HIST 010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Ravana, Guptan, Ajanta Caves
HIST 10 // Week 8
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ID:
Arthasastra → book written by Kautilya, guidebook for rulers
Ashoka → ruler of india, mean then nice
Kalidasa → classical sanskrit writer
Kamasutra → guide for love + healthy living
Chandra Gupta → powerful dynasty following Ashoka, tried to emulate how the previous one worked
I. Mauryan Empire (322 - 185 BCE) [timeline map] - highly stable, famine is almost nonexistent
A. Chandragupta Maurya (ca. 322-298 BCE) ← Leader of empire
• Pataliputra - became the administrative center of India, created a political unity
• Kautilya - Chandragupta’s advisor
• Arthashastra
- book written by Kautilya, “political mastermind” behind Chandragupta, was a
guidebook for rulers. Biggest idea → ruler should uphold dharma (duty, role as king), king has a duty to
support and provide for the people. people should be frightened of king’s power. weak states should bend
to the will of strong states.
B. Ashoka (268-232 BCE) → western india all the way to afghanistan, leader was the grandson of
chandragupta. leader was not the chosen successor of his father, it is suggested that Ashoka killed off all
of his rivals for the throne.
• Kalinga → SE corner of India, attacked in 260 BCE by Ashoka, conquered later on. people of
Kalinga were deported as slaves, etc. Ashoka later expresses sorrow over the deaths he caused, states
that his successor + those after should not follow in his footsteps, instead to conquest by dharma
• Buddhism → according to Buddhists, Ashoka learned to rule by visiting Hell, Ashoka does not
mention Buddhism and is not seen as a Buddhist, even though he emphasized peace
• Pillars of Ashoka → emphasis on peace, Ashoka sent messengers throughout the world to
emphasize peace, outlaws killing of animals + promotes vegetarianism, opens more roads and clears
land for crops, created a “paternalistic” state → the ruler acts as the father of his subjects
C. Collapse of the Mauryan Empire → broke down to components (regional states) after Ashoka,
no state reasserts power over all of the states until close to modern era
II.Gupta Dynasty (319-540 CE) → next powerful dynasty after Ashoka
A. Background → very different from Mauryan dynasty, tried to be like them but didn’t work,
essentially a web of feudal arrangements
1. Chandra Gupta (r. 320-330 CE)
B.Gupta Government
1. Political rule → 3 key ideas
• Lichchhavi - consolidation through marriage ties
• Maharajadhiraja - "King of Kings"
• Cakravartin = Ideal King
2. Society
• Chinese observer: Faxian (Fa-hsien)
3. Culture: Gupta Art and Literature
