India+-+Mauryan,+Kushans,+and+Gupta+Empires


 * 1. Why I should care?

-** They charted the movement of stars and recognized that Earth was a sphere that rotated on its axis and revolved around the sun. -They contributed the field of mathematics. (Gupta Empire invented algebra and the concept of zero (0))

Himalaya- the highest mountains in the world monsoon-seasonal wind pattern in southern asia (down pours) karma- the force gernerated by a person's actions that determines how the person will be reborn in the next life. reincarnation- the belief that the individual soul is reborn in a different form after death nirvana- ultimate reality pilgrims-people who traveled to religious places Stupa- place for worship of budha
 * 2. Key terms**

-Candragupta Maurya -Drove out invaders and centered empire in Ganges Valley -Centralized power down to governors of provinces -Nomatic Warriors -Trade between Rome and China help -shapes man -mountain ranges (Himalaya) -River Valleys (Ganges Valley) (Indus River) -Plateau Deccan -Monsoons -Fertile costal plains -3 main types of structures 1. Pillars- stone pillars lined the roads to mark events in the Buddha's life: each were topped with a carving of a lion uttering the Buddha's message 2. Stupa- built in form of burial mounds; place for devotion and the most familiar form;meant to house a relic of the Buddha 3. Rock Chamber- carved out of rock cliffs; developed to provide a series of rooms to house monks and serve for religious ceremonies
 * 3. Important topics:**
 * The Mauryan Empire
 * Kushan Empire
 * Geography
 * Architecture
 * Religion
 * 1) Hinduism
 * 2) Seek to know ultimate reality through oneness with God
 * 3) reincarnation/caste
 * 4) Dharma- divine law
 * 5) Karma


 * Silk Road
 * 1) Starts in 200 B.C- 100 A.D
 * 2) China to Mesopotamia
 * 4,000 miles
 * 1) luxury goods- silk,spices,teas,porcelian,ivory,textiles,precious stones,pepper

-greatest ruler in history of India -converted to Buddhism -trade expanded -Decline followed death in 232 BC -had a welfare system 2000 BC- groups of indo-european-speaking nomadic peoples began to move out of the steppes of central Asia 1000 BC- sanskrits began and became a major part of Indo-European language 324-301- Candragupta Maurya ruled the Mauryan Empire 183- the last Mauryan ruler was killed and the collapse of the empire began **
 * 4. Key actors:**
 * Asoka
 * 5. Timeline