Objectives
•Describe characteristics
of empires of India
during the Classical
period
•Sequence key events
during Mauryan and
Guptan Empires
India’s political history
during the classical
period could be
characterized
as fragmented with
intermittent empires.
Around 600 BCE, the
first empire united many
small kingdoms. It was
called the Mauryan
Empire.
Ganges
River
The classical empires were
centered on the Ganges
river.
The Mauryan Empire, led by Chandragupta Maurya,
spanned more than 2,000 miles. Chandragupta
Maurya built his empire by conquest.
He had an army of 600,000 and defeated Alexander the Great’s
successor, Seleucus, near the Indus River valley in 303 BCE.
Under Chandragupta Maurya:
•His advisor, Kautilya wrote the
Arthasastra, about how to
keep a vast empire together
•Written in Sanskrit, one of the
earliest written Indian
languages, the book urged
rulers to conquer neighboring
kingdoms that are weak and
maintain an army of spies.
In 301 BCE,
Chandragupta’s
grandson, Asoka assumed
the throne. Under Asoka:
•Battled neighbors until
battle of Kalinga, where
he lost 100,000 soldiers.
•Asoka, deeply affected
by the loss of life and
suffering, he began to
study Buddhism.
Asoka:
•Spread Buddhist teachings by
constructing huge pillars
inscribed with Buddhist
teachings throughout
his empire. They were called
Asoka’s Edicts.
•These pillars urged nonviolence and acceptance of
other religions
•Asoka improved roads, created
public wells, built hospitals and
veterinary clinics built rest stops
throughout his kingdom.
Asoka:
Appointed missionaries
who spread Buddhism
throughout India, China
and S.E. Asia
After Asoka died in 232
BCE, the Mauryan
empire fell apart.
A period of disunity and
regional kingdoms followed
Asoka’s death and lasted for
500 years. Then, in 320 CE,
Chandra Gupta united India
into its second empire,
the Gupta Empire.
Which empire was larger,
geographically? Mauryan or
Guptan?
The Gupta empire brought about the
flowering of Indian and Hindu culture
and advancements in math and
science.
Cultural achievements:
• Literature flourished: Kalidasa wrote
Shakuntala, a classic love story
•Drama and dancing became important
elements of Indian culture
Scientific Achievements:
•Indian astronomers proved
that the earth was round by
observing a lunar eclipse
•Advanced mathematics:
Indian numerals are the
numbers we use today but
the Arabic civilizations would
get the credit.
• the number “Zero” and the
decimal system
Scientific achievements continued
•Mathemetician Aryabhata
calculated the length of the
solar year very accurately
•Continued advancements
in medicine and surgerycompiled medical texts
Commercial Achievements
Indian Merchants were the
middlemen in the emerging Silk
Road trade. Traders also
brought goods such as spices,
diamonds, sapphires, gold,
pearls, sandalwood, ebony and
teakwood.
Traders also spread religion
eastward. Hinduism spread only
as far as Nepal, Sri Lanka and
parts of Indonesia, while
Buddhism later spread
throughout China and
Southeast Asia.
Ancient and Classical India Timeline
1900 BCE
1500 BCE
Mohenjo
The Vedas
Daro
composed
And
Harappa
thrived
Aryan
invasions
500 BCE
Sanskrit
was first
written
563-483
Siddhartha
Gautama
originated
Buddhism
326 BCE
Alexander
Invades
and departs
Indus River
Valley
500 years of
disunity
and regional rule
321 BCE
320
CE
Mauryan
Empire
unites
IndiaAshoka
rules from
269-232
Guptan
Empire
rules
India
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