Chap 8.3 Slides

Question 1

How was India ruled in 300s BC?

Answer 1

Many small kingdoms existed across India in 300s BC (Many rulers)

Question 2

In 300 BC, a dominant kingdom was _________, located near _____________

Answer 2

Magadha a dominant kingdom near Ganges

Question 3

What did a strong leader called Chandragupta _________ create?

Answer 3

Strong leader, Chandragupta Maurya gained control

– Conquered surrounding kingdoms

– Created Mauryan empire

Question 4

Who inspired Maurya to create a kingdom?

Answer 4

Alexander the Great

• Alexander conquered northwest India, 326 BC

Alexander’s conquest inspired Chandragupta Maurya

Question 5

How did Maurya create the kingdom?

Answer 5

Seized throne of kingdom of Magadha, 321 BC

Question 6

How did Maurya conquer land?

Answer 6

Chandragupta built army,

60,000 soldiers

• Chariots, war elephants
• Began conquering northern India

Question 7

By 303 BC, the _________ empire controlled __________ (where?)

Answer 7

Mauryan empire controlled northern India, 303 BC

• Also controlled what is now Afghanistan

Question 8

The greatest Mauryan city was _________

Answer 8

Pataliputra

Greatest city, Mauryan capital: palaces, temples, parks

Question 9

How was the Mauryan capital run?

Answer 9

Government controlled economy;

emperor owned land, rent to farmers

Question 10

After Maurya gave up throne, who ruled?

Answer 10

Chandragupta gave up throne, 301 BC, became monk

• Son became emperor, followed by grandson Ashoka

Question 11

What did emperor Ashoka accomplish?

Answer 11

• Mauryan empire reached height under Ashoka
• Expended empire

Question 12

Ashoka was appalled by __________ and changed his rule

Answer 12

Kalinga campaign (Kaligna)

Violence of fighting at Kalinga appalled Ashoka

Question 13

How did Ashoka change his rule?

What did he promote?

Answer 13

Abandoned policy of conquest and converted to Buddhism

• Began to promote, spread policy of right conduct, Buddhism
• Supported Buddhist missionaries, improved lives of his people

Question 14

How long did the Mauryan empire last?

How did it collapse?

Answer 14

Mauryan empire began to decline following death of

Ashoka, 232 BC

• Sons battled for power, provinces began to slip away
• Last emperor killed by one of his generals, 184 BC
• Mauryan empire lasted 140 years, then collapsed

Question 15

After the Mauryan empire collapse, how was India?

Answer 15

India was divided into small kingdoms for about 400 years.

Question 16

In AD 320, who rose to power?

Answer 16

Then around AD 320, the Gupta dynasty took over northern India

Question 17

The founder of Gupta empire was __________

How did he take over India?

Answer 17

Founder was Chandra Gupta I

• Chandra conquered neighboring lands

Question 18

How did the Gupta empire rule all of India?

Who governed? How?

What did local rulers have to do?

Answer 18

Divided main part of empire into units

• Royal officials governed each unit
• Governed through local rulers in distant conquered areas
• Local rulers had to pay tribute

Question 19

The empire peaked under ___________

Answer 19

the empire reached its height under Chandra Gupta II

Question 20

How did Chandra Gupta II rule India?

Answer 20

Chandra Gupta II, ruled from AD 375 to 415

• Expanded empire, strengthened economy
• Reign was period of prosperity
• Described empire as rich, prosperous, and punishments fair

Question 21

How did Gupta support Hinduism?

Answer 21

Support of Hinduism

• Under Guptas, Hinduism became main religion
• Built Hindu temples
• Buddhism began to lose influence

Question 22

How did Gupta’s rule end?

Answer 22

Began to weaken, late 400s

• Loose Gupta control allowed some parts of empire to break away
• Central Asian nomads, Huns, began invading India

Question 23

What caused the Gupta empire to weaken?

After Gupta rule ended, what happened to India?

Answer 23

Problems disrupted trade

• Gupta military efforts to defend empire drained treasury
• Gupta rule ended, AD 550
• Again India divided into small, regional kingdoms