1. India’s Empires
Mauryan
Asoka
Gupta

2. Dynasty
Series of rulers from the same family

3. Mauryan Dynasty Founded by Chandragupta Maurya Indian prince
Conquered Ganges River Valley after Alexander invasion (took advantage of opportunity)
321BC to 183 BC
Centralized government/Ruled from Capital City
Capital city Pataliputra

4. Strengths
Strong Army
Good spy system
Communication

5. Asoka Maurya - Founded Asoka – (Maurya grandson) Greatest King
Didn’t like bloodshed
Vowed to peace & teachings of the Buddha
Buddha’s teaching on stone pillars
Built stupas (shrines with dome or mound)
Allowed Hindu to practice their religion

7. Contributions Postal System – increase communication
Hospitals for people and animals
New roads (trade)
With shelter and shade trees
Stupas
Huge trade center

8. Fall of the Mauryan Empire
Serious of weak kings
Bad decisions
Heavy taxes
Seized crops
Last king killed by his own general 183 BC

9. Gupta Empire 500 years no strong ruler
320 AD Prince in Ganges River valley grew powerful
Chandragupta (same name, different guy)
Rule from old capital Pataliputra
Found Gupta dynasty
Family was Hindu

10. Samudragupta Son of Chandragupta Took over when his dad died
Expanded Gupta empire into N. India
Dominated almost all of northern India
Guptas ruled for 200 years
Advantage over Mauryan
Smaller so easier to manage

11. Contributions Grew wealthy from trade (salt, cloth and iron, etc)
Trade created jobs made prosperous
Hinduism official religion
Built shrines
Art and Science began to develop
India’s “Golden Age”

12. Gupta Empire Contributions
# 1 - Page 170 Universities
#2 – Page 171 Literature
#3 – Page 172 Painting
#4 – Page 173 Sculpture
#5 – Page 174 Metalwork
#6 – Page 175 Mathematics
#7 – Page 176 Roads

13. Math and Science Aryabhata – first to use algebra
Idea of zero and symbol to represent
Explained concept of infinity
Symbols for 1 – 9 (based on by trade)
Earth round, revolved around sun, gravity
Algorithm
Mapped stars and planets

14. Technology & Medicine Advances in metal work – steel
Gold coins and metal mirrors
Set bones
Perform operations
Invented medical tools
Plastic surgery