© 2011 maharaj mukherjee a comprehensive history of india lecture – 6 january 8, 2011 the golden...

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee

A Comprehensive History of IndiaA Comprehensive History of IndiaLecture – 6Lecture – 6

January 8, 2011January 8, 2011

The Golden Age The Golden Age Maharaj MukherjeeMaharaj Mukherjee


Time Line Studied So FarTime Line Studied So Far• Early Inhabitants of India?

– Hunter Gatherers – 15000 Years ago• Earliest Civilization in the World?

– Fertile Crescent – 10000 Years ago• Earliest Civilization in India – City States

– Indus Valley Civilization – 5000 - 6000 Years ago• Arrival of Aryans

– 3500 - 4000 Years ago• Time of Ramayana – City States

– 3000 - 3500 Years ago• Time of Mahabharata – Start of Empire Building

– 2700 - 3000 Years ago • Time of Buddha and Mahavira

– 2500 Years ago or about 600 BC• Persian Empire 500 BC onwards• Alexander’s Greek Empire – 300 BC• Mauryan Empire (Chandragupta and Ashoka) – 300 BC - AD


Projects for Parents and StudentsProjects for Parents and Students

• Think and Discuss:– Why did the Persian Empire and the Mauryan

Empire lasted for more than 300 years and the Greek empire built by Alexander did not last more than a decade?

• Learn about the Greek Thinkers


Golden Age of Indian HistoryGolden Age of Indian History

• 1 AD – 400 AD • Time for Great Thinkers:

– Science– Literature– Medicine– Engineering– Art

• Continued exchange of ideas between Greek and Indian Thinkers


ScienceScience

• Arya (Arya Bhatta) – Mathematician, Scientist, Astronomer

• Bhaskara (Bhaskara Acharya) – Mathematician, Astronomer, Physicist

• Baraha Mihira (Mihira Bhatta) – Astronomer, Astrologer

• Bramha Gupta – Mathematician


Development in AstronomyDevelopment in Astronomy

• Ptolemaic System (Greek System)

Earth is placed at the center of the Universe


Arya Bhatta’s SystemArya Bhatta’s System

Earth moves around the sun


Bhaskara, Baraha MihirBhaskara, Baraha Mihir

• Found why and when eclipse happens

• Found the cause of high and low tides


MathematicsMathematics

• Arya Bhatta, Bhaskara Charya, Bramha Gupta:– Developed basic algebraic systems– Found methods to solve basic Diophantine Equations

of the form• A.x + B.y = z• A.x.x + B.y.y + C.x.y = z

– Found methods to solve quadratic and cubic equations

– Found methods to find sum of series:• 1 + 2 + 3 + . . . + n = ?• 1.1 + 2.2 +3.3 + . . . + n.n = ?


LiteratureLiterature

• Kalidasa– Shakuntala, Meghadutam, Kumar Sambhaba, Raghu

Bansha, Ritu Sanhara, Vikrama Urvashi

• Shudraka:– Mrichhakatika - The Clay Cart

• Visakha Dutta – Mudra Rakshasha – The seal of Rakshasha– The story deals with how Chandra Gupta Maurya

ascended to the throne of Magadha with the help of Chanakya


Shakuntala by KalidasaShakuntala by KalidasaThe story of the missing ringThe story of the missing ring


Arts and ArchitectureArts and Architecture

Gandhara Art Form

• Influenced by Greek Arts• Details of human body are true to form

Mathura Art Form

• Traditional Indian Art Form• Bodily curves are smoother


Engineering Engineering

The Iron Pillar of Kumaragupta – in New Delhi, India


Empires of India

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

-500 0 500 1000 1500 2000

Common Era

% o

f In

dia

Ru

led

Nanda

Maurya

SaatVahanaKushana

GuptaHarsha

Pala

RashtrakutaChola

Sultaan

Mughala

British

Golden Age of Indian HistoryGolden Age of Indian History1 - 400 AD


KushanaKushana

• Hails from the Shaka Tribe– Shaka Tribes came from the same regions as the

Aryans came from• The Caucasian regions (The area near Kazakhstan)• Some historians say that Shaka-s are also Aryans

• The Kushana empire covered most of North Western India, Pakistan, Iran, Afganisthan and China

• Felicitated the trade between far East (China) and Europe through the Silk Route


Kushana Empire and the Silk RouteKushana Empire and the Silk Route

Their Capital was Purushpura – Currently Peswar in Pakistan


Kanishka – the Kushan EmperorKanishka – the Kushan Emperor

• Became Emperor in 89 AD• Started the Shaka Era• Converted to Buddhism• Founder of the Mahayana

Buddhism– Mahayana-s believe in gods– They also believe Buddha is God – It is the most commonly followed

Buddhism now


Gupta-sGupta-s

• First Chandra Gupta – The founder of the Gupta Empire– Made strong ties with other Indian Kingdoms

• Samudra Gupta– Fought the Hun-s and other outside attackers

• Second Chandra Gupta – Vikramaditya– Kalidasa was apparently in his court.

• Kumaragupta – The last strong emperor of the


The Gupta EmpireThe Gupta Empire


Why Golden Age?Why Golden Age?

• Both Kushan and Gupta Empires helped develop:– Stability in the country – Rule of Law– Strong Empire to Prevent outside attack– Trade and Business to grow wealth– Patronized human intellectual activities


End of the Golden AgeEnd of the Golden Age

• Attacks by the Hun-s– The Huns also come from the same regions

as Aryans and Shaka-s • The Caucasian regions

– Some historians say that they are also racially related to the Aryans

– Ruthless fighters – Efficient horse riders– Created the folk lore of Kalki Avatara and

Kalki Raja (from Jain religious books)


QuizQuiz1. When did the Golden Age Happen?

• 0 – 400 AD2. Why is it called the Golden Age?

• Because of developments in science, art, literature, engineering3. What was the contribution of Arya Bhatta in Science?

• Show that Earth moves around the Sun4. Who wrote Shakuntala?

• Kalidasa5. Where did the Shaka-s come from?

• Caucasian regions6. What is the Silk Route?

• Ancient trade route extending from China to Europe through Asia7. Name one of the Shaka Emperor

• Kanishka8. Name One of the Gupta Emperors

• Chandra Gupta, Samudra Gupta, Kumara Gupta9. How did the Golden Age end

• Outside attacks by Huns

© 2011 maharaj mukherjee a comprehensive history of india lecture – 6 january 8, 2011 the golden...

Documents