Chandragupta unified northern India in the 4th century BCE and defeated the Persian general Seleucus. He divided his empire into provinces and districts for administration and law enforcement. Chandragupta's advisor Kautilya wrote the Arthashastra, a guide for kings that supported strong central authority. In the 3rd century BCE, Emperor Asoka converted to Buddhism after a bloody battle and promoted Buddhist principles through edicts scattered across South Asia. The powerful Gupta Empire arose in the 4th century CE and saw economic prosperity through trade, as well as cultural and scientific achievements, but declined due to invasions starting in the 5th century CE, leaving India politically fragmented.

2. ChandraguptaChandragupta:: 321 BCE-298321 BCE-298
BCEBCE
 Unified northern India.Unified northern India.
 Defeated the PersianDefeated the Persian
generalgeneral SeleucusSeleucus..
 Divided his empire intoDivided his empire into
provinces, then districtsprovinces, then districts
for tax assessments and lawfor tax assessments and law
enforcement.enforcement.
 He feared assassination [like SaddamHe feared assassination [like Saddam
Hussein]Hussein]  food tasters, slept in differentfood tasters, slept in different
rooms, etc.rooms, etc.
 301 BCE301 BCE  gave up his throne & becamegave up his throne & became
a Jain.a Jain.

3. The Maurya EmpireThe Maurya Empire
321 BCE – 185 BCE321 BCE – 185 BCE

4. KautilyaKautilya
 Chandragupta’s advisor.Chandragupta’s advisor.
 Brahmin caste.Brahmin caste.
 WroteWrote The Treatise onThe Treatise on
Material GainMaterial Gain or theor the
ArthashastraArthashastra..
 A guide for the king and his ministers:A guide for the king and his ministers:
 Supports royal power.Supports royal power.
 The great evil in society isThe great evil in society is anarchyanarchy..
 Therefore, a single authority isTherefore, a single authority is
needed to employ force whenneeded to employ force when
necessary!necessary!

5. Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)Asoka (304 – 232 BCE)
 Religious conversionReligious conversion
after the gruesomeafter the gruesome
battle ofbattle of KalingaKalinga inin
262 BCE.262 BCE.
 Dedicated his life toDedicated his life to
Buddhism.Buddhism.
 Built extensive roads.Built extensive roads.
 ConflictConflict  how to balance Kautilya’show to balance Kautilya’s
methods of keeping powermethods of keeping power
and Buddha’s demands toand Buddha’s demands to
become a selfless person?become a selfless person?

6. Asoka’Asoka’
ss
EmpirEmpir
ee

7. Asoka’s law codeAsoka’s law code
 Edicts scattered inEdicts scattered in
more than 30 placesmore than 30 places
in India, Nepal,in India, Nepal,
Pakistan, & Afghanistan.Pakistan, & Afghanistan.
 Written mostly inWritten mostly in
Sanskrit, but one was inSanskrit, but one was in
Greek and Aramaic.Greek and Aramaic.
 10 rock edicts.10 rock edicts.
 Each pillar [Each pillar [stupastupa] is 40’-50’ high.] is 40’-50’ high.
 Buddhist principles dominate his laws.Buddhist principles dominate his laws.

8. One ofOne of
Asoka’Asoka’
ssStupaStupa
ss

9. WomenWomen
UnderanUnderan
AsokaAsoka
treetree

10. Turmoil & a powerTurmoil & a power
Vacuum:Vacuum:
220 BCE – 320 CE220 BCE – 320 CE
Tamils
Tamils
The Maurya Empire is divided into many kingdoms.The Maurya Empire is divided into many kingdoms.

