Classical India

India Before the Mauryan Dynasty

• 520 B.C.E., Persian emperor Darius conquers northwest India

• Introduces Persian ruling pattern• 327 B.C.E., Alexander of Macedon destroys

Persian empire in India• Troops mutiny, depart after two years– Political power vacuum

Chandragupta Maurya

• Took advantage of power vacuum left by Alexander

• Overthrew Magadha rulers• Expanded kingdom to create first unified

Indian empire– Mauryan dynasty

Ashoka Maurya

• Grandson of Chandragupta• Represents high point of Mauryan empire,

r. 268-232 B.C.E.• Expanded empire to include all of Indian

subcontinent except for south• Positive ruler-ship integrated Indian society• Much better known as a ruler than conqueror

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Decline of the Mauryan Empire

• Economic crisis follows death of Ashoka• High costs of bureaucracy, military not

supported by tax revenue• Frequent devaluations of currency to pay

salaries• Regions begin to abandon Mauryan empire– Disappears by 185 B.C.E.

The Mauryan and Gupta Empires 321 B.C.E.-550 C.E.

Regional Kingdom: Bactria

• Northwestern India• Ruled by Greek-speaking descendants of

Alexander’s campaigns

Regional Kingdom: Kush• Northern India/central Asia• Ca. 1-300 C.E.• Maintained silk road trade network

The Gupta Dynasty

• Based in Magadha• Founded by Chandra Gupta (no relation to

Chandragupta Maurya), ca. 320 C.E.• Slightly smaller than Mauryan empire• Highly decentralized leadership• Foundations for studies in natural sciences

and mathematics

Gupta Decline

• Frequent invasions of White Huns, fifth century C.E.

• Gupta dynasty disintegrates along regional fault lines

• Smaller local kingdoms dominate until Mughal empire founded in sixteenth century

Trade in the Indian Ocean Basin

• Massive road-building projects under Persian rule

• Alexander extends trade west to Macedon• Seasonal sea trade expands– Spring/winter winds blow from southwest,

fall/winter winds blow from northwest• Trade from Asia to Persian Gulf and Red Sea,

Mediterranean

Society: Gender Relations

• Patriarchy entrenched• Child marriage common (eight-year-old girls

married to men in twenties)

Social Order

• Caste system from Aryan times– Brahmins (priests)– Kshatriyas (warriors,

aristocrats)– Vaishyas (peasants,

merchants)– Shudras (serfs)

Castes and Guilds

• Increasing economic diversification challenges simplistic caste system

• Jati formed: guilds that acted as subcastes• Enforced social order– “Out-castes” forced into low-status employment