Chapter 9 State, Society, and the Quest for Salvation in India 1©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Mauryan and Gupta Empires 321 B.C.E.-550 C.E. 2 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

India Before the Mauryan Dynasty 520 B.C.E., Persian emperor Darius conquers northwest India Introduces Persian ruling pattern 327 B.C.E., Alexander of Macedon destroys Persian empire in India Troops mutiny, depart after two years  Political power vacuum 3 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Kingdom of Magadha Most significant remaining kingdom after Alexander’s departure Central Ganges plain Economic strength  Agriculture  Trade in Ganges valley, Bay of Bengal Dominated surrounding regions in northeastern India 4 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Chandragupta Maurya Took advantage of power vacuum left by Alexander Overthrew Magadha rulers Expanded kingdom to create first unified Indian empire  Mauryan dynasty 5 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Chandragupta’s Government Advisor Kautalya Recorded in Arthashastra, manual of political statecraft Foreign policies, economics Domestic policies  Network of spies Legend: Chandragupta retires to become a monk, starves himself to death 6 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Ashoka Maurya Grandson of Chandragupta Represents high point of Mauryan empire, r B.C.E. Expanded empire to include all of Indian subcontinent except for south Positive ruler-ship integrated Indian society Much better known as a ruler than conqueror 7 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Decline of the Mauryan Empire Economic crisis follows death of Ashoka High costs of bureaucracy, military not supported by tax revenue Frequent devaluations of currency to pay salaries Regions begin to abandon Mauryan empire  Disappears by 185 B.C.E. 8 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Regional Kingdom: Bactria Northwestern India Ruled by Greek-speaking descendants of Alexander’s campaigns Intense cultural activity accompanies active trade 9 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Regional Kingdom: Kush Northern India/central Asia Ca C.E. Maintained silk road trade network 10 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Gupta Dynasty Based in Magadha Founded by Chandra Gupta (no relation to Chandragupta Maurya), ca. 320 C.E. Slightly smaller than Mauryan empire Highly decentralized leadership Foundations for studies in natural sciences and mathematics 11 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Gupta Decline Frequent invasions of White Huns, fifth century C.E. Gupta dynasty disintegrates along regional fault lines Smaller local kingdoms dominate until Mughal empire founded in sixteenth century 12 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Economy: Towns and Manufacturing Manufactured goods in big demand Developed in dense network of small workshops Trade intense, capitalizes on trade routes across India 13 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Long-Distance Trade Persian connection since Cyrus, Darius Massive road-building projects under Persian rule Alexander extends trade west to Macedon Trade routes through Kush mountains, the silk roads 14 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin Seasonal sea trade expands  Spring/winter winds blow from southwest, fall/winter winds blow from northwest Trade from Asia to Persian Gulf and Red Sea, Mediterranean 15 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Society: Gender Relations Patriarchy entrenched Child marriage common (eight-year-old girls married to men in twenties) Women encouraged to remain in private sphere 16 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Social Order Caste system from Aryan times  Brahmins (priests)  Kshatriyas (warriors, aristocrats)  Vaishyas (peasants, merchants)  Shudras (serfs) 17 ©2011, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.