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Classical India Maurya-Gupta

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Classical India Maurya-Gupta Classical Indian Empires Mauryan Empire • Estab. in 321 BCE by Chandragupta Maurya (great Indian military leader) • Chandragupta Maurya created Mauryan Empire thru conquest – Used heavy taxes to create an army of 600,000 soldiers, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 elephants to conquer N. India • Politically unites N. India - 1st time ever • Taxes creates effective gov’t • 305 BCE- CGM defended his new empire against Alexander the Great who lead the conquest in the Indus Valley AsokA’s Reign • In 269 BC Asoka, CGM’s grandson, became emperor • After many years of violent conquest, Asoka felt remorseful • Converts to Buddhism & rules by Buddha’s teaching of “peace to all beings” • Spreads Buddhism throughout India & other parts of Asia via missionaries; but tolerant of other religions • Asoka’s Rock Edicts: Laws carved on rock pillars are placed throughout the empire • Stressed concern for other human beings • Built extensive road system with wells & shelters • Made travel & communication easier • Asoka died in 232BC; Kingdoms soon break away Mauryan Overview Gupta Empire • After the fall of the Mauryan Empire, India experiences 500 years of chaos • Finally in 320 CE a strong leader known as Chandra Gupta (not related to 1st emperor!) starts Gupta Empire • During India’s 2nd empire, there is a flowering of civilization, & rebirth of Hindu culture • Chandra Gupta’s son expands empire with years of conquests Gupta Empire Daily Life: • Majority of Indians are farmers; family raises crops together • Farmers have to contribute work to gov’t and pay heavy taxes • Patriarchal families – headed by the eldest males Trade: • India has spices, diamonds, precious stones & good quality timber • Trade routes → Silk Road connects Asia & Europe; Indians build trading posts in the middle → MIDDLEMEN • Indians bought Chinese goods & sold them to traders traveling to Rome • Increased trade spreads Indian culture/religion to other places • What do we call this concept? → Cultural diffusion guptA’s golden Age 320 CE to 535 CE: India’s “Golden Age” - flourishing of arts & sciences Achievements in Science: • Proved the Earth is round (due to eclipses) • Identified 7 planets Achievements in Mathematics: • Principles of algebra • Infinity & Zero • Value of Pi • Arabic numerals → 1, 2, 3… Achievements in Medicine: • Identified over 1,000 diseases • Invent medical instruments, perform operations, set bones, write medical guides guptA’s decline Empire became too big → hard to rule a large area & began to break apart. • The Hunas (‘Indian’ Huns) invaded from the north. (*Historians are NOT 100% sure of the connection b/tw the Hunas and the Huns; see 2 of the theories below.) • Theory #1: *Were not entirely independent of THE Huns, since they ruled as viceroys for a Hun overlord. • Theory #2: *Hephthalites- part of 4 major states = Xyon. Linked to THE Huns (who invaded E. Europe); there is not much evidence for a connection. – Sveta Huna (White Huns) invaded N India were most likely Hephthalites. Referred to as White Huns to distinguish them from other Huns, especially the ones led by Atilla who invaded the Roman Empire. – Procopius (“History of the Wars” -mid 6th cen.) claims the Hephthalites “are of the stock of the Huns in fact as well as in name: however they do not mingle with any of the Huns known to us. They are the only ones among the Huns who have white bodies….” Gupta Overview.
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