India Unites:
The Mauryan and Gupta Dynasties
Standard
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SSWH2 The student will identify the major
achievements of Chinese and Indian societies
from 1100 BCE to 500 CE.
Element
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a. Describe the development of Indian
civilization; include the rise and fall of the
Maurya Empire, the “Golden Age” under
Gupta, and the emperor Ashoka.
e. Explain how the geography of the Indian
Subcontinent contributed to the movement of
people and ideas.
Aryan Age ends with Invasion of Darius
and Alexander
India begins to Unite
c. 400-300BCE
• Persia first
united NW
India under
Cyrus and
Darius
Extent of Maurya Empire at
establishment
Politics
• Founded by Chandragupta Maurya ( 324 to 301 B.C.)
• Increased centralized government control over regional
kingdoms
• large army of 700,000
• secret police to watch for treason
 301 BCE gave up his throne to & became a Jain monk
(extreme Buddhism)
Chandragupta Maurya
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Created the first
great Indian Empire
in 321 B.C.
Great Capital at
Pataliputra
Schools
Libraries
Palaces
Temples
Wall around the city
– 530 towers and 64
gates
Mauryan
Statuette,
2nd Century
BC
Chandragupta 321 B.C. – 185 B.C.
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First gained power in
the Ganges Valley
Conquered Northern
India
His son and grandson
later pushed into
Southern India to add
to the empire
321 B.C. to 185 B.C.
Maurya dynasty ruled
over vast, united
empire
Chandragupta 321 B.C. – 185 B.C
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Order maintained
through well-organized
bureaucracy
Royal officials
supervised the building
of roads and harbors
Officials collected taxes
and managed state owned
factories and shipyards
People sought justice in
royal courts
Chandragupta 321 B.C. – 185 B.C
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Rule was effective
but harsh
Brutal secret police
reported on crime,
corruption, and
dissent
Had specially
trained women
warriors to guard the
palace
Ashoka – 268 B.C. – 232 B.C.
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Most honored Maurya
Emperor
The grandson of
Chandragupta
Became emperor in 268 B.C.
Conquered the Deccan
Region known as Kalinga
Brutal military commander
who extended the Empire
throughout S. and E. India
Battle of Kalinga 260 BC
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Battle of Kalinga - 260 BC
 100,000 Kalingans died
 150,000 Kalingans driven from their home
 More died from disease & starvation in the
aftermath of the destruction brought on by
the war
“What have I done?”
Ashoka and many Indian leaders converted to
Buddhism after this battle and became
pacifists
He spent the rest of his life encouraging nonviolence, moderation and Buddhist principles
to India
Ashoka – 268 B.C. – 232 B.C
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Set up stone pillars across
India with laws
inscribed upon them.
Also promised a righteous
government
Rule brought peace and
prosperity
Helped unite India
Built Hospitals and
Buddhist shrines
Roads and rest houses for
travelers
Asoka’s Buddhist
Rock and Pillar
Edicts
spread Buddhist
principles
scattered in more than
30 places in India, Nepal,
Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
 Each pillar is 40’-50’
high.
helped bring order and
unity to India
Ashoka – 268 B.C. – 232 B.C
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Became a
vegetarian
Limited Hindu
animal sacrifices
Sent missionaries
to spread Buddhism
across India and
to Sri Lanka
Preached tolerance
for other
religions