India’s first empires: The Maurya and the Gupta Dr. Afxendiou Global History and Geography 9 Sachem North High School

Political Structure India was divided into regional city states Invasion ( by Alexander) helped lead to some unity Two major empires emerged in Classical India Maurya and Gupta

The Mauryan Empire 321 B.C. – 232 B.C. Founder: Chandragupta Maurya Defeats Alexander the Great (Greece) United India under one ruler Maintained HUGE army: over 600,000 Set up bureaucracy that included a postal service (bureaucracy-government officials have different jobs in the government to provide services and get things done). Asoka – 301B.C. – Chandragupta’s grandson Greatest ruler of Mauryan Extended Mauryan conquest – bloody campaigns Following a bitter battle with heavy casualties, he coverts to Buddhism. Religious Toleration – still honors Hinduism Sends missionaries out to spread Buddhism Built extensive road network Planted trees Every 9 miles dug a well and built rest houses Changed his rule to be more humanistic The Mauryan Empire 321 B.C. – 232 B.C.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GHe9m R4Zoc

The Gupta Empire 320 – 500 CE Founder: Chandragupta Maurya I (no relation) Dominant religion was Hinduism peace and prosperity enabled the pursuit of scientific and artistic endeavors. The Golden Age of India

The Gupta Empire: India’s Golden Age Math concept of zero decimal system based on the number 10 Arabic Numerals (0-9)  Medicine –   plastic surgery vaccine against smallpox Architecture Stone temples to gods Stupas (shrines) Arts & Literature Gupta literature consists of fables and folktales written in Sanskrit.  stories spread west to Persia, Egypt, and Greece became the basis for many Islamic literary works such as, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves and Aladdin and his Magic Lamp. http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/whites/nepal/stupa.jpg