The Mauryas and Asoka
Two hundred years before the great march of Alexander of Macedon's troops, the powerful Mauryan state had arisen in the north of the country. After Chandragupta comes to power (321 r. p.n.e.) it extended to the areas previously conquered by Alexander. The Mauryan Empire – with the capital in Patna – gradually it covered all of northern India. It was a strong and perfectly organized state, whose army was paid directly by the ruler himself. Collecting taxes, the tithes and crops were controlled by officials. Non-payers were severely punished. Informing and corruption flourished; the life of an ordinary peasant was very hard. The peak of the development of the Mauryan power came during the reign of Asoka, which in 262 r. p.n.e. converted to Buddhism. He left behind columns and edicts carved in the rock, that marked the boundaries of his kingdom. They can be seen in Delhi today, Gujarat (Gujarat), Origin (Orissa), Sarnathu in Uttar Pradesh (Uttar Pradesh) and in Sańći (Sanchi) w Madhya Pradeśu (Madhya Pradesh). Asoka also sent missions beyond the borders of his country. It is known, among others. and Sri Lance, where his brother took Buddhism. During the reign of Asoka, art flourished; the coat of arms of the ruler – four lions – which crowned many columns, it is now the emblem of India. The Moors then controlled more of the country than under other rulers before the advent of the Mughals and the British. After Asoka's death, St. 232 r. p.n.e. the empire gradually disintegrated until its final defeat in 184 r. p.n.e.
Transitional period; the reign of the Gupta
After the fall of the Mauryan dynasty, new states arose and fell apart. Alexander the Great's successors in the northwest extended their rule to the Punjab, which eventually led to the creation of the kingdom of Gandhara. Settled in the southeast and east, the Andhras and Telugas expanded into the interior of the country. The Sungas took over the Mauryan Empire, who reigned in the years 184-70 p.n.e. Many Buddhist buildings were erected in central India and the first rock temples were built. It was a period of domination of Hinayana Buddhism ("Little car"), which forbade depicting the Buddha-figure in art. The great teacher was allowed to commemorate with symbolic footprints, image of a tree or elephant. Although this faction survived to approx. V w. p.n.e., it is already in the first century. neither. it was gradually replaced by Mahayana Buddhism ("Big Dipper"). W 319 r. Chandragupta II created the state, the first phase of its development is referred to as the imperial Gupta dynasty. His successors extended power to the north of the country and to the cities of Patna and Jodhya (Ayodhya). From 455 r. neither. The Guptas held only titular rule, although they formally lasted until the beginning of the 7th century. During the rule of this dynasty, art and literature developed. It was then that great works were created in Ajanta (Ajanta), Ellurze (Ellora), Sanchi or Sar-nathu. Towards the end of this dynasty, Buddhism and Jainism slowly collapsed in favor of Hinduism., which was gaining popularity again. White Hun raids, the so-called. Hephthalites, the Guptas managed to hold them back at first, but it was this people who ended this period in Indian history. The Huns drove the inhabitants of Gandhara from the eastern region of Peshawar towards Kashmir. Soon the northern part of the country split into many separate states, which only united under Muslim rule.
The history of noon
Events in India's History, which took place in different parts of the peninsula, they are often unrelated to each other. The countries in the north had basically no influence on the countries of the south. While Buddhism and, to a lesser extent, Jainism displaced Hinduism from the center and north of India, it continued to develop in the south. The reason for the heyday of this area was contacts with other civilizations. Egyptians, and later the Romans maintained trade relations with this part of India, thanks to traditional sea routes. Strong ties also connected this area with the areas of Southeast Asia. For a time, Buddhism and Hinduism developed in the islands of Indonesia, whose people considered India as their spiritual leader. The most famous Hindu epic, Ramayana, is known in many different versions in the countries of Southeast Asia. Bali is currently one of the few Indian enclaves in that area; the remoteness of this island from the center of Hinduism resulted in many modifications of this religion. There were also Christian influences related to the arrival in India in 52 r. neither. the apostle Thomas. To this day, the Christian elements are strong there. In the south of India, the Cole dynasty came into being, Pandjas, Cery, Of the Chaluky and the Pallavians. The Calukja passed quickly through the central Deccan, and in time they took possession of the lands farther north. Their capital was Badami in Karnataka. The rule of this dynasty lasted from 550 do 753 r., when the Rash-Thracutas defeated her. W 972 r. The Chaulukyas managed to regain power, which they exercised to 1190 r. The ruling Pallaws in the south created a new style in architecture, characterized by being rich, overloaded with ornaments. Thanks to them, Hindu culture developed in Java, in Thailand and Cambodia. W 850 r. The Pallavians were pushed out by the Choles. This dynasty also had great builders, as evidenced by the temple in Tańjaur (Thanja-vur). Under the rule of Rajaraja (985-1014) the Cholas managed to extend their state to the areas beyond the sea and to southern India, Dean, Sri Lanka, part of the Malay Peninsula and the kingdom of Srivijaya in Sumatra.