India’s First Empires

1. India’s First Empires Chapter 4 Section 3

2. Did You Know? • Following Buddhist ways, Asoka respected all life and even created hospitals for animals.

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 Empire” • Dynasty: is a series of ruler from the same family. • From the capital city of Pataliputra, Chandragupta controlled his dynasty by retaining a strong army and spies. • Many historians consider Asoka the Mauryan dynasty’s greatest king. • After being a strong military leader, Asoka turned away from violence. • He made a vow to live a peaceful life and follow Buddhism. • Asoka did many great things for his people. • He built hospitals and new roads and sent teachers throughout India to teach Buddhism. • Laborers built thousands of stupas, or Buddhist shrines.

4. Discussion Question • What happened as a result of Alexander the Great’s invasion of northern India? • Alexander the Great’s army weakened the people of India. • After Alexander the Great and his men left, the people could not resist Chandragupta.

5. The Gupta Empire • After 500 years of fighting, another Chandragupta took power and founded the Gupta dynasty. • After Chandragupta died, his son, Samudragupt, 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. • Pilgrims: were people who often used the trade routes to travel to a religious shrine or site. • Visiting pilgrims helped make cities wealthy just as tourists make cities wealthy today. • The Guptas were Hindus, and they made Hinduism the official religion. • The Golden Age of Art and Learning in India was during the Gupta Empire.

6. Discussion Question • What advantage did the Gupta rulers have that the Mauryan rulers did not? • The kingdom had gotten smaller before the Gupta rulers took power. • A smaller kingdom is easier to rule.

7. Indian Literature and Science • The Vedas of India are hymns and prayers used in religious ceremonies. • The epics Ramayana and Mahabarata that are still famous in India today. • Both epics tell about warriors and their brave deeds. • This is the center of Hinduism. • Kalidasa: was a writer who lived during the Gupta dynasty. His poem The Cloud Messenger is a popular Sanskrit poem. • Music was an important part of the religious and social lives of people of India.

8. Indian Literature and Science continued • Remains of Indian art include mainly religious works made in stone. • 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. • They also invented algorithms and the idea of zero. • Indians also developed ideas in astronomy and medicine.

9. Discussion Question • What kinds of medical advances were made by Gupta doctors? • Gupta doctors could set broken bones and perform surgeries. • The also developed medical tools. • One doctor even carried out an early form of plastic surgery.