Chapter 5 Section 4-Ancient India

Chapter 5 Section 4-Ancient India

Indian Empires

Mauryan Empire Unifies India

• Candragupta Maurya took over the northern part of India and founded the Mauryan Empire.

• The government had spies and 600,000 soldiers.

• Candragupta became a Jainist monk and gave up his throne. He passed it on to his son.

Asoka

• He was Candragupta's grandson.

• He was a strong ruler and conquered other kingdoms.

• Asoka converted to Buddhism. He improved the lives of his people by building roads, digging wells and planting shade trees.

• He encouraged the spread of Buddhism. He sent missionaries to lands all over Asia.

• He died in 233 BC and the empire began to fall apart. India divided into smaller states again.

Gupta Rulers Promote Hinduism

• India was divided for about 500 years. Buddhism spread and Hinduism declined.

• Then a new dynasty was established. It was called the Gupta dynasty.

• India united again and began to prosper again.

• Candra Gupta I was the first emperor, but he was not related to Candragupta Maurya.

• These rulers were Hindu, so Hinduism became India's major religion.

• Even though they were Hindu, they supported the beliefs of Buddhism and Jainism.

Candra Gupta II

• In 375 BC this emperor took over.

• Gupta society reached its high point during his rule.

• People prospered and created fine works of art and literature.

• The Hindu caste system was an important part of Indian society under Gupta rule.

• Gupta rule remained strong until the late 400s BC.

• The Huns invaded India from the Northwest and the Gupta Empire lost its power and wealth by the middle of the 500s BC.

• India divided into small kingdoms again!