India’s Empires
MauryanAsokaGupta
Series of rulers from the same family
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
Mauryan Dynasty
Strong Army Good spy system Communication
Strengths
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
Asoka
Postal System – increase communication Hospitals for people and animals New roads (trade) With shelter and shade trees Stupas Huge trade center
Contributions
Serious of weak kings Bad decisions Heavy taxes Seized crops Last king killed by his own general 183 BC
Fall of the Mauryan 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
Gupta Empire
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
Samudragupta
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”
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
Gupta Empire Contributions
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
Math and Science
Advances in metal work – steel Gold coins and metal mirrors Set bones Perform operations Invented medical tools Plastic surgery
Technology & Medicine