Chapter 7 India and China Establish Empires 400

Chapter 7: India and China Establish Empires, 400 BCE-550 CE The Mauryan & Gupta

India’s First Empires • By 600 BCE, almost 1000 years after the Aryan migrations, many small kingdoms were scattered throughout India • In 326, BCE, Alexander the Great conquered the region- left a Macedonian general -Seluecus I-in control

Mauryan Empire: Chandragupta Maurya • 321 BCE, claimed the NW. region-lower Ganges River • By 305 BCE, defeated Seluecus I • 303 BCE Empire united northern India – 600, 000 foot soldiers – 30, 000 cavalry – 9, 000 elephants • Imposed high taxes

How did Chandragupta govern the Empire? • Relied on Katilyaa Brahmin • Arthashastra-(a rulers handbook) • Tough policies • Spies • Assassination • Bureaucratic • 4 provinces ruled by prince • divided into local districts to collect taxes & enforce law

What was Life Like in Pataliputra? • • • Very wealthy Gold covered pillars Fountains Thrones Parks Markets

Who was Asoka? • Chandragupta’s grandson • Became king in 269 BCE • Started out brutal • Changed after Battle of Kalinga • Ruled by Buddhist principles

Asoka’s Edicts • Huge stone pillars inscribed with new policies • Fairness • Humane treatment • Nonviolence • Religious toleration

What else did Asoka Do? • Extensive roads • Improved travel conditions • Wells & rest houses

A Period of Turmoil • • • Power vacuum after Ashoka’s death Many kingdoms with overlapping boundaries MIGRATION, CULTURAL DIFFUSION, TRADE New peoples, new languages, new ideas Syncretism-blending of cultures into new form

Gupta Empire • After 500 years, Chandra Gupta reunited India years • Expansion & consolidation of empire • Golden Age

Daily Life • Small villages • Farmers • Craftspeople & merchants • Mostly patriarchal • Entire family worked together • Irrigation essential • Taxes paid in labor on irrigation projects

Golden Age of Gupta Empire • TRADE • PEACE and PROSPERITY • Arts • Science • Astronomy • Mathematics

Trade Spreads Indian Religions & Culture: • Both religions had become increasingly removed from the people • Hinduism was dominated by priests • Buddhist ideal of selfdenial proved difficult for many to follow

Buddhism & Hinduism Change • More Popular Form of Buddhism – Belief in bodhisattvas develops—Buddhas who save humanity – Mahayana sect—Buddhists accept new doctrines of worship/salvation – Theravada sect—Buddhists who follow original teachings of Buddha – Wealthy Buddhist merchants build stupas— stone structures over relics

A Hindu Rebirth (Get It? ) – Hinduism is remote from people by time of Mauryan Empire – moves toward monotheism; gods are part of one divine force • Brahma—creator of the world • Vishnu—preserver of the world • Shiva—destroyer of the world

Achievements of Indian Culture: Literature & Performing Arts – Kalidasa—poet & dramatist, one of India’s greatest writers – Skillful & emotionally stirring plays still popular – Madurai writing academies create literature; 2, 000 Tamil poems survive – Drama/dance troupes gain popularity & travel widely

Indian Achievements: Astronomy, Math, Medicine – Ocean trade leads to advances in astronomy – Indian astronomers in Gupta Empire prove world is round – Mathematicians develop idea of zero & decimal system – Doctors write medical guidesmake advances in surgery

Spread of Indian Trade • Valuable Resources – spices, diamonds, – Ivory, precious stones, & good quality wood

Silk Roads & Indian Ocean Trade – Overland trade routes called Silk Roads connect Asia & Europe – Maritime routes monsoon winds to connect India east to China & west to Arabian Peninsula & Africa

Effects of Indian Trade – Increased trade leads to rise in banking – Bankers lend money to merchants, careful of degree of risk – Increased trade spreads Indian culture to other places – Trade brings Hinduism, Buddhism to other lands