South Asia
By Jonathan Morales
Political- During this time period the Mauryan Empire ruled from 323 B.C.E. and then the Gupta Empire came into power from 350 B.C.E. to 550 C.E. The Mauryan Empire was ruled by the Mauryan Dynasty which started with Chandragupta. Chandragupta came into power after the fall of Alexander the Great’s rule. Then Chandragupta’s grandson was the famous Asoka who also ruled. He was known for being a Buddhist. Then came the Gupta Empire who was then ruled by Chandragupta I and then he was succeeded by his son Samudra Gupta. They also established the Indo-Greek friendship treaty.
The Ashoka Empire
Economic- With the Indo-Greek friendship treaty there was a lot of international trade. They used the silk roads to trade with the west and had to go through the Kyper pass. The main exports of the country were textiles, silk, spices, and food. Many people in the western countries and empires demanded a lot from the Indian sub-continent. The people during the Gupta Empire always were trading with the west. Some of the main items of import were gold, silver, copper, tin, and lead. The textile industry was big during the time. Most people farmed and the main occupation of the empire was in agriculture.
Economic- With the Indo-Greek friendship treaty there was a lot of international trade. They used the silk roads to trade with the west and had to go through the Kyper pass. The main exports of the country were textiles, silk, spices, and food. Many people in the western countries and empires demanded a lot from the Indian sub-continent. The people during the Gupta Empire always were trading with the west. Some of the main items of import were gold, silver, copper, tin, and lead. The textile industry was big during the time. Most people farmed and the main occupation of the empire was in agriculture.
Religion- The main religions didn’t change from the Mauryan and Gupta Empires. The major religions at the time and still today in that part of the world are Buddhism and Hinduism. The start of the spread of Buddhism was during the rule of Ashoka who Buddhist himself and built temple for Buddhists. Both Buddhism and Hinduism have many gods and they both believe in reincarnation. Hinduism was more popular in the upper classes because of its caste system which separated people into different classes. Buddhism however viewed everyone as equal and was able to reach enlightenment. Women and people from the lower classes favored Buddhism more because they were out casted or placed in a caste and were equal with everyone else.
Ring stone with four goddesses and four date palms
Society- Most of the people of both of Empires worked in agriculture or in the textile industry. They traded with the people from the West who wanted their products and their food. In Buddhism everyone was equal so there was no sort of classes are castes. In Hinduism however they have distinct castes that the people are separated into which are the Brahmins which are the highest, the Kshatriyas, then came the Vaisyas, and second to last was the Shudras. The lowest caste was the untouchables and were the outcasts of the society. Women were able to get jobs but the males we're still at the top
Society- Most of the people of both of Empires worked in agriculture or in the textile industry. They traded with the people from the West who wanted their products and their food. In Buddhism everyone was equal so there was no sort of classes are castes. In Hinduism however they have distinct castes that the people are separated into which are the Brahmins which are the highest, the Kshatriyas, then came the Vaisyas, and second to last was the Shudras. The lowest caste was the untouchables and were the outcasts of the society. Women were able to get jobs but the males we're still at the top
This is the Hindu Caste system
Innovation, intellectual, invention - During the Mauryan empire many epics were written and especially during the rule of Ashoka because everything was peaceful and together. The language of the literature was written in Sanskrit or Prabrit. Not many works of literature have survived till Today. The Buddhist Kathauatthu was composed during the rule of Ashoka. During the reign of Ashoka many Buddhist writings were published. Also during the Gupta Empire many science and math innovations were made. One of the most famous discovery of the decimal system and using zero as a placeholder. The number system was also made during this empire.
Innovation, intellectual, invention - During the Mauryan empire many epics were written and especially during the rule of Ashoka because everything was peaceful and together. The language of the literature was written in Sanskrit or Prabrit. Not many works of literature have survived till Today. The Buddhist Kathauatthu was composed during the rule of Ashoka. During the reign of Ashoka many Buddhist writings were published. Also during the Gupta Empire many science and math innovations were made. One of the most famous discovery of the decimal system and using zero as a placeholder. The number system was also made during this empire.
Art / architecture- During the Mauryan Empire there was the famous city of Pataliputra which was described as huge with a wooden wall that had 64 gates. The palace was also made of wood and survived for about seven hundred. They also built pillars, these pillars were then decorated with animal figurines and made of sand stone. Three lions were the symbol for the emperor's authority and was place above many pillars. During the Gupta Empire they built many temples for both Hindus and Buddhists. They also were decorated with animal figurines and used flowers to decorate the buildings outside.
Art / architecture- During the Mauryan Empire there was the famous city of Pataliputra which was described as huge with a wooden wall that had 64 gates. The palace was also made of wood and survived for about seven hundred. They also built pillars, these pillars were then decorated with animal figurines and made of sand stone. Three lions were the symbol for the emperor's authority and was place above many pillars. During the Gupta Empire they built many temples for both Hindus and Buddhists. They also were decorated with animal figurines and used flowers to decorate the buildings outside.
Three lions on a pillar representing the Emperor's Authority during the rule of Ashoka
Near Geography- South Asia consists of the current day countries of India and Pakistan. These are close to the Indian ocean which made it easier to trade over long distances. The Khyber Pass also made it possible to trade because it allowed goods to get across the mountains and go to the Silk Roads. People mostly lived in trading cities which were where they could make the most money. The climate in this region is warm/hot and often got monsoons which are seasonal winds, which brought rain for agriculture and the ability to travel across the ocean
Near Geography- South Asia consists of the current day countries of India and Pakistan. These are close to the Indian ocean which made it easier to trade over long distances. The Khyber Pass also made it possible to trade because it allowed goods to get across the mountains and go to the Silk Roads. People mostly lived in trading cities which were where they could make the most money. The climate in this region is warm/hot and often got monsoons which are seasonal winds, which brought rain for agriculture and the ability to travel across the ocean
Map showing the direction the wind travels during that season to cause the monsoons.
http://www.indianetzone.com/43/mauryan_society.htm
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/maur/hd_maur.htm
http://www.indianetzone.com/22/economic_life_gupta_age.htm
http://www.ushistory.org/civ/8e.asp
https://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/exhibit/guptas/guptas.html
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/370216/Mauryan-empire
http://www.indianetzone.com/43/mauryan_society.htm
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/maur/hd_maur.htm
http://www.indianetzone.com/22/economic_life_gupta_age.htm
http://www.ushistory.org/civ/8e.asp
https://depts.washington.edu/silkroad/exhibit/guptas/guptas.html
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/370216/Mauryan-empire