The establishment of the Mauryan Empire.
Chandragupta was born in the kingdom of Magadha. The kingdom was ruled by the Nanda family. Chandragupta gathered an army and went to kill the Nanda king. In 321 B.C. Chandragupta took the throne, and thus began the Mauryan Empire.
Chandragupta and his army.
To win his wars of conquest, Chandragupta raised a huge army consisting of 600,000 soldiers on foot, 30,000 soldiers on horseback, and 9,000 soldiers on elephant.
Running his army.
Following Kautilya's advice (an adviser, a member of the priestly caste) created a bureaucratic government. He divided the empire into four major provinces, each ruled by a royal prince. Each provinces then had local districts, that were ruled by its government.
Chandragupta son takes the throne in 301 B.C. and rules for 32 years. His Grandson Asoka takes the throne after, he studied Buddhism and decided to rule by the Buddha's teaching of "peace to all beings".
Chandragupta was born in the kingdom of Magadha. The kingdom was ruled by the Nanda family. Chandragupta gathered an army and went to kill the Nanda king. In 321 B.C. Chandragupta took the throne, and thus began the Mauryan Empire.
Chandragupta and his army.
To win his wars of conquest, Chandragupta raised a huge army consisting of 600,000 soldiers on foot, 30,000 soldiers on horseback, and 9,000 soldiers on elephant.
Running his army.
Following Kautilya's advice (an adviser, a member of the priestly caste) created a bureaucratic government. He divided the empire into four major provinces, each ruled by a royal prince. Each provinces then had local districts, that were ruled by its government.
Chandragupta son takes the throne in 301 B.C. and rules for 32 years. His Grandson Asoka takes the throne after, he studied Buddhism and decided to rule by the Buddha's teaching of "peace to all beings".
Buddhism and Hinduism.
By 250 B.C. Buddhism and Hinduism were the two main religions of India, but over time the beliefs of each religion began to evolve.
Buddhism
Buddhism split in half when the "new doctrine" idea spread. The "new doctrine" said that the
Buddha was a god, although the Buddha himself stressed that he was not a god. The Buddhas
belief was that each person can reach a state of peace called nirvana. After his death some of his followers developed many different interpretations of his teachings, thus creating the "new doctrine". Those who accepted the "new doctrine" were called Mahayana. Those who held the original Buddha teachings were called Theravada. The new trends in Buddhism inspired Indian art. Indians artist began carving new Buddha statues for people to worship. Wealthy Buddhists merchants paid for the construction of Stupas (mounded stone structure build over holy relics).
By 250 B.C. Buddhism and Hinduism were the two main religions of India, but over time the beliefs of each religion began to evolve.
Buddhism
Buddhism split in half when the "new doctrine" idea spread. The "new doctrine" said that the
Buddha was a god, although the Buddha himself stressed that he was not a god. The Buddhas
belief was that each person can reach a state of peace called nirvana. After his death some of his followers developed many different interpretations of his teachings, thus creating the "new doctrine". Those who accepted the "new doctrine" were called Mahayana. Those who held the original Buddha teachings were called Theravada. The new trends in Buddhism inspired Indian art. Indians artist began carving new Buddha statues for people to worship. Wealthy Buddhists merchants paid for the construction of Stupas (mounded stone structure build over holy relics).
Hinduism
In response to Buddhism, Hinduism also changed. Although they still worshiped hundreds of gods, people started to believe that there was only one force in the world, and that the gods represented parts of that force. Three of the most important gods were Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
In response to Buddhism, Hinduism also changed. Although they still worshiped hundreds of gods, people started to believe that there was only one force in the world, and that the gods represented parts of that force. Three of the most important gods were Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
Literature, Arts, Astronomy, Math, and Medicine.
A lot of Indian culture changed just like religion did. India had a period of magnificent success in Literature, Art, Science, Math, and Medicine until about 500 A.D.
Literature and Art
The city of Madurai in southern India became a site of writing. More than 2,000 poems still exist. Dram was also very popular. Groups of actors, men and women, travel around preforming shows that combined drama and dancing.
Astronomy, Mathematics, and Medicine.
Almost 1,000 years before Columbus, Indian astronomers proved that the earth was round and not flat. During a lunar eclipse, the earths shadow fell across the face the moon, and the astronomers noticed the earth shadow is curved, indication that the earth was round.
Some of the modern numbers like the zero and the decimal system were invented by Indian mathematicians. Around 500 A.D.
an Indian named Aryabhata calculated four decimals of pie, and counted the length of the solar year as 365.3586805 (that is very close to modern calculations made with an atomic clock).
In medicine, two important medical guides were complied. they describes a lot of diseases (over a thousand) and more than 500 medicinal plants.
A lot of Indian culture changed just like religion did. India had a period of magnificent success in Literature, Art, Science, Math, and Medicine until about 500 A.D.
Literature and Art
The city of Madurai in southern India became a site of writing. More than 2,000 poems still exist. Dram was also very popular. Groups of actors, men and women, travel around preforming shows that combined drama and dancing.
Astronomy, Mathematics, and Medicine.
Almost 1,000 years before Columbus, Indian astronomers proved that the earth was round and not flat. During a lunar eclipse, the earths shadow fell across the face the moon, and the astronomers noticed the earth shadow is curved, indication that the earth was round.
Some of the modern numbers like the zero and the decimal system were invented by Indian mathematicians. Around 500 A.D.
an Indian named Aryabhata calculated four decimals of pie, and counted the length of the solar year as 365.3586805 (that is very close to modern calculations made with an atomic clock).
In medicine, two important medical guides were complied. they describes a lot of diseases (over a thousand) and more than 500 medicinal plants.
Trade.
India acted as a "middle-man" in world trade. An Indian trader would buy Chinese goods and sell them to traders traveling from Rome. The routes used to help this become possible were called Silk Roads. To make their job easier as "middle-men" Indian built trading stations along the silk roads located at oases (fertile spots in desert areas).
Sea Trade
Traders used routes around the rim of the Arabian sea and up the Persian Gulf to bring goods from India to Rome. Traders from southern India would sail to southwest Asia to collect spices and sell them to roman merchants back in India. India also trader with African ivory and gold, and exported cotton cloth. The increasing amount of trade began a banking system in India.
India acted as a "middle-man" in world trade. An Indian trader would buy Chinese goods and sell them to traders traveling from Rome. The routes used to help this become possible were called Silk Roads. To make their job easier as "middle-men" Indian built trading stations along the silk roads located at oases (fertile spots in desert areas).
Sea Trade
Traders used routes around the rim of the Arabian sea and up the Persian Gulf to bring goods from India to Rome. Traders from southern India would sail to southwest Asia to collect spices and sell them to roman merchants back in India. India also trader with African ivory and gold, and exported cotton cloth. The increasing amount of trade began a banking system in India.
How can a great empire like this fall?
After Chandra Gupta the second died (ruled 375 A.D - 415 A.D.) new invaders threatened northern India. These invaders, called the Hunas, were related to the Huns who invaded the roman Empire. Over the next century, the Gupta empire broke into small kingdoms. A lot were overrun by the Hunas or other central Asian nomads. The great empire ended about 535.
After Chandra Gupta the second died (ruled 375 A.D - 415 A.D.) new invaders threatened northern India. These invaders, called the Hunas, were related to the Huns who invaded the roman Empire. Over the next century, the Gupta empire broke into small kingdoms. A lot were overrun by the Hunas or other central Asian nomads. The great empire ended about 535.