The Empires of Early India The Mauryan Empire

The Reign of Chandragupta • Rise to Power – Chandragupta gathers an army and

The Reign of Chandragupta • Heavy Taxes – Farmers could pay ½ of their

The Reign of Chandragupta • Paranoia in the palace – – Food tasters Secret

The Reign of Asoka • Embraces Buddhism and rules by its teachings • Edicts

The Reign of Asoka • Unification of Diverse Peoples – – Extensive Roadways Trees

Mauryan Achievements • Spread of Buddhism throughout India and Asia – Missionaries of Buddhist

Bye-Bye Maurya • After Asoka’s death kings challenged the imperial rule of the Maurya

The Gupta Empire • Reinforcement of Hinduism – Laws reflect Hindu beliefs – Caste

The Gupta Empire Golden Age • Math – Concept of Zero – Decimal System

Gupta Golden Age • Medicine – Before Beverly Hills, the Gupta had plastic surgery

Gupta Golden Age • Architecture – Stupas • Large dome shaped Buddhist shrines –

Gupta Golden Age • Literature – Fables and folk tales in Sanskrit • Adapted

End of Gupta • Fall of the Gupta – Weak Rulers – Invasion by

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The Empires of Early India The Mauryan Empire

The Reign of Chandragupta • Rise to Power – Chandragupta gathers an army and kills the king of the ruling family – Unifies most of northern India via military conquest • 600, 000 soldiers • 30, 000 cavalry • 9, 000 men on elephants

The Reign of Chandragupta • Heavy Taxes – Farmers could pay ½ of their crop value in taxes • Bureaucracy – Divides empire into 4 provinces (Pradesikas) – Each province divided into local districts (Rajjukas & Yuktas) • Local districts controlled taxes and law enforcement

The Reign of Chandragupta • Paranoia in the palace – – Food tasters Secret Police Slept in a different room every night Female body guards

The Reign of Asoka

The Reign of Asoka • Embraces Buddhism and rules by its teachings • Edicts – Monuments that proclaim the reforms & policies of Asoka

The Reign of Asoka • Unification of Diverse Peoples – – Extensive Roadways Trees for Shade Watering Stops Rest Areas

Mauryan Achievements • Spread of Buddhism throughout India and Asia – Missionaries of Buddhist monks traveled the Silk Road • Building of Schools and Libraries in major cities

Bye-Bye Maurya • After Asoka’s death kings challenged the imperial rule of the Maurya • High Taxes – Farmers couldn’t feed empire – Too much $ went to military and bureaucracy • Invasion by the Greeks and Persians in the north • Series of weak successors • Asoka’s policies?

The Gupta Empire • Reinforcement of Hinduism – Laws reflect Hindu beliefs – Caste System • Untouchables - given “impure” jobs, such as grave diggers and street cleaners

The Gupta Empire Golden Age • Math – Concept of Zero – Decimal System 0, Zilch, Nada, Niente. 00099

Gupta Golden Age • Medicine – Before Beverly Hills, the Gupta had plastic surgery – Smallpox Vaccine (1, 000 years before Europe)

Gupta Golden Age • Architecture – Stupas • Large dome shaped Buddhist shrines – Street level shops with apartments above

Gupta Golden Age • Literature – Fables and folk tales in Sanskrit • Adapted by Egypt, Persia, and Greece

End of Gupta • Fall of the Gupta – Weak Rulers – Invasion by the Huns