11. Gupta Empire:Gupta Empire: 320 CE – 647320 CE – 647
CECE

12. Gupta RulersGupta Rulers
 Chandra GuptaChandra Gupta II
 r. 320 – 335 CEr. 320 – 335 CE
 ““Great King of Kings”Great King of Kings”
 Chandra Gupta IIChandra Gupta II
 r. 375 - 415 CEr. 375 - 415 CE
 Profitable trade withProfitable trade with
the Mediterraneanthe Mediterranean
world!world!
 Hindu revival.Hindu revival.
 Huns invade – 450 CEHuns invade – 450 CE

13. Fa-Hsien: Life in GuptaFa-Hsien: Life in Gupta
IndiaIndia Chinese Buddhist monk traveled along theChinese Buddhist monk traveled along the
Silk Road and visited India in the 5c.Silk Road and visited India in the 5c.
 He was following the pathHe was following the path
of the Buddha.of the Buddha.
 He reported the people toHe reported the people to
be happy, relatively free ofbe happy, relatively free of
government oppression, andgovernment oppression, and
inclined towards courtesy andinclined towards courtesy and
charity. Other references incharity. Other references in
the journal, however, indicatethe journal, however, indicate
that the caste system wasthat the caste system was
rapidly assuming its basic features, includingrapidly assuming its basic features, including
"untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest"untouchability," the social isolation of a lowest
class that is doomed to menial labor.class that is doomed to menial labor.

14. Chandra Gupta 11Chandra Gupta 11

15. International Trade RoutesInternational Trade Routes
during the Guptasduring the Guptas

16. Extensive Trade:Extensive Trade:
4c4c
spices
spices
spicesspices
gold & ivory
gold & ivory gold & ivorygold & ivory
rice & wheat
rice & wheathorseshorses
cotton goods
cotton goods
cotton goods
cotton goodssilks
silks

17. KalidasaKalidasa
 The greatest of Indian poets.The greatest of Indian poets.
 His most famous play wasHis most famous play was ShakuntalaShakuntala..
 During the reign of Chandra Gupta II.During the reign of Chandra Gupta II.

18. GuptaGupta
ArtArt
Greatly influencedGreatly influenced
Southeast Asian art & architecture.Southeast Asian art & architecture.

19. MedicineMedicineMedicineMedicine LiteratureLiteratureLiteratureLiterature
MathematicsMathematicsMathematicsMathematics
AstronomyAstronomyAstronomyAstronomy
PrintedPrinted
medicinal guidesmedicinal guides
1000 diseases1000 diseases
classifiedclassified
PlasticPlastic
SurgerySurgery
C-sectionsC-sections
performedperformed
InoculationsInoculations
500 healing500 healing
plants identifiedplants identified
DecimalDecimal
SystemSystem
ConceptConcept
of Zeroof Zero
PI = 3.1416PI = 3.1416
KalidasaKalidasa
SolarSolar
CalendarCalendar
The earthThe earth
is roundis round
GuptaGupta
IndiaIndia
GuptaGupta
AchievementsAchievements

20. The Decline of theThe Decline of the
GuptasGuptas Invasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaledInvasion of the White Huns in the 4c signaled
the end of the Gupta Golden Age, even thoughthe end of the Gupta Golden Age, even though
at first, the Guptas defeated them.at first, the Guptas defeated them.
 After the decline of the Gupta empire, northAfter the decline of the Gupta empire, north
India broke into a number of separate HinduIndia broke into a number of separate Hindu
kingdoms and was not really unified again untilkingdoms and was not really unified again until
the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.the coming of the Muslims in the 7c.
 QUESTIONQUESTION::
Is the best literature and art written asIs the best literature and art written as
the civilization is on the rise, at itsthe civilization is on the rise, at its
height, or in its decline?height, or in its decline?

21. BhartrhariBhartrhari
 5c India court poet and philosopher.5c India court poet and philosopher.
Knowledge is man's crowning mark,Knowledge is man's crowning mark,
A treasure secretly buried,A treasure secretly buried,
The source of luxury, fame, and bliss,The source of luxury, fame, and bliss,
A guru most venerable,A guru most venerable,
A friend on foreign journeys,A friend on foreign journeys,
The pinnacle of divinity.The pinnacle of divinity.
Knowledge is valued by kingsKnowledge is valued by kings
beyond wealth---beyond wealth---
When he lacks it, a man is a brute.When he lacks it, a man is a brute.