India L5: Maurya Empire

India L5: Maurya Empire

Learn about the rise of the Maurya Empire through Chandragupta and Ashoka

Maurya Empire

Around 321 BC, a new ruler came to the throne of a kingdom in northeastern India. Within 35 years, the tiny kingdom had grown into the giant Maurya Empire. Chandragupta Maurya founded India's Maurya Empire.

 Chandragupta had been born to a poor family and sold into slavery at a young age. But later, when he became king, Chandragupta enjoyed luxuries from all parts of Asia. When he appeared before his subjects, he was often seated in a golden chair carried on his servants’ shoulders. Sometimes he rode on an elephant covered with jewels.

Multiple Choice

What kind of family did Chandragupta grow up in?

• wealthy family

• king and royalty

• poor family

• supportive family

Rise of the Maurya Empire

India was made up of a number of warring states before Chandragupta came to power. Strong and ruthless, Chandragupta’s armies overthrew kingdoms along the Ganges River. Turning west, the armies advanced into the Indus River Valley. In only a few years, Chandragupta's power extended over most of northern and central India.

Multiple Select

What 2 words describe Chandragupta's army?

• enormous

• strong

• ruthless

• smart

Absolute power

 Chandragupta was guided by the basic belief that a ruler must have absolute power. According to legend, one of Chandragupta's advisors gave him a book of advice called Arthashastra. The book urged kings to maintain control of their subjects and to establish an army of spies to inform on them. Chandragupta used the book's advice on government as his guide to building an empire.

Open Ended

What did the book Arthasastra urge kings to do?

Army

 Chandragupta commanded a huge army. Thousands of foot soldiers and mounted troops are ready to enforce the law to crush any revolt. The army also had a herd of 9,000 war elephants, which struck fear into the hearts of opponents.

Multiple Choice

Which one of these things was not a part of Chandragupta's army?

• foot soldiers

• mounted troops

• war elephants

• charioteers

Economy flourishes

 Under Chandragupta, the empire enjoyed great economic success. Most of its wealth came from farming. The Maurya Empire also built up trade with such far away places as Greece, Rome, and China.

Multiple Select

During Chandragupta’s rule, the empire grew wealthy through what two things?

• trade

• conquest

• slavery

• farming

 However, as his rule continued, Chandragupta became fearful for his life. Afraid of being poisoned, he made servants taste his food. He slept in a different room every night to ward off assassins, or people who murder rulers or political figures. One story says that near the end of his life, Chandragupta left the throne to his son and became a monk in southern India. Fasting and praying, he starved himself to death.

Multiple Choice

"Afraid of being poisoned, he made servants taste his food. He slept in a different room every night to ward off assassins."

What word from this excerpt means "someone who murders for political reasons?"

• servant

• poisoned

• assassin

• ward

Open Ended

How did Chandragupta die?

Chandragupta's legacy

Chandragupta did not gain wealth for himself only. Although his rule was harsh, he used his wealth to improve his empire. New irrigation systems brought water to farmers. Forests were cleared and more food was produced. Government officials promoted crafts and mining. A vast network of roads made it easier for Mauryan traders to exchange goods with foreign lands. Chandragupta’s leadership brought order and peace to his people.

Open Ended

Name 2 achievements that improved Chandragupta's empire.

Ashoka's leadership

Chandragupta passed the leadership of the Maurya Empire on to his son. After the son died in 273 BC, Chandragupta's grandson, Ashoka, gained power. Ashoka, whose name means “without sorrow,” further expanded Chandragupta's Empire. By the end of his lengthy rule in 232 BC, Ashoka had built the greatest empire India had ever seen.

Multiple Choice

Who built the greatest empire for India?

• Chandragupta

• Chandragupta's son

• Chandragupta's grandson

 For more than 35 years, Ashoka ruled an empire that included much of the Indian subcontinent. During the first years of his rule, Ashoka was as warlike as his grandfather had been. He conquered new territories which were not yet part of the empire.

Battle of Kalinga

 Early in his rule, Ashoka led his army south into the state of Kalinga. In about 261 BC, he won a bloody battle in which thousands and thousands of people were injured or died. The great slaughter at Kalinga was a turning point in Asdhoka’s life. He was filled with sorrow over the bloodshed.

Open Ended

Why was the battle of Kalinga a turning point for Asoka?

Becomes a Buddhist

Ashoka gave up war and violence. He freed his prisoners and restored their land. Later he chose to convert, or change his beliefs, to Buddhism. Ashoka also spread the message of Buddhism to the people of his empire.

Multiple Choice

Asoka converted to Buddhism after the battle at Kalinga. What does the word in bold mean?

• changed his beliefs

• changed how he rules

• became an immortal

• left the throne

 Ashoka practiced and preached the teachings of the Buddha. He did not allow the use of animals for sacrifices. He gave up hunting, the traditional sport of Indian kings.

 Ashoka thought of his people as his children and was concerned about their welfare. He had hospitals built throughout his kingdom. He even had wells dug every mile beside the road so that travelers and animals would not go thirsty.

Open Ended

Name 2 things Asoka did for his people and other livings in his empire.

The Buddhist ruler

 Ashoka was also concerned with his people's moral and spiritual life. To carry the Buddha’s message throughout his vast empire, Ashoka issued writings of moral advice. Some writings urged people to honor their parents. Others asked people not to kill animals. Still others encouraged people to behave with truthfulness and tolerance, which is freedom from prejudice.

Multiple Select

Choose the example that shows TOLERANCE.

• Treat others the way you want to be treated.

• You can't sit here with us.

• You are different so we can't be friends.

• A man from India was mean to me once, so all men from India are mean

Ashoka also issued laws requiring that people be treated humanely. Throughout his empire, his advice and laws were carved onto stone pillars about 40 feet high. Also, to honor the Buddha a stupa, or Buddhist monument, were built in India. Written on the stupas were the teachings of the Buddha.

Multiple Choice

What was carved on to the stone pillars and stupas?

• ways to live happily

• advice on how to become wealthy

• moral advice and the teachings of the Buddha

• laws about intolerance

Ashoka practiced religious tolerance toward the Hindus. During his rule, many of the Buddha's teachings became part of Hinduism. Buddhism grew under Ashoka. He sent missionaries far and wide to spread its message. It was missionaries sent by Ashoka who spread Buddhism to China. Ashoka's sister and brother went to the island of Sri Lanka as Buddhist missionaries. He even sent teachers to Egypt, Greece, and North Africa.

Open Ended

How did Buddhism spread to China and other areas?

After Ashoka

 At the time of Ashoka's death, India was united as never before. After his death, however, the great Maurya Empire declined. Without his strong leadership, his territories became divided. Small states began fighting with one another. Several centuries of invasion and disorder followed. It took almost 600 years before India was united again.

Multiple Choice

What happened to Asoka’s empire after he died?

• the states united

• people embraced Buddhism

• wealth and conquest

• invasion and disorder