India's First Empires

How and when was the Mauryan Empire established?

321 BCE, Chandragupta Mauryan, a military leader got an army together and killed the Nanda king of the Magadha kingom and took over.

When did the Turmoil end in India and who brought an end to this?

500 years after the Asoka's death, a new strong leader arose known as Chandra Gupta (no relation to Chandragupta) and established the Gupta Empire. It was a time of a lot arts.

What causes Asoka to promote Buddhism?

After a war against Kalinga, a state neighbor Asoka felt bad for all the slaughter at Kalinga. This caused him to research the religion and find "peace to all beings."

How did Asoka improve communication and transportation?

Asoka built long roads around the corners of India and he also improved them.

Who was the third king of the Gupta Empire, reign time, and what was his significance?

Chandra Gupta II ruled 375-415 CE for his heroism expanded territory to the west Indian coast by defeating the Shakas. This allowed the empire to trade with Meditteranean empires.

How and when did Chandra Gupta obtain the empire?

Chandra Gupta married the daughter of a royal family and became king around 320 CE. His son, Sumudra ruled in 335 CE and expanded the kingdom through 40 years of conquest.

Where did Chandragupta Mauryan expand his empire?

Chandragupta Mauryan moved northwest taking over the rest of Magadha.

What strategies did Chandragupta use to win the war for control over the Indus Valley?

Chandragupta won by raising a big army of 600,000 men on foot, 30,000 horsemen, and 900 elephants. To feed and pay soldiers, high taxes were imposed on civilians.

How did Chandragupta rule the Mauryan Empire?

Chandragupta's advisor Kautilya wrote the Arthasastra, a handbook on how to rule. This caused a bureaucratic government and the empire was divided into 4 provinces.

What was the effect of Asoka's death in India?

Regional kings challenged imperial empires, smaller kingdoms became independent, and a new dynasty, the Andhra dynasty arose and ruled for hundreds of years.

How big was the Mauryan Empire by 303 BCE?

The Empire was 2,000 miles long. It also united Northern India with the empire for the first time.

What was Selecus's ambassador's name and how was the capital of the Mauryan empire described as?

Megasthenes, was the ambassador and described the city as rich and thriving with activity.

Who were the Tamil?

The Tamil kingdom is a southern Indian kingdom that was one of the three kingdoms under the rule of the Mauryan Empire.

Who was the greatest Mauryan Empire ruler?

Chandragupta's grandson, ASOKA.

What was the family structure like in Southern India?

Families were mostly matriarchal.

What was the family structure like in the Gupta Empire?

Families were mostly patriarchal and everyone worked on growing crops.

What is significant about this Empire? Give detail.

First era that historians have an account of daily Indian life. Most lived in small villages and farmers were the majority and merchants grouped around different parts of towns.

When did India become a melting pot? Who were the people and what effects did they leave on India?

Greeks, Persians, and Central Asians came to India around 185 BCE. They disrupted and brought new ideas that were embedded with India customs.