Aryans Invaders Notes


Aryans, a group of Indo-European
people (Greek dissent), came through
NW mountain passes into the Indus
River Valley around 1500 BCE
Left almost no archaeological record, but
their sacred text, the Vedas, left an
accurate picture

Mahabharata, a
great epic, reflects
struggles that
took place in
India as Aryans
moved south


Called the Indians “dasas” (dark), who
were shorter and spoke a different
language
Formed the caste system, with the top
three levels composing of Aryans, then
the Indians
Social System Notes
Brahmins
(priests)
Warriors
Aryan Peasants/Traders
Laborers
Untouchables
(Butchers, gravediggers, trash collectors)
India Empires Notes


Chandragupta Maurya:
gathered an army, killed
Nanda king, in 321 BCE
claimed the throne
Kautilya: advisor who
wrote the ruler’s
handbook, Arthasastra

Asoka:
Chandragupta’s
grandson who
claimed the throne
in 269 BCE and
brought Mauryan
Empire to its
greatest heights;
kept India
politically unifed


divided into four
provinces, each with
a prince and local
districts
Asoka was violent at
first, switched to
Buddhist idea of
“peace to all beings”


extensive roads, watering places and
rest houses for travelers, religious
toleration
Free hospitals and veterinary clinics



Asoka died in 232 BCE
Regional princes challenged imperial
government
a flood of new people fleeing from Asia,
who introduced new languages and
customs


Chandra Gupta I: came to power by
marrying an old royal family, took
control in 320 CE
- his son, Samudra Gupta, became king
in 335 CE, expanded the empire through
war and conquest

his son, Chandra
Gupta II, added
Mediterranean
trade to empire
and used peaceful
means to expand,
like treaties and
marriage


perfected stable village life with specific
districts for merchants, irrigation, and
reservoirs
expanded throughout the Indian
subcontinent and spread Hindu culture


advancements in astronomy, modern
numerals, the zero, the decimal system,
and the value of pi
important medical guides were compiled



Chandra Gupta II died
a wave of Huns invaders came into
northern India
split into smaller kingdoms that were
eventually overrun by Huns and other
central Asian nomads

Rip a piece of notebook in half, share with a
partner:
In a strong paragraph, explain whether you
think the Gupta Empire or the Mauryan
Empire were more successful. Include a
introduction sentence, a thesis statement
and atleast 4 supporting sentences.