Indias Golden Age The conquest of India After

India’s Golden Age

The conquest of India • After 400 B. C. India faced constant invasions. • News of India's riches spread around the ancient world. • India was first conquered by Persia and then my Alexander the Great from Greece. • After this time of invasion and conquest India united to stop invaders and create 3 Empires.

The Mauryan Empire • India was difficult to unite because of a diverse geography and warring kingdoms. • Chandragupta Maurya used his army to drive out foreign forces and unite the kingdoms of India into an empire.

The Mauryan Empire • The Mauryan Empire was large and centralized. • Chandragupta divided the empire into provinces ruled by governors he appointed. • Collected taxes, built roads, harbors to increase trade.

Chandragupta’s rule • Crushed any opposition to his rule. • Feared assassination. • Food was tested prior to eating. • Would not sleep in the same bed for more than two nights in a row. • Had a secret police.

The Mauryan Empire: The greatest ruler of India • Asoka was the grandson of Chardragupta and is considered by historians to be India’s greatest ruler. • Inheriets the title of emperor. • Battlefield conversion to Buddhism. • Horrified by the brutality of war stops any expansion of the empire.

Asoka’s Rule • Rejects violence • Set’s up pillars inscribed with laws. • Tolerant of other beliefs • Built Buddhist Stupas • Sent out missionaries to spread Buddhist faith. • India was united. • Peace and Prosperity! • Once Asoka died the empire fell apart.

The Kushan Empire • After the collapse of the Mauryan Empire a few new kingdoms emerged in the area known as Bactria (Present day Afghanistan) • In the first century A. D. a group of nomadic warriors seized control of India and established the Kushan Empire. • The Kushans benefited from trade because the silk road ran along the top of India.

The Gupta Empire • The Kushan empire came to an end when over run by Persian invaders around 300 AD. • In 320 AD a local prince named Candra Gupta (no relation to Chandragupta Maurya) created a new kingdom that ended up becoming an empire. • For the next two hundred years the Gupta empire expanded and flourished under capable monarchs that followed the teachings of Buddha. • This time period became known as the Indian Golden Age.

India’s Golden Age • Literature such as the Mahabharatayana which is the longest poem ever written in ANY language. • The poem is about legendary warriors and battles. • The most famous mathematician from India is named Aryabhata who is one of the first scientists to ever use Algebra.

It all ended with the HUNS!