1. India and China Establish Empires 400 B.C.-AD.550

3. Chapter Opener Asoka: The Buddhist King of India
Buddhism turned Asoka, the bloodthirsty king of ancient India’s Mauryan Empire, into a peace-loving ruler.

4. Section 1: India’s First Empires

5. The Mauryan Empire is Established
Chandragupta Maurya Seizes Power
In 321 B.C. Chandragupta Maurya seizes power, starts Mauryan Empire
Chandragupta Maurya Unifies North India
Chandragupta defeats Seleucus I; north India is united for the first time
Chandragupta uses taxes to support his large army

6. The Mauryan Empire is Established
Running the Empire
Chandragupta’s chief adviser is Kautilya, a priest
Chandragupta creates a bureaucratic government
He divides the government to make it easier to rule

7. The Mauryan Empire is Established
Life in the City and the Country
A Greek ambassador writes glowing praise of the empire
Chandragupta’s son rules from 301 to 269 B.C., (32 years)
Aŝoka—Chandragupta’s grandson, brings the empire to its height
Mahabodhi Temple, site of first temple built by Asoka (3rd century B.C.) on spot of Buddha’s enlightenment. Bihar, India

8. The Mauryan Empire is Established
Asoka Promotes Buddhism
After a bloody war with Kalinga, Asoka promotes Buddhism and peace
Preaches religious toleration—accepting people of different religions
Builds roads, with wells along them

9. A Period of Turmoil The Breakup of the Mauryan Empire
Asoka dies in 232 B.C.; kingdoms in central India soon break away
The Andhra Dynasty dominates central India for centuries
Northern India receives immigrants from Greece and other parts of Asia
Tamils—a people living in southern India—remain separate and frequently war with rival peoples.

10. The Gupta Empire is Established
Chandra Gupta Builds an Empire
Chandra Gupta marries into kingship in north India in A.D. 320
Starts Gupta Empire—India’s second empire; flowering of Indian civilization, especially Hindu culture (see next slide)
His son Samudra Gupta expands empire with conquest

11. Radha and Krishna in the grove.
Painting (about 1780)

12. The Gupta Empire is Established
Daily Life in India
Majority of Indians are farmers; entire family raises crops together
Families are patriarchal—headed by the eldest male
Farmers have to contribute work to government and pay heavy taxes
Some Tamil families are matriarchal—led by mother rather than father

13. The Gupta Empire is Established
Height of the Gupta Empire
Chandra Gupta II rules from A.D
He defeats the Shakas and adds western coast to empire
Gupta Empire sees flourishing of arts, religion, and science
After Chandra Gupta II dies, the empire declines