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5. INDIAN EMPIRES
I. Mauryan Empire (321 BC – 184 BC)
1. Chandragupta Maurya became ruler of Northern India in
321 BC
A. Chandragupta’s Achievements
1. Development of a postal system
2. Maintained a strong army and spies to keep control
I. Mauryan Empire (321 BC – 184 BC)
2. Asoka – Chandragupta’s grandson
A. Took rule in 274 BC
B. Controlled large armies, united the Indian sub-continent in
brutal battles
I. Mauryan Empire (321 BC – 184 BC)
2. Asoka – Chandragupta’s grandson
C. Converted to Buddhism after one battle
a. Spread the teachings of Buddhism throughout India
and Asia
b. Allowed Hindu people to practice their religion, caste
system remained
I. Mauryan Empire (321 BC – 184 BC)
2. Asoka – Chandragupta’s grandson
D. The Rock Edicts
a. Developed by Asoka
b. Written in Sanskrit
c. Carved on rock pillars and placed throughout
Asoka’s empire
d. Were laws stressing concern for human beings
I. Mauryan Empire (321 BC – 184 BC)
2. Asoka – Chandragupta’s grandson
E. Mauryan Contributions
a. Spread of Buddhism
b. Provided free hospitals
c. Veterinary clinics
d. Built roads to connect empire
I. Mauryan Empire (321 BC – 184 BC)
3. End of Empire
A. Later Mauryan rulers were not as enlightened as Asoka. They
levied high taxes, seized large portions of crops grown in the
kingdom.
B. Ended in 184 BC when last Mauryan ruler was murdered
II. The Gupta Dynasty (310 AD – 600AD)
1. Known as the Golden Age of Indian Culture
a. Chandragupta I (no relation to Chandragupta
took control of India in 310 AD
Maurya)
II. The Gupta Dynasty (310 AD – 600AD)
2. Gupta Religion
a. Promoted the learning of the Upanishads
b. Made Hinduism the official religion of the Empire
c. Built temples to god and goddesses that worshipped the
Brahmin Nerguna
II. The Gupta Dynasty (310 AD – 600AD)
3. Gupta Contributions
a. Mathematics
1 Developed the concept of zero
2. Developed the concept of infinity
3. Developed the principles of Algebra
II. The Gupta Dynasty (310 AD – 600AD)
3. Gupta Contributions
b. Astronomy
1. Realized the earth was round
2. Had some knowledge of gravity
c. Medicine
1. Doctors set bones, performed operations, and developed medical
instruments
d. Developed new textiles
II. The Gupta Dynasty (310 AD – 600AD)
3. Gupta Contributions
e. Literature
1. Mostly based on religion
2. Panchatantra – a tale that presented moral lessons
through animals acting like animals
3. Drama became important during the Gupta Empire
II. The Gupta Dynasty (310 AD – 600AD)