Maurya Empire & Formation of Silk
Road
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Role of Alexander, Successor States & Hellenism
Maurya Empire Connection
Nomad Connection & Kushan Empire
Trade & Buddhism along Silk Road
IDs: Asoka (r. 268-231bce), Kushan Empire, Xiongnu,
bodhisattva, Mahayana Buddhism
Major Shift from 336 BCE-50 CE: Afro-Eurasia
becomes more connected
Argument
• Between 336 BCE and 50 CE, the Silk Road was
formed by the collective actions of Alexander
of Macedonia, the Hellenistic successor states,
the Maurya Empire, the Central Asian nomads
& the Chinese. Once formed, its east-west
and north-south connections across AfroEurasia were never broken.
A. Role of Alexander and Hellenistic Successor States
Foundation of Institutions supporting
trade
Spread of Hellenistic Culture
Greek language
Gymnasiums (education)
Theaters
Athletic games
Art
Politics
Philosophy
Dress/Style
Hellenism/Hellenistic Culture
• Influences elites from
Spain to India
• Cosmopolitanism
“Indo-Greek” states: Graeco-Bactria
II. Maurya Empire Connection,
321-184 BCE
First large-scale South
Asian empire
Chandragupta Maurya
Seleucid kingdom
Expanded into Persia & Central
Asia
Exchange with Seleucid
Empire
Asoka (reigned 268-231 BCE)
Third Mauryan king
1. Conqueror until
Kalinga conquest
2. Adopted Buddhism
Built stupas
Rule by dhamma (dharma)
3. Rock & Pillar Edicts
Multicultural tolerance:
hundreds of South
Asian ethnic groups,
Hindus, Buddhists,
Greeks, Persians
III. Nomad Connection
• steppe
• Central Asia
A. Nomad Invasions, 200 BCE – 50
CE
1. Conquer Seleucid Empire 
“Persian” Empire (200 BCE)
2. Xiongnu pressure Yuezhi & Qin &
Han in China
3. Yuezhi flee southeast, conquer Bactria & form
Kushan Empire (50 CE)
B. Nomads
• Supported trade networks already established
• Extended trade
• Adopted cultures of settled peoples they
conquered
Coin of Saka (nomad) king Maues
Image of Zeus
“King of Kings, the
Great Maues”
(Persian title
written in Greek
letters)
Greek goddess Nike
Same inscription
written in S. Asian
script
C. Kushan Empire
1. Bridge to China:
Formation of Silk
Road, 50 CE
Horses
Silk
Allies against Xiongnu
III. The Silk Road
A. Overland Route
Spices
Luxuries
Silk
Caravans
Commercial hubs:
Petra & Palmyra
B. Sea Routes
C. Spread & Transformation of
Buddhism
1. Spread into Central
Asia (Kushan Empire)
2. Changes in Buddhism
• The Buddha becomes a
god
• Nirvana becomes
afterlife (Buddha lands)
2. Creation of Mahayana Buddhism
Great Vehicle
bodhisattva
Question
• How did the successor states, the Maurya
Empire, nomads & the Chinese contribute to
the formation of the Silk Road and the
exchanges which took place along it?
3. Effects of Alexander & Successor
States
• Lasting connection between regions across AfroEurasia
• Silk Road & sea routes
• Huge increase in trade
• Cultural exchange
– Hellenism
– Buddhism