alliances Ruled for 40 yrs During reign of 1st 3 emperors India experienced: Achievement in art, literature, religious thought, science, and mathematics After death of Gupta II -> India invaded by Hunas who were cousins to Huns

Han Technology, Commerce, and Culture

Technology Invention of paper A.D. 150 Harnesses = heavier loads Books become more readily available Used for record keeping = expansion of Bureuacracy Harnesses = heavier loads Plow, improved iron tools, wheelbarrow Watermills used to grind grain

Agriculture vs. Commerce 60 million people = thought that agriculture was most important and honored occupation Same Confucius scholars said commerce was least important Monopolies established on the mining of salt, forging of iron, minting of coins, brewing of alcohol Ran huge silk mills (very valuable item) Commerce expands through Silk Road

Unifying Chinese Culture Chinese begin to learn about foods, animals, etc. that were common in other lands Chinese government encourages assimilation or process of making conquered people a part of Chinese culture Farmers sent to settle new areas Intermarry with foreign people Set up schools to teach Confucianism Writers recorded Chinese history Sima Qian – “Grand Historian”; recorded history from ancient dynasties to ruling of Wudi

Wives, Nuns, Scholars Ban Zhao -> wrote guide “Lessons for Women” Most women lived quiet lives at home Confucianism -> women devoted themselves to families Obey parents in childhood, husband/husband’s parents after marriage Few upper class women exceeded these expectations Some became Empresses Daoist and Buddhist nuns able to get education and live away from family Some women from aristocratic, land-owning families able to get education

Rebellion and Restoration

Rich Take Advantage of the Poor A family’s land was divided equally among all of the father’s male heirs Each generation inherited smaller plots Hard time growing enough food Borrowed money (with high interest rates) from wealthy land-owners Couldn’t pay it back = loss of land Wealthy land-owners not required to pay taxes on their land More land they got = less land government could tax Government taxed poor even more

Wang Mang Overthrows the Han Political instability begins to grow Plots to succeed ruler began to happen Inexperienced rulers continue to gain power Caused peasant revolts and civil unrest

Wang Mang (Confucian scholar) Took power and ended first half of Han Dynasty Tried to bring country under control by: Minting new money to relieve shortage Set up public granaries to help feed poor Took large landholdings to redistribute to poor Problems Upset wealthy land owners People able to spend more = merchants raising prices through the roof

Problems Continue A.D. 11 -> Great flood killed thousand and left millions homeless Granaries did not hold enough food Wealthy began to rebel Assassinated Wang Mang in A.D. 23 Member of old imperial family got power and started the 2nd Han Dynasty (Later Han)

Later Han Years Peace is restored to China Government sent soldiers and merchants westward to regain trading posts along Silk Road Did not make up for social, political, and economic weakness within the empire By 220 the Later Han dissolves into 3 rival kingdoms Suffered from same economic, political, and social problems as Form Han dynasty