Chap 8.3 Slides Flashcards
How was India ruled in 300s BC?
Many small kingdoms existed across India in 300s BC (Many rulers)
In 300 BC, a dominant kingdom was _________, located near _____________
Magadha a dominant kingdom near Ganges
What did a strong leader called Chandragupta _________ create?
Strong leader, Chandragupta Maurya gained control
– Conquered surrounding kingdoms
– Created Mauryan empire
Who inspired Maurya to create a kingdom?
Alexander the Great
• Alexander conquered northwest India, 326 BC
Alexander’s conquest inspired Chandragupta Maurya
How did Maurya create the kingdom?
Seized throne of kingdom of Magadha, 321 BC
How did Maurya conquer land?
Chandragupta built army,
60,000 soldiers
- Chariots, war elephants
- Began conquering northern India
By 303 BC, the _________ empire controlled __________ (where?)
Mauryan empire controlled northern India, 303 BC
• Also controlled what is now Afghanistan
The greatest Mauryan city was _________
Pataliputra
Greatest city, Mauryan capital: palaces, temples, parks
How was the Mauryan capital run?
Government controlled economy;
emperor owned land, rent to farmers
After Maurya gave up throne, who ruled?
Chandragupta gave up throne, 301 BC, became monk
• Son became emperor, followed by grandson Ashoka
What did emperor Ashoka accomplish?
- Mauryan empire reached height under Ashoka
- Expended empire
Ashoka was appalled by __________ and changed his rule
Kalinga campaign (Kaligna)
Violence of fighting at Kalinga appalled Ashoka
How did Ashoka change his rule?
What did he promote?
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
How long did the Mauryan empire last?
How did it collapse?
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
After the Mauryan empire collapse, how was India?
India was divided into small kingdoms for about 400 years.
In AD 320, who rose to power?
Then around AD 320, the Gupta dynasty took over northern India
The founder of Gupta empire was __________
How did he take over India?
Founder was Chandra Gupta I
• Chandra conquered neighboring lands
How did the Gupta empire rule all of India?
Who governed? How?
What did local rulers have to do?
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
The empire peaked under ___________
the empire reached its height under Chandra Gupta II
How did Chandra Gupta II rule India?
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
How did Gupta support Hinduism?
Support of Hinduism
- Under Guptas, Hinduism became main religion
- Built Hindu temples
- Buddhism began to lose influence
How did Gupta’s rule end?
Began to weaken, late 400s
- Loose Gupta control allowed some parts of empire to break away
- Central Asian nomads, Huns, began invading India
What caused the Gupta empire to weaken?
After Gupta rule ended, what happened to India?
Problems disrupted trade
- Gupta military efforts to defend empire drained treasury
- Gupta rule ended, AD 550
- Again India divided into small, regional kingdoms
