Chapter 8 Section 3 (pages 211 to 214)

Foreign invaders began occupy the Indus River Civilizations. One Indian kingdom, Magadha, was expanding to the North. It would eventually decline but not before becoming the center of India’s first empire.

The Mauryan Empire

· In 321 B.C., a military officer named Chandragupta Maura overthrew the Magadhan king and proclaimed himself ruler.

1. Skilled administrator

2. Created a postal system, strong army, and using an extensive spy network to control his empire.

3. Kingdom included most of northern and central India and lasted until 184 B.C.

· Asoka’s Enlightened Rule

1. Chandragupta’s grandson. During his reign, Indian civilization blossomed.(274 B.C. to 232 B.C.)

2. Conquered 2/3 of the Indian subcontinent by force.

3. After a battle, he was disturbed by horrified at all the death. Renounced war and began to follow the teachings of Buddha.

4. During reign, missionaries spread Buddhism throughout India and Asia.

5. Wrote the Rock Edicts (laws of the land, stressing concern for others, writing in the local language, carved on rocks and stone pillars)

6. Promoted Buddhism but still allowed subjects to practice Hinduism if they wished. Caste system continued.

· After his death, 232 B.C. Mauryan rulers ruled harshly and the people murdered the last ruler and India split into many small warring kingdoms.

The Gupta Empire

500 years passed before India was united again

· 310 A.D. Chandragupta I (no relation) began to rebuild empire. Making Magadha the base of his kingdom.

1. Introduced the Gupta dynasty that ruled northern India for 200 years.

2. Known as India’s Golden Age because the arts and sciences flourished.

3. Used trained soldiers, spies, and political assassins to maintain power whatever way they believed necessary.

4. Encouraged learning based on the Upanishads.

· Gupta Life

1. Reached its height under Chandragupta II (375 A.D. and 415 A.D.) a Buddhist monk.

2. Began to write down rules for everything (grammar to politics)

3. Sanskrit became major language of the North.

4. Women place in society fell even lower. Could be married off by family. Highly respected, but had little power or independence.

5. Panchatantra presented moral lessons through animals who acted like humans.

6. Developed the principles of Algebra, explained infinity, and created zero (0).

7. Created “Arabic numerals”

☻ The Golden Age Ends

1. Fell to foreign invaders

2. Present day India still contain many of the cultural aspects that began during the Golden Age!