The document summarizes the Mauryan Dynasty in ancient India, the rule of Emperor Ashoka, and Indian culture during this period. The Mauryan Dynasty established a centralized government and divided the empire into provinces. Ashoka, the greatest ruler of ancient India, used Buddhism to guide his rule and expanded India's trade and influence. Indian culture flourished, with developments in literature, architecture, science, and the establishment of the Silk Road connecting India to other regions.

1. New Empires In India
Ch 3-2

2. Mauryan Dynasty
• Started by Chandragupta Maurya
• Had a centralized government
• Divided empire up into provinces

3. ASOKA
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Grandson of Chandragupta
Greatest ruler in history of ancient India
Used Buddhism to guide his rule
Had many hospitals for his people built
Made India a major trade crossroad
Expanded trade
Empire fell apart after his death

4. SILK ROAD
• Route that went from Roman
Empire to China
• Called Silk Road because of the
silk was a valuable product
• Covered 4,000 miles

5. Indian Culture
• Literature
–Vedas
• Indian religion texts
• Written in Sanskrit
• Historical epics were also written
• Mahabharata and Ramayana were
two examples

6. Architecture
• Pillar
– Large stone pillars that told Buddhism ideas
• Stupa
– Large areas for Buddhist devotion
– Looked like burial mounds
• Rock chamber
– Places carved out of cliffs, usually for Buddhist
monks to live and work in

7. Science
• Astronomy
– Earth was a sphere
– It rotated on an axis and revolved around the Sun
• Mathematics
– Algebra
– Concept of 0
– Numeral system we use today