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First Empires of India

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First Empires of India 173-176-0207s1 10/11/02 3:42 PM Page 173 TERMS & NAMES 1 • Mauryan Empire First Empires • Asoka •religious toleration •Tamil of India • Gupta Empire • patriarchal MAIN IDEA WHY IT MATTERS NOW • matriarchal The Mauryas and the Guptas The diversity of peoples, cultures, be- established Indian empires, but neither liefs, and languages in India continues unified India permanently. to pose challenges to Indian unity today. SETTING THE STAGE By 600 B.C., almost 1,000 years after the Aryan migrations, many small kingdoms were scattered throughout India. In 326 B.C., Alexander the Great brought the Indus Valley in the northwest under Greek control—but left the region almost immediately. Soon after, a great Indian military leader, Chandragupta Maurya (CHUHN•druh•GUP•tuh MAH•oor•yuh), seized power for himself. Background Chandragupta Maurya Builds an Empire Chandragupta Chandragupta Maurya may have been born in the powerful kingdom of Magadha. may have been Centered on the lower Ganges River, the kingdom had been ruled for centuries by the a younger son of the Nanda king. Nanda family. Chandragupta gathered an army, killed the Nanda king, and in about 321 B.C. claimed the throne. This began the Mauryan Empire. Chandragupta Unifies North India Chandragupta moved northwest, seizing all the land from Magadha to the Indus. Around 305 B.C., Chandragupta began to battle Seleucus I, one of Alexander the Great’s generals. Seleucus had inherited the eastern part of Alexander’s empire. He wanted to reestablish Greek control over the Indus Valley. After several years of fighting, however, Chandragupta defeated Seleucus, who gave up some of his terri- SPOTLIGHTON tory to Chandragupta. By 303 B.C., the Mauryan Empire stretched more than 2,000 miles, uniting north India politically Kautilya’s Arthasastra for the first time. (See the map on page 175.) The Arthasastra states, THINK THROUGH HISTORY To win his wars of conquest, Chandragupta raised a vast army: The welfare of the king does A. Evaluating not lie in the fulfillment of Decisions 600,000 soldiers on foot, 30,000 soldiers on horseback, and 9,000 what is dear to him; whatever Explain whether elephants. To clothe, feed, and pay these troops, the government is dear to the subjects Chandragupta was levied high taxes. For example, farmers had to pay up to one half the constitutes his welfare. wise to use heavy taxes to finance value of their crops to the king. The government heavily taxed Although this sounds noble, the his army. income from trading, mining, and manufacturing. Arthasastra is better known for A. Possible proposing tough-minded policies. Answers Yes, Running the Empire Chandragupta relied on an adviser named For example, the manual suggests that the king hire an army of spies because he needed Kautilya (kow•TIHL•yuh), who was a member of the priestly caste. the army to defeat to gather information about his Arthasastra AHR• • enemies. No, because Kautilya wrote a ruler’s handbook called the ( thuh subjects by posing as priests, he was hurting the SHAHS•truh). This book teaches how to hold a vast empire together. students, beggars, or merchants. economy. Following Kautilya’s advice, Chandragupta created a highly The Arthasastra also urges the king bureaucratic government. He carefully chose his officials and had to make war against neighboring kingdoms that are weak. them closely supervised. Chandragupta divided the empire into four Although Kautilya began the provinces, each headed by a royal prince. Each province was then Arthasastra, other royal advisers divided into local districts, whose officials assessed taxes and enforced added to it for centuries to come. the law. The manual is often compared to a 16th-century European book on City Life and Country Life Eager to stay at peace with the Indian how to rule: The Prince by Machiavelli, which also offers emperor, Seleucus sent an ambassador, Megasthenes (muh•GAS• hardheaded political advice. thuh•neez), to Chandragupta’s capital. In his diary, Megasthenes wrote glowing descriptions of Chandragupta’s palace. The palace was filled India and China Establish Empires 173 173-176-0207s1 10/11/02 3:42 PM Page 174 with gold-covered pillars, numerous fountains, and imposing thrones. His capital city featured beautiful parks and bustling markets. Megasthenes also described the countryside and how farmers lived: A VOICE FROM THE PAST THINK THROUGH HISTORY [Farmers] are exempted from military service and cultivate their lands undisturbed B. Making by fear. They do not go to cities, either on business or to take part in their tumults. Inferences It therefore frequently happens that at the same time, and in the same part of the Did Mauryan India country, men may be seen marshaled for battle and risking their lives against the place a high value enemy, while other men are ploughing or digging in perfect security under the on agriculture? What protection of these soldiers. information in this quotation indicates MEGASTHENES, in Geography by Strabo that? B. Possible Answer In 301 B.C., Chandragupta’s son assumed the throne and ruled for 32 years. Yes. Farmers were Then Chandragupta’s grandson, Asoka (uh•SOH•kuh), brought the Mauryan exempt from military service so they could Empire to its greatest heights. keep growing food. Asoka Promotes Buddhism Asoka became king of the Mauryan Empire in 269 B.C. At first, he followed Kautilya’s philosophy of waging war to expand his power. He led a long campaign against his neighbors to the southeast in the state of Kalinga. During this bloody war, 100,000 soldiers were slain and even more civilians perished. This carved set of three lions Although victorious, Asoka felt sorrow over the slaughter at Kalinga. As a appeared on top result, he studied Buddhism and decided to rule by Buddha’s teaching of nonviolence of one of Asoka’s and “peace to all beings.” Throughout the empire, Asoka erected huge stone pillars Vocabulary pillars. This trio of inscribed with his new policies. Some edicts guaranteed that Asoka would treat his sub- edicts: official, public lions is still used as jects fairly and humanely. Others preached nonviolence. Still others urged religious announcements of a symbol of India. policy. toleration—acceptance of people who held different beliefs—and acceptance of peo- ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ple of all cultural backgrounds. ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■ ■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■HISTORYMAKERS Asoka had extensive roads built so that he could visit the far corners Chandragupta Maurya Asoka of India. He also improved condi- ?–298 B.C. ?–232 B.C. tions along these roads to make Chandragupta feared being One of Asoka’s edicts states, travel easier for his officials and to assassinated—maybe because If one hundredth part or he had killed a king to get his one thousandth of those who improve communication in the vast throne. To avoid being poisoned, died in Kalinga . should now empire. For example, he had trees he made servants taste all his suffer similar fate, [that] planted to provide shade. Every food. To avoid being murdered in would be a matter of pain nine miles, he had wells dug and bed, he slept in a different room to His Majesty. every night. A guard of armed rest houses built. This allowed trav- Even though Asoka wanted to be women surrounded him at all a loving, peaceful ruler, he still had elers to stop and refresh them- times and killed anyone who to control a huge empire. To do so, selves. Asoka even ordered the THINK THROUGH HISTORY came inside their lines. he had to balance Kautilya’s C. Clarifying Which Although Chandragupta was a creation of watering places for ani- methods of keeping power and of Asoka’s actions fierce warrior for most of his life, in mals. Such actions demonstrated Buddha’s urgings to be unselfish. show the influence of 301 B.C., he voluntarily gave up his After converting to Buddhism, Asoka’s concern for his subjects’ Buddha’s teaching of throne and converted to Jainism. Asoka softened Chandragupta’s well-being. “peace to all beings”? Jainists taught nonviolence and harsher policies. Instead of spies, he C. Possible Answer respect for all life. With a group Noble as Asoka’s policies of tol- employed officials to look out for his He urged acceptance of monks, he traveled to southern eration and nonviolence were, they subjects’ welfare. He kept his army of people of all beliefs India. There he followed the Jainist failed to hold the empire together and cultures; he prac- but sought to rule humanely. In custom of fasting until he starved ticed nonviolence; he addition, Asoka sent missionaries to once Asoka was gone. Soon after he to death. promoted his subjects B C Southeast Asia to spread Buddhism. died in 232 . ., the empire began welfare by making to break up. travel easier. A Period of Turmoil Asoka’s death left a power vacuum that was felt through the entire subcontinent. In northern and central India, regional kings challenged the imperial government. The kingdoms of central India, which had only been loosely held in the Mauryan Empire, 174 Chapter 7 173-176-0207s1 10/11/02 3:42 PM Page 175 regained their independence soon Indian Empires, after the death of Asoka. The Andhra 250 B.C.–A.D. 400 • (AHN druh) Dynasty arose and domi- TS. H M Mauryan Empire, 250 B.C. nated the region for hundreds of years. KUS DU Gupta Empire, A.D. 400 HIN Because of their central position, the Areas under Gupta influence H Tamil kingdoms Andhras profited from the extensive I M trade between north and south India A L CHINA . A R Y and also built up trade with Rome, Sri us A nd S Lanka, and Southeast Asia.
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