Mauryan & Gupta Empires

Kieran Short

Mauryan Beginnings• Chandragupta Maurya (top 3 classes) gained control of the

Magadha (influential area) and eventually expanded into India’s 1st empire

• After fall of Greek Empire (death of Alexander the Great) – Maurya was able to extend control over most of the subcontinent

Mauryan Empire• Arthashastra – guide to political

success, written by Brahmin guide of Chandragupta – advocates mandala or foreign policy theory

• One fourth of value of harvest given to king/government – king used family & friends to manage administration districts

• Capital is Pataliputra (modern Patna) governed by 6 committees, international connections

Ashoka & Beyond• Chandragupta grandson –

greatly extended the empire but at high human cost, he was upset by this so he converted to Buddhism and strict nonviolence & morality

• first deciphered Indian writing, Edicts of Ashoka

• Mauryan collapsed 184 BCE – next 500 yrs characterized by fragmentation

Next 500 Years…• Foreigners dominated the Northwest &

even extended into the east and south at times – Greeks, Iranians and Chinese

• Although fragmented, still signs of social, intellectual and economic development last BCE greatest Indian epics (Ramayana & Mahabharata) finalized – reflect Vedic Age

• Bhagavad-Gita resolve issue between duty to society and to yourself

• Science = herbal remedies, Writing system = Sanskrit

Gupta Empire 320-550 CE• Similar to/modeled after Mauryan grew out of Magadha,

founder named Chandra Gupta (but he stole it), capital Pataliaputra

• Never controlled as much land as Mauryan but able to rack up some serious territory

• Economic navigated important trade routes, agriculture, control of iron deposits, required 25% tax (like Maur)

Gupta Government• Not as effective as a centralized

government outside the core – governors (often times corrupt and greedy) pretty much allowed free reign on how the administered their regions

• Theatre –State tried to persuade outside areas to follow their lead by having elaborate ceremonies and rituals, wanted to attract with the allure of court life

Gupta Stuff

• Intellectual math & astronomy developments, most importantly – the concept of zero

• Women declining status because of urbanization and complex social & political organizations – essentially treated as Shudras (lowest class)• Loss right to inherit property

• Married at a very young age, like 6-7

• Expected to cremate themselves upon death of husband, if not basically died a social death and were cast out

• Some hope for women joined with Buddhists or Jainist, upper class women could study

Gupta• Gupta = Hindus –

reemergence of the Caste system

• Era of religious tolerance

• Continued thriving commercial connections – used coined money, traded with southeast and east Asia (India heavily influenced these areas)

Gupta Fall Down

• Late 5th century – pressure from the Huns of Central Asia

• Defense campaigns cost a lot of money and eventually bled the treasury dry

• Empire collapse 550 CE