Classical
India
Mauryan Empire
❏India
❏321-180 B.C.E.
❏From the Indus River Valley to the
Ganges River Valley South to the Deccan
Plateau
Mauryan Empire
❏Founded by Chandagupta Maurya
❏Unified the smaller kingdoms
❏Ashoka, his grandson, grew the
civilization into Empire
What allowed the Mauryan
Empire to become powerful?
❏Trade
❏ Indian merchants traded silk, cotton,
elephants to Mesopotamia and the Roman
Empire
❏Military
❏ Ruthless and powerful
Ashoka
❏Bloody victory over the Kalinga changed
him.
❏Turned to non-violence and
converted to Buddhism
Rock and Pillar Edicts
❏Reminded Mauryans to live
generous and righteous lives
❏Carved on rocks and pillars
Decline of Mauryan Empire
❏Death of Ashoka
❏ Economic problems
❏ attacks from the Northeast
Rise of the
Gupta Empire
Gupta Empire
❏India
❏320 - 550 C.E.
❏Decentralized and smaller
❏A Golden Age
❏ Advances in Art and Science
❏Relative Peace
Gupta Mathematicians
❏Pi (3.14)
❏Added zero
❏Developed a decimal system
Re-emergence of Hinduism
❏Reinforced caste system
❏Developed a rigid social structure
❏Women lost rights
❏ Completely under the control of men
❏ Lost right to own and inherit property
❏ Could not participate in rituals or study
religion
Collapse of Empire
❏Collapsed under pressure from the White
Huns