The Maurya Empire | 325-185 BCE Conquerors Turned Compassionate

Preview:

DESCRIPTION

The Maurya Empire | 325-185 BCE Conquerors Turned Compassionate. India’s Geography saved it from invasion…until Alexander the Great. India’s Geography saved it from invasion…until Alexander the Great. What geographical features do you think helped save India from invasion for so long?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Citation preview

The Maurya Empire | 325-185 BCEConquerors Turned Compassionate

The fall of Alexander’s empire left space for another powerful ruler to sweep in…

The Maurya Empire under Chandragupta

Chandragupta ruled the Maurya Empire from 320-298 BCE

The Maurya Empire under Chandragupta

Chandragupta ruled the Maurya Empire from 320-298 BCE

In that time he conquered most of present day Northern India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh

The Maurya Empire under Chandragupta

Chandragupta ruled the Maurya Empire from 320-298 BCE

In that time he conquered most of present day Northern India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh

The capital of the Maurya Empire was Pataliputra

The Maurya Empire under Chandragupta

Chandragupta ruled the Maurya Empire from 320-298 BCE

In that time he conquered most of present day Northern India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh

The capital of the Maurya Empire was Pataliputra

Chandragupta’s son, Bindusara ruled from 298-269 BCE – but no notable expansion occurred until the next ruler…

Ashoka the Great269-232 BCE

Why was Ashoka the Great so great?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETsvZgTFDvk

Why was Ashoka the Great so great?

He expanded the empire to cover almost all of present

day India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh!

Why was Ashoka the Great so great?

He expanded the empire to cover almost all of present

day India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh!

An empire of this extent was not seen again from approximately 1800

years!

Why was Ashoka the Great so great?

He expanded the empire to cover almost all of present

day India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh!

What geographical features would have made this difficult?

An empire of this extent was not seen again from approximately 1800

years!

Why was Ashoka the Great so great?

He expanded the empire to cover almost all of present

day India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh!

What geographical features would have made this difficult?

Great Indian Desert

Himalayan Mountains

Vindhya Mountains

Deccan Plateau

Why was Ashoka the Great so great?

Why was Ashoka the Great so great?

After seeing so much death and violence during his military campaigns to expand the empire, Ashoka converted to Buddhism and adopted the Buddhist belief that

killing is wrong.

Why was Ashoka the Great so great?

After seeing so much death and violence during his military campaigns to expand the empire, Ashoka converted to Buddhism and adopted the Buddhist belief that

killing is wrong.

From that point on, Ashoka’s goal was to make life better for the people of his empire…

Why was Ashoka the Great so great?

After seeing so much death and violence during his military campaigns to expand the empire, Ashoka converted to Buddhism and adopted the Buddhist belief that

killing is wrong.

From that point on, Ashoka’s goal was to make life better for the people of his empire…

How did he make life better in his empire? Read about Ashoka on page 346 of your

textbook and discuss with a partner…

Why was Ashoka the Great so great?

He required that his officials be kind to others

He improved villages by having wells dug and

trees planted

He offered free medical aid to his people

Why was Ashoka the Great so great?

He also expanded Buddhism throughout his empire and

beyond it

He devoted himself and his government to the principle of dharma (duty) to prevent the killing/eating of animals, to

practise religious tolerance, and to be kind to his people.

Remember this?

A familiar symbol was found on many of Ashoka’s pillars…where have you seen this before?

Remember this?

A familiar symbol was found on many of Ashoka’s pillars…where have you seen this before?

Decline of the Maurya Empire

The empire did not last long after Ashoka’s death. No one could hold the empire together quite like he could.

Decline of the Maurya Empire

The empire did not last long after Ashoka’s death. No one could hold the empire together quite like he could.

6 different rulers tried to run the Maurya empire over the next 50 years, but eventually the empire lost its power in 185 BCE.

Decline of the Maurya Empire

The empire did not last long after Ashoka’s death. No one could hold the empire together quite like he could.

6 different rulers tried to run the Maurya empire over the next 50 years, but eventually the empire lost its power in 185 BCE.

Centuries of war followed, until another leader named Chandragupta conquered Northern India 500 years after the fall of the Maurya empire.

Decline of the Maurya Empire

The empire did not last long after Ashoka’s death. No one could hold the empire together quite like he could.

6 different rulers tried to run the Maurya empire over the next 50 years, but eventually the empire lost its power in 185 BCE.

Centuries of war followed, until another leader named Chandragupta conquered Northern India 500 years after the fall of the Maurya empire.

The End