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India’s First Empires
Chapter 6 Section 3
The Mauryan Dynasty
• Chandragupta Maurya, an Indian
prince, founded India’s first empire
after Alexander the Great left
India. This empire was called the
Mauryan dynasty. This happened
around 321 b.c.
• What is a dynasty?
• is a series of rulers from the same family.
– Who founded the first civilizations?
The Harappans
Problem - Solution Chart
Chadragupta needed to
control everything from
his capital...
He needed to make sure
no one was planning to
rebel…
Communications were
very important and
needed improvement…
…Set up a centralized
government and built a
strong army
…Had a good spy
system
…Set up a postal system
The Mauryan Dynasty (continued)
• Many historians consider Asoka the
Mauryan dynasty’s greatest king.
– After he was a strong military leader, Asoka
turned away from violence.
• He was in a battle, saw a large amount of bloodshed.
The dead horrified him and made him turn away from
life.
• Non-violent and peaceful life following Buddhism.
– What was the main idea of
Buddhism?
Give up all worldly
possession
– Asoka did many great things
for his people. For example,
he built hospitals and new
roads and sent teachers
throughout India to teach
Buddhism.
– Even though he practiced
Buddhism, he allowed for
religious tolerance.
– The empire grew weak after
Asoka’s death. The kings
made poor decisions, and the
Mauryan Empire fell.
The Gupta Empire
• After 500 years of fighting, another Chandragupta took
power and founded the Gupta dynasty.
– The name Chandragupta was kind of like John, Matt, Lindsey.
– After Chandragupta died, his son, Samudragupta, took over and
expanded the empire.
• The Guptas ruled for about 200 years.
– They grew wealthy from trade with China and kingdoms in
southeast Asia and the Mediterranean.
– The trade created new jobs because their was a bigger demand for
products.
– All this trade created new cities along the trade routes.
The Gupta Empire
• As cities grew along the trade routes pilgrims
arose.
– Pilgrims were people who used the trade routes to
travel to religious shrines or sites.
– Visiting pilgrims made cities wealthy just as tourists
make cities wealthy today.
• The Guptas were Hindus, and they made
Hinduism the official religion.
– The end result was a golden age of art and learning
for Hindu in India during the Gupta empire.
Monetary donations were given to Hindus.
Indian Literature and Science
During the Mauryan and Gupta empires literature and
science advancements will take place.
Literature
Math and Science
– The Vedas of India are hymns &
prayers used in religious
ceremonies.
– What was the name of the
writing system?
Sanskrit
– The epics Mahabharata
and Ramayana are two
poems that are still famous
in India today. Both epics
tell about warriors and their
brave deeds.
– Aryabhata was a mathematician
who lived during the Gupta
dynasty. He was one of the first
scientists to use algebra.
– Mathematicians in the Gupta
empire developed the symbols
for the numbers 1 to 9 that we
use today.
– Indians also developed ideas in
medicine. The could set broken
bones, perform operations, and
even basic plastic surgery.
ISSUE
© 2004
Edwin Ellis
Graphicorganizers.com
India’s Achievements
The Vedas: hymns & prayers
Literature
Sanskrit
epics Mahabharata and Ramayana
One of the 1st to use Algebra
Mathematics
Created symbols for 1-9
Set broken bones
Science/
Medical Technology
Perform operations
Plastic Surgery
Checking for Understanding
1. Who was the Indian prince the founded the first
empire?
–
Chandragupta Maurya
2. What is a series of rulers from one family?
–
Dynasty
3. After 500 years of fighting, another
Chandragupta took power and founded the
_________ dynasty.
–
Gupta
4. What are the two famous poems in India today?