Melissa Piccione Class 5MR Continuity & Change Over Time The Mauryans, Guptas, and Delhi

March 22, 2012 H2PH-02: P 8

From 322 B.C.E. to 1398 C.E., three major groups existed; the Mauryans, Guptas, and the Delhi Sultanate. Throughout this period of time each group built upon each other, carrying on old traditions, while at the same time adding their own and creating a name for themselves with these similarities and differences. The Mauryan Empire existed from 322-185 B.C.E. and was one of the worlds largest empires of its times. The Gupta Empire existed from 320-480 C.E and covered much of the Indian subcontinent, and it was based upon the Mauryan Empire. Lastly the Delhi Sultanate existed from 1206- 1398 C.E., and it was formed after the decline of the Guptas when India had once again broken apart into separate kingdoms. All three of the empires were situated in approximately the same location. The Mauryan Empire stretched, at its greatest extent, north to the natural boundaries of the Himalayas and in the east it went into what is now Assam. To the west, it reached beyond modern Pakistan. The empire also expanded into India's central and southern regions. The capital of the Mauryan Empire was Vidisha. The Gupta Empire was located in nearly the exact same region as the Mauryans, but there empire did not stretch as far south or west. It was located in moth of northern and central India and Bangladesh. The capital of the Gupta Empire was Pataliputra. The Delhi Sultanate was located mainly in North India, not reaching as far south as the Guptas or Mauryans empires. The capital of the Delhi Sultanate was Delhi. In the case of similarities, the general location of the empires remained the same. The factor that differed in each empire, location-related, was the size of the empire and how far south it stretched.

Religiously, the three empires were different. The Mauryan Empire had three major religions; Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. The Gupta Empires major religions were Hinduism and Buddhism. Unlike the other two empires, the Delhi Sultanates main religion was Islam and despite the hostility of Muslims towards Buddhism, they did not exterminate it. They simply pushed very hard Islam and tried, to extreme measures, to win converts. The reason the Delhi Sultanate followed Islam is due to the fact that the Sultanate was formed by Muslim armies who were conquering/expanding, and when Muhammad (of Ghor) founded this empire, he established Islam as the main religion, seeing it fit as he was Muslim. Buddhism and Hinduism were the religions of the Gupta Empire because the Guptas were attempting to follow as exactly as they could in the Mauryans footsteps; therefore they adapted the same religious views. The governing systems in all three empires were monarchies. The distinction between the monarchies of the Guptas and the Delhis to that of the Mauryan was the monarchy of the Mauryans was classified as an absolute monarchy. An absolute monarchy is a monarchy that is not restrained by laws/a constitution. Basically, this monarchy has complete freedom to exercise their power however they wish. The reason all three empires had the same governing system was due to the popularity of the system, and in most cases other ways of ruling were not even heard of. The administration of the empires varied each time. In the Mauryan Empire, the empire was divided into four provinces, governed by the kumara. He governed the provinces as a representative of the king and was assisted by a council of ministers. In the Gupta Empire, there were administrative divisions from top to bottom of the empire. There were 26 provinces, put under the control of the Vishayapatis with the help of a council of administrators. In the Delhi Sultanate, a new administrative system was introduced. The provinces were placed under the charge of Governors, who were responsible for the overall administration of the area. Their responsibilities involved ensuring the collection of