Division of IndiaDivision of India

• Before 3rd C. BCE Politically fragmented due to:– Terrain (Mountains, valleys, forests,

steppes, deserts)• Led to different languages & cultural

beliefs• Transportation and communication difficult

– Caste system• Hundreds of jati separated people

Chandragupta Maurya:Chandragupta Maurya: Chandragupta Maurya:Chandragupta Maurya: Maurya Empire: 321 BCE-184 BCE

Unified northern India.

India’s first centralized government

Defeated the Persians

Divided his empire into provinces, then districts for tax assessments and law enforcement.

He feared assassination [like Saddam Hussein] food tasters, slept in different rooms, etc.

301 BCE gave up his throne & became a Jain.

The Maurya The Maurya EmpireEmpire

The Maurya The Maurya EmpireEmpire

321 BCE – 185 BCE321 BCE – 185 BCE

Asoka (304 – 232 Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)BCE)

Asoka (304 – 232 Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)BCE)Chandragupta’s GrandsonChandragupta’s Grandson

Religious conversion Religious conversion after the gruesome after the gruesome battle of Kalinga in battle of Kalinga in 262 BCE. 262 BCE.

Dedicated his life to Dedicated his life to Buddhism Buddhism

Emphasis on peace, tolerance, and Emphasis on peace, tolerance, and nonviolencenonviolence

He restricted slaughter of animals and encouraged vegetarianism

Built extensive roads.Built extensive roads.

AsokAsoka’s a’s

EmpiEmpirere

AsokAsoka’s a’s

EmpiEmpirere

Asoka’s law Asoka’s law codecode

Asoka’s law Asoka’s law codecode Edicts scattered in

more than 30 places in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan.

Written mostly in Sanskrit, but one was in Greek and Aramaic.

10 rock edicts.

Each pillar [stupa] is 40’-50’ high.

Buddhist principles dominate his laws.

One One of of

AsokAsoka’sa’sStStupasupas

One One of of

AsokAsoka’sa’sStStupasupas

Gupta Empire:Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 320 CE – 647 CE647 CE

Gupta Empire:Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 320 CE – 647 CE647 CE

Gupta RulersGupta RulersGupta RulersGupta Rulers Chandra Gupta I

Modeled himself after Chandragupta Maurya by taking his name

r. 320 – 335 CE

“Great King of Kings”

Chandra Gupta II

r. 375 - 415 CE

Profitable trade with the Mediterranean world!

Hindu revival.

Huns invade – 450 CE

More GuptaMore Gupta

• Smaller than MauryaSmaller than Maurya– Never as much control as AshokaNever as much control as Ashoka– Drew tribute from subjects, but still Drew tribute from subjects, but still

allowed regional warlords to ruleallowed regional warlords to rule

GenderGender• Men dominated the Aryan world Men dominated the Aryan world

(patriarchal) - (patriarchal) - • Aryan women had choice of Aryan women had choice of

choosing husband; choosing husband; • Indian women could remarry if Indian women could remarry if

widowed; took part on social widowed; took part on social affairs; high ranking boys and affairs; high ranking boys and girls could attend school; were girls could attend school; were educated in household taskseducated in household tasks

• Status of women declines after Status of women declines after Aryans arriveAryans arrive

• Gupta- women & mothers highly Gupta- women & mothers highly respected, but had little respected, but had little independenceindependence

Chandra Gupta Chandra Gupta 1111

Chandra Gupta Chandra Gupta 1111

International Trade International Trade Routes during the Routes during the

GuptasGuptas

International Trade International Trade Routes during the Routes during the

GuptasGuptas

Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:4c4c

Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:4c4c

spices

spices

spicesspices

gold & gold &

ivoryivory

gold & gold & ivoryivory

rice & rice & wheatwheathorseshorses

cotton goods

cotton goods

cotton goods

cotton goodssilkssilks

GuptGuptaa

ArtArt

GuptGuptaa

ArtArt

Greatly influenced Greatly influenced Southeast Asian art & Southeast Asian art &

architecture.architecture.

MedicineMedicineMedicineMedicine LiteratureLiteratureLiteratureLiterature

MathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematicsAstronomyAstronomyAstronomyAstronomy

PrintedPrintedmedicinal medicinal

guidesguides

1000 1000 diseasesdiseasesclassifiedclassified

PlasticPlasticSurgerySurgery

C-sectionsC-sectionsperformeperforme

dd

InoculatioInoculationsns

500 healing500 healingplants plants

identifiedidentified

DecimalDecimalSystemSystem

ConceptConceptof Zeroof Zero

PI = 3.1416PI = 3.1416

KalidasKalidasaa

SolarSolarCalendarCalendar

The The earthearth

is roundis round

GuptaGuptaIndiaIndia

Gupta Gupta AchievemeAchieveme

ntsnts

Gupta Gupta AchievemeAchieveme

ntsnts

The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptaGupta

The Decline of the The Decline of the GuptaGupta Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaled

the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even though at first, the Gupta defeated them.

After the decline of the Gupta empire, north India broke into a number of separate Hindu kingdoms and was not really unified again until the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.