PERSIAN Chart
Culture/Civilization: Gupta and Mauryan Empire(s)
Time Period: Classical Time period
POLITICAL
 Leaders, Elites
 Structure--Laws
 Role of Religion
 Conflict
 Diplomacy, Treaties
 Judicial
ECONOMIC
 Philosophy
 Focus
 Trade, Commerce
 Capital/Money
 Role of merchants
RELIGIOUS
 Origins
 Beliefs, Teaching
 Conversion
 Holy Books
Factual Information
Mauryan: ruled by Chandragupta
Maurya and later on by his Grandson
Ashoka. Followed the laws on the 5 pillars
set up by Ashoka. They had an imperial
government, replacing previous ones
based on family lineage. The Mauryan
rulers also developed a substantial
bureaucracy.
Gupta: separate areas were governed by
separate administrators. (indirect rule)
Mauryan: Trade spread across western
and central Asia and Europe. Capital
city=Pataliputra.
Gupta: They had a village based economy
and they also traded.
Mauryan: practiced Hinduism and
Buddhism. After Ashoka saw a bloody
battle/war he wanted to practice nonviolence and he converted to Buddhism.
(belief in non-violence, follow the 8 fold
path, goal was to reach nirvana, and to be
Quote
CCOT

Influence on Society* released from the cycle of rebirth)
SOCIAL
 Family
 Gender Relations
 Social Classes
 Inequalities—
coercive labor
 Life Styles
INTELLECTUAL,
ARTS
 Art, Music
 Writing, Literature
 Philosophy
 Math & Science
 Education
 Technology
NEAR: GEOGRAPHY
 Location
Gupta: The Upanishads attracted people
to Buddhism and they also practiced
teachings if Hinduism.
Mauryan: They had a caste system.
Believed that social, economic, and ritual
position was inherited at birth from
parents. The men had a responsibility of
protecting woman, and women were
expected to run the household, and their
property right was limited. They had
Guilds who set rules and enforced
control.
Gupta: the cast system was more strongly
enforced. Many social classes.
Mauryan: They had many great
achievements in art. Ashoka set up the 5
pillars with Buddhist teachings and laws
to live by inscribed on them.
Gupta: They were called the “Golden
Guptas” and seen as a Golden Age in
India because it was a time of peace and
prosperity. Official language/writing was
Sanskrit. They had many advancements
such as Pi, the concept of zero, and
negative numbers. Had stupas, which
were large, dome like structures.
Mauryan: Considerably bigger than the
Gupta empire. Located in Northern India
in the Ganges river valley.
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Physical
Movement
Gupta: Northern India, smaller than the
Human/Environment Mauryan empire and centered more
Region
around rivers.
Notes: