NEXT

Section 1

India’s First Empires The Mauryas and the Guptas establish empires, but neither unifies India permanently.

NEXT

The Mauryan Empire Is Established

India’s First Empires

Chandragupta Maurya Seizes Power• In 321 B.C., Chandragupta Maurya seizes power,

starts Mauryan Empire

Chandragupta Maurya Unifies North India• Chandragupta defeats Seleucus I; north India

united for first time• Chandragupta uses taxes to support his large army

SECTION

1

Running the Empire• Chandragupta’s chief adviser is Kautilya, a priest• Chandragupta creates bureaucratic government• He divides the government to make it easier to rule

Continued . . .

Map

NEXT

continued The Mauryan Empire Is Established

SECTION

1

Life in the City and the Country• A Greek ambassador writes glowing praise of the

empire• Chandragupta’s son rules from 301 to 269 B.C., 32

years• Asoka—Chandragupta’s grandson, brings the

empire to its height

Image

Asoka Promotes Buddhism• After a bloody war with Kalinga, Asoka promotes

Buddhism and peace• Preaches religious toleration—accepting people of

different religions• Builds roads, with wells along them

NEXT

A Period of Turmoil

SECTION

1

The Breakup of the Mauryan Empire• Asoka dies in 232 B.C.; kingdoms in central India

soon break away• The Andhra Dynasty dominates central India for

centuries• Northern India receives immigrants from Greece,

other parts of Asia• Tamils—a people living in southern India—

remain separate and frequently war with rival peoples

NEXT

The Gupta Empire Is Established

SECTION

1

Chandra Gupta Builds an Empire• Chandra Gupta marries into kingship in north

India in A.D. 320• Starts Gupta Empire—India’s second empire;

flowering of Indian civilization, especially Hindu culture

• His son Samudra Gupta expands empire with conquest

Continued . . .

Map

NEXT

Daily Life in India• Majority of Indians are farmers; entire family

raises crops together• Families are patriarchal—headed by the eldest

male• Farmers have to contribute work to government

and pay heavy taxes• Some Tamil families are matriarchal—led by

mother rather than father

continued The Gupta Empire Is Established

SECTION

1

Continued . . .

NEXT

Height of the Gupta Empire• Chandra Gupta II rules from A.D. 375–415• He defeats the Shakas and adds western coast

to empire• Gupta Empire sees flourishing of arts, religion,

and science• After Chandra Gupta II dies, the empire declines

continued The Gupta Empire Is Established

SECTION

1

NEXT

Indian religions, culture, and science evolve and spread to other regions through trade.

Section 2

Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture

NEXT

Buddhism and Hinduism Change

Trade Spreads Indian Religions and Culture

Traditional Hindu and Buddhist Beliefs• Hinduism blends Aryan and other beliefs; belief in

many gods• To Buddhists, desire causes suffering but suffering

can be overcome

SECTION

2

Continued . . .

NEXT

continued Buddhism and Hinduism Change

SECTION

2

A More Popular Form of Buddhism• Belief in bodhisattvas develops—potential

Buddhas who save humanity• Mahayana sect—Buddhists accepting new

doctrines of worship, salvation• Theravada sect—Buddhists who follow original

teachings of Buddha• Wealthy Buddhist merchants build stupas—

stone structures over relics

Continued . . .

Image

Image

NEXT

continued Buddhism and Hinduism Change

A Hindu Rebirth• Hinduism is remote from people by time of Mauryan

Empire• Hinduism moves toward monotheism; gods part of

one divine force• Chief gods:

Brahma—creator of the worldVishnu—preserver of the worldShiva—destroyer of the world

SECTION

2

Image

NEXT

Achievements of Indian Culture

Literature and the Performing Arts• Kalidasa—poet and dramatist, one of India’s

greatest writers • His skillful and emotionally stirring plays still

popular• Madurai writing academies create literature;

2,000 Tamil poems survive• Drama and dance troupes gain popularity and

travel widely

SECTION

2

Continued . . .

NEXT

continued Achievements of Indian Culture

Astronomy, Mathematics, and Medicine• Ocean trade leads to advances in astronomy• Indian astronomers in Gupta Empire prove that world

is round• Mathematicians develop idea of zero and decimal

system• Doctors write medical guides and make advances in

surgery

SECTION

2

NEXT

The Spread of Indian Trade

India’s Valuable Resources• India has spices, diamonds, precious stones, and

good quality wood Overland Trade, East and West• Trade routes called Silk Roads connect Asia and

Europe• Indians build trading posts to take advantage of

the Silk Roads

SECTION

2

Sea Trade, East and West• Indian merchants carry goods to Rome by sea• Merchants trade by sea with Africa, Arabia,

China, Southeast Asia

Continued . . .

Image

NEXT

continued The Spread of Indian Trade

Effects of Indian Trade• Increased trade leads to rise of 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

SECTION

2

Interactive