New Empires In India

1
New Empires In India
2
India After Alexander

• Alexander briefly conquered Northwest India in
  327 BC
• Briefly united and spread Greek culture

3
The Mauryan Dynasty

• Alexanders death left a void in the region
• Chandragupta Maurya pushed out the Greek
  occupying forces to establish the first Indian
  Empire in 324 BC
• The Mauryan Empire thrived on centralized power

4
The Mauryan Empire

• The king had a large army and a secret police
• Region was divided into provinces and ruled by
  appointed governors
• Provinces were divided into districts ruled by
  appointed officials

5
The Mauryan Empire

• Chandragupta Maurya retired and turned over rule
  to his son, Bindusara
• Bindusara ruled for a short time and turned over
  rule to his son, Asoka
• Asoka ruled from 269 to 232 BC and is considered
  to be the greatest ruler in Indian history
• After a period of bloody conquest, Asoka
  converted to Buddhism and tried to rule
  kindheartedly

6
Asokas Rule

• Set up hospitals for people and animals
• Tired to convert people to Buddhism
• Trade and industry flourished
• After Asokas death in 232 BC the Mauryan Empire
  declined

7
Trade in the Mauryan Dynasty

• India became one of the most advanced trading
  civilizations of the ancient world
• India became a crossroads for trade between China
  and the Mediterranean world
• Exports spices, salt, perfumes, jewels,
  textiles, ivory
• Imports gold, tin, lead, wine

8
India after the Mauryan Dynasty

• In the first century AD nomadic warriors seized
  power and established the Kushan kingdom
• Controlled Northern India while the rest of India
  remained in conflict
• Controlled trade routes between the Roman Empire
  and China to become very wealthy
• The Silk Road

9
The Silk Road

• The connection between the Mediterranean world
  and India was widespread
• Resulted in the establishment of Roman
  settlements along the Indian coast
• China remained the main supplier of silk to the
  Mediterranean world for centuries

10
The Silk Road
11
The Kingdom of the Guptas

• The Kushan Kingdom came to an end in the 3rd
  century AD
• In 320 a local prince, Chandragupta, established
  a new empire in the Ganges Valley
• His son Samudragupta expanded the empire into the
  surrounding areas
• The kingdom of the Guptas became the dominant
  political force in Northern India

12
The Kingdom of the Guptas

• The Guptas created a new age of Indian
  civilization
• Actively engaged in trade with China, Southeast
  Asia, and the Mediterranean
• Prosperous cities developed along trade routes
• Religious pilgrims spread culture and technology

13
The Kingdom of the Guptas

• Prosperity from trade aided the growth of the
  state
• Trade was regulated by the government
• Gold and silver made the ruling class very
  wealthy

14
Decline of the Guptas

• By the 5th century AD, invasions by the Huns
  gradually reduced the strength of the empire
• Harsa briefly revived the empire in the 7th
  century
• After his death the empire of the Guptas fell
  apart

15
The World of Indian Culture

• The reign of Chandragupta 2 is seen as the high
  point of Indian culture
• India has made great contributions in literature,
  science, sculpture, art, and medicine