Early Empires of South Asia

1. Early Empires of South Asia

2. Identifying Essential Information • Read pages 183-186 • Using any note taking technique we have used in class • Identify • Leaders • Accomplishments • Decline of the Maurya Empire and Gupta Empire

3. Maurya Empire • From 321-200 BC – • Chandragupta Maurya founded empire • Major Accomplishments • United Northern Plains – large empire • Government – tax collecting, trade, military • Architecture – buildings, palaces • Economy – irrigation, trade • Religion – spread of Buddhism

5. Asoka: 269B.C -232 B.C. Brought empire to height of its power

7. Asoka: 269B.C -232 B.C. • Brought empire to height of its power + united • Military power • He embraced Buddhism after witnessing the mass deaths of the war of Kalinga • Tolerance “All faiths deserve to be honored for one reason or another” • Promoted Buddhism • spread to missionaries to China and Southeast Asia = diffusion – built stupas

8. Asoka Asoka's Major Rock Edict at Junagadh contains inscriptions by Asoka Asoka The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka, as well as boulders and cave walls, made by the Emperor Ashoka of the Mauryan dynasty during his reign from 269 BCE to 231 BCE. These inscriptions are dispersed throughout the areas of modern-day Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan and represent the first tangible evidence of Buddhism. The edicts describe in detail the first wide expansion of Buddhism through the sponsorship of one of the most powerful kings of Indian history. Sanchi Gate and Stupa, built at time of Asoka

9. Ashoka's Major Rock Edict at Junagadh contains inscriptions by Ashoka Asoka The four animals in the Lion Capital are believed to symbolize different phases in Lord Buddha’s life.. National Emblem of India Sanchi Gate and Stupa, built at time of Asoka

10. Decline • After Asoka’s death empire lasted 50 more years • Followed by 500 years of unrest with many invaders

11. Gupta Empire • From 320-535 AD – Northern India • Trade = Peace and prosperity • Leader: Chandragupta I • Major Accomplishments • Government – well organized • Art & Architecture – buildings, palaces, paintings of daily life, literature • Mathematics – “0”, size/shape earth, Arabic numerals • Trade – with Arabs = diffusion

13. Decline • Conquered by the Huns from Central Asia • 1000 years of fighting among rival Indian princes

14. Muslim Expansion into India **Second significant migration to South Asia

15. Expansion • Starting in 600’s Muslim invaders to South Asia • Mongols, Turks, Afghans, Persians

16. Delhi Sultans • Sultan -Muslim ruling monarch • From 1200-1500 • No forced conversion – special taxes (jizya) on non-Muslims • Major Accomplishments • Government – toleration, military, services (education, irrigation, hospitals) • Sultan FiruzTughlak • Architecture – buildings, palaces • Economy – irrigation, trade with Middle East • Religion – Islam; cause of future conflicts

17. Mongol Invasion • 1398 – Tamerlane – • Timur the Lame • Destroyed and left • “The lightning speed with which Tamerlane’s armies struck Delhi was prompted by their desire to escape the stench of rotting corpses they were leaving behind them. • Sultans back in power for short time but fragmented

18. Incompatibilities BETWEEN ISLAM AND HINDUISM Hinduism Islam Monotheistic - worship one God all people are seen as equal under the eyes of God dietary restrictions proselytizers-seek to convert others Creedal - statement of beliefs • Polytheistic -worship many gods, • caste system • born into the religion- no idea of conversion • Diet • cow is sacred

19. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ISLAM AND HINDUISM • Resulted in conflict and destruction

20. Mughal Empire • Also Mongol • Persian word for Mongol • Last Muslim Empire in South Asia • 1527 – 1800’s: at height united most of South Asia • Founded by Babur – Battle of Panipat

21. Akbar the Great

23. Akbar the Great – 1556-1605 • Golden Age of Mughal Empire • Ruling innovations - compromise • religious toleration • Eliminated tax on non-Muslims • Hindus in government • Supported Hindu poets/artists • Cultural Blending • Architecture – Indian style • Urdu: language – Hindi and Persian

24. Akbar the Great – 1556-1605 • Divine Faith: combination of several faiths – universal religion • Hope to end religious conflict • Died with Akbar • No mass conversion to Islam

26. Taj Mahal • Shah Jahan – Akbar’s grandson • Agra – mausoleum to his wife Mumtaz Mahal

28. Taj Mahal Mosque VirtualTour National Geographic Secrets of the Taj Mahal Part 1 National Geographic Secrets of the Taj Mahal Part 4 National Geographic Secrets of the Taj Mahal Whole Vid Start 1:37 – 5:25 add Shah Jahan to - Then 28:00 – 38:00

29. Taj Mahal • Year of Construction: 1631 - 1632Completed In: 1653Time Taken: 22 yearsBuilt By: Shah JahanDedicated to: MumtazMahal the wife of Shah JahanLocation: Agra (Uttar Pradesh) Building Type: Islamic tomb

30. Shah Jahan

31. Taj Mahal

32. Results of Mughal • Diversity is the norm • Cultural blending • Separation will be emphasized

33. Mughal Decline • By 1700’s • Wasteful spending • Loss of tolerance • Tax on Hindus, closed Hindu schools, Hindus out of government • Hindu princes revolted • Civil war among Muslim princes • All weakened empire = opened the door for Europeans • British East Indian Company

34. Identify similarities between the Empires Maurya, Gupta, Mughal Crash Course Mongols