India's Classical Empires: The Mauryan and Gupta

​ In this lesson, students will be able to identify characteristics of the Maurya and Gupta Empires. Students will be able to identify and/or define the following terms:

Chandragupta Maurya

Asoka

Chandra Gupta II

Gupta Empire
Golden Age

​Think to yourself. Make some observations about the geography of the picture.

Multiple Choice

What modern day nation was the Mauryan Empire located in?

• China

• Afghanistan

• India

Multiple Choice

True or False: Chandragupta Maurya unified the northwestern and northeastern parts of India.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Chandragupta Maurya was a harsh ruler.

• False

• True

​Watch the video on Asoka.

Multiple Choice

Asoka is known to be the first king in history to give up:

• money

• power

• war

Multiple Choice

Asoka was accepting of other religions.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which religion did did Asoka accept?

• Islam

• Buddhism

• Christianity

• Judaism

Multiple Choice

What did Asoka use to make sure people of his empire knew the Buddhist values that he wanted to spread?

• messengers

• scrolls

• edicts

Multiple Choice

The spread of Buddhism to Southeast Asia, China, and Japan is an example of:

• imperialism

• cultural diversity

• ethnocentrism

• cultural diffusion

Fill in the Blanks

The Mauryan Empire began to weaken after the

of Asoka.

Poll

Asoka was a respectable leader of the Mauryan Empire.

• Agree

• Disagree

Multiple Choice

Chandra Gupta II did all of the following EXCEPT:

• increase trade

• fight a war with Europe

• expand the empire in the north

Multiple Select

What did the Guptas get from Arabia in exchange for rice and wheat?

choose all that apply

• silk

• spices

• dates

• horses

​Gupta Golden Age Achievements

​Watch the brief video about the achievements of the Gupta Empire

Multiple Choice

All of the following were achievements of the Gupta Empire EXCEPT:

• the decimal system

• the concept of zero

• using plants to cure diseases and knew how to set broken bones.

• believing the earth was flat

Poll

In what area do you think the Gupta Golden Age made its greatest achievement?

• Medicine

• Art

• Literature

• Math

​Answer the following multiple choice questions.

Multiple Choice

Which statement can best be supported by the information shown on the map on the previous slide.

• By 260 B.C., the Mauryan Empire extended north into Central China.

• Most of the Gupta Empire was located on the Deccan Plateau.

• The economies of India’s early empires were based on trade.

• The Mauryan Empire controlled more of the Indian subcontinent than the Gupta Empire did.

Multiple Choice

Which civilization best completes the title of the outline?

• Gupta Empire

• Qin Dynasty

• Roman Empire

• Song Dynasty

Multiple Choice

-​Art and literature flourished during the Gupta Empire.

-Indian scholars developed the concept of zero.

-Indian provinces were united after 200 years of civil war.

The information in the statements above refers to:

• effects of European involvement in India

• India's Golden Age

• effects of isolationism

• Islamic achievements in India.