Unit 10 IndiaAncient Indian Dynasties and Empires

Objectives:1. Explain how the Mauryan

rulers increased their power.2. Examine the reasons for the

decline of Gupta rule.

Rise of the Mauryan Empire•Geograph

y

•Chandragupta Maurya

kept out invaders, but left did not unify India.

established this empire that lasted about 150 years.

Chandragupta Maurya

•Raised an army of 600,000 soldiers who were equipped with thousands of chariots and elephants.

•Army united northern India

•Established a strict government to carry out his commands.

Asoka (came to power around 270 B.C.)

•Chandragupta’s grandson▫Even greater ruler

•Fought bloody wars to increase the size of his kingdom.▫Became a Buddhist when he was

sick of all the bloodshed

• Spread the faith of Buddhism and reversed many of the polices of those before him.

• Enlarged the Empire until it included all of India except the southern tip of the subcontinent. (AKA—the first imperial dynasty to hold nearly all of India)

Asoka’s Empire

How did he unite a diverse empire?

Improved living conditions Planted trees Wells were dug Rest houses along trade routes

•After his death, the empire began to split apart due to quarrelling of his sons.

Gupta Rulers (300 to 550 A.D.)

•New dynasty emerged because of the decline of Buddhism and growth of Hinduism.

•Chandra Gupta I-founder

•Empire spread due to conquest

•Empire included all of northern India

Gupta Rule • Indian civilization flourished

• Favored Hinduism but allowed Buddhism; however Hinduism is the dominant religion

• “Golden Age”early years of Gupta rule where the Indian civilization flourished

▫Chandra Gupta II Progress made in the arts

• Gupta political system gave much power to the local rulers.