INDIA’S GOLDEN AGE
THE MAURYAN
AND GUPTA
EMPIRES
IF YOU WERE THERE…
 You are a merchant in India in about 240 B.C.E. You travel
from town to town on your donkey, carrying bolts of colorful
cloth. In the heat of summer, you are grateful for the banyan
trees along the road. They shelter you from the blazing sun.
You stop at wells for cool drinks of water and rest houses for
a break in your journey. You know these are all the work of
your king, Asoka.
 How do you feel about your king?
BACKGROUND
 For centuries after the Aryan invasion, India was divided into
small states each with its own ruler and no central
government.
 300s B.C.E: Alexander the Great (foreign conqueror) took over
part of northwestern India.
 His armies left eventually but were influential in Indian
society.
 A strong leader soon united India for the first time.
COMPARING EMPIRES
YOUR TASK
 Objective: Research the rise , the
accomplishments , and the
decline of the Maur yan or Gupta
Empire (whichever you are
assigned).
 Read the information provided and
answer the discussion questions in
your group.
 Use the discussion questions as a
g uide to create a an outline.
 Use the outline to create a poster.
 Your group will present your poster
to the class and the will take notes
from.
Things to Remember:
• Discussion Questions: Answer in
COMPLETE SENTENCES!!
• Poster:
• Must have the title of your
Empire
• Divided into 3 categories
• Rise
• Accomplishments
• Fall
• Short, concise notes (no
need for long sentences)
• BE NEAT!
THE RISE OF THE MAURYAN EMPIRE
 Candragupta Maurya unites India in 321 B.C.E.
 He uses a strong army and network of spies to help run the
country
 He decides to become a Jainist monk and leaves the empire
to his son
 Asoka, who is Candragupta Maurya’s grandson, takes over
 Asoka conquers many lands and watches his armies fight
bloody battles
 He decides to turn to Buddhism
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE
MAURYAN EMPIRE
 Asoka decides in his free time to help out his people
 He builds:




Shade trees along the road for weary travelers
Wells for drinking water
Houses to rest
Hospitals for people and animals
 Spreads Buddhism throughout India by sending teachers
THE FALL OF THE MAURYAN EMPIRE
 Asoka dies (232 B.C.E) and the empire begins to fall apart
 His sons fight for power to be in charge
 The last emperor is killed by one of his generals
 The Mauryan Empire collapses and India splits into many
states once again
THE RISE OF THE GUPTA EMPIRE
 Candra Gupta II (no relation to Candragupta Maurya!) unites
by invading and conquering neighboring lands in A .D. 320
 Unlike Asoka who had been Buddhist, Gupta Emperors were
Hindu and promoted Hinduism
 Believed that enforcing the caste system was important in the
empire because it would create a strong nation
ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE GUPTA EMPRE
 They build a university at Nelanda
 Built many Hindu shrines and Buddhist temples
 Art, architecture, and science
 Wealthy from trade
THE FALL OF THE GUPTA EMPIRE
 The Huns invaded and the constant attacks broke down the
empire