WH Chapter 4 Section 2 Notes
- 2. In 321 BC, Chandragupta Maurya forged the first great Indian empire The capital of the empire was at Pataliputra Had a well-organized bureaucracy---royal officials supervised the building of roads and harbors to benefit trade, other officials collected taxes and managed state-owned factories and shipyards
- 6. Chandragupta’s rule was effective but harsh A brutal secret police reported on corruption, crime, and dissent Specially trained women warriors guarded his palace
- 7. The most honored Maurya emperor was Asoka, Chandragupta’s grandson He converted to Buddhism, rejected violence, and resolved to rule by moral example He sent missionaries to spread Buddhism across India and to Sri Lanka He thus paved the way for the later spread of Buddhism throughout Asia
- 9. About 500 years after the Mauryas, the Gupta dynasty again united much of India Gupta emperors organized a strong central government that promoted peace and prosperity Under the Guptas, who ruled from 320-550 AD, India enjoyed a golden age
- 10. Trade and farming flourished across the Gupta empire Students were educated in religious schools The large Buddhist monastery-university at Nalanda, which attracted students from other parts of Asia, taught mathematics, medicine, physics, language s, literature, and other subjects
- 11. Indian mathematicians originated the concept of zero and developed the decimal system of numbers (based on 10) that we still use today
- 12. Rajahs sponsored the building of stone temples Hindu temples were designed to reflect cosmic patterns Check out the chalkboard for the Hindu symbol for “eternity” Buddhists built splendid stupas, large domed-shaped shrines that housed the remains of the Buddha or other holy people
- 14. The greatest Gupta poet and playwright was Kalidasa His most famous work is the play Shakuntala
- 15. Hindus developed dances to express their religion Mudras---complex hand gestures
- 18. Listen for the explanation for this project!!!