Powerful Empires of India

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Powerful Empires of India

• Mauryan Empire, Tamil Kingdom, and Mongol Empire

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Maurya Empire Under Asoka

• Becomes Emperor in 268 B.C.E
• Fought long bloody civil war
• Killed 100,000 people
• Horrified
• Converted to Buddhism
• Rejected violence and resolved to rule by moral
  example

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Asokas Policies

• Lived by Buddhist principles of respect for all
  life
• Stopped eating meat
• Missionaries to spread Buddhism across India and
  Sri Lanka
• Preached tolerance for other religions
• Set stone pillars across India offering advice
  promising a just government

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Achievments

• His rule brought peace and prosperity
• Helped to unite diverse groups within his kingdom
• Built hospitals and Buddhist shrines
• Built roads and rest houses
• Grew trees along the road to provide shade
• Dug wells

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Map of the Mauryan Empire 250 B.C.E
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Asokas Stone Pillars
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Decline 185 B.C.E

• Division after Asokas death
• Maurya Empire shattered as rival princes fought
  for power
• India has never been united for too long
• Too many languages
• Too big
• Many invaders

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Tamil Kingdom

• Occupied much of southernmost India
• Built up harbors to reinforce trade
• Trade in spices, fine textiles, and other
  luxuries to the Roman Empire and China
• Legacy of literature

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Map of Tamil Kingdoms
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Cochin
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Mughal India

• 1525- Turkish and Mongol armies invade India
• Babur- Descendant of Genghis Khan defeat Delhi
  sultanate
• Sets up Mughal dynasty which rules from 1526-1857

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Akbar the Great

• Baburs grandson 1556-1605
• Tolerant he was Muslim - Pluralism
• Akbar the Great
• Ended taxes on non-Muslims
• Had a council from all religions

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Taj Mahal

• Shah Jahan- Akbars grandson
• His wife Mumtaz Mahal died
• Built a tomb
• Shah Jahan died in prison

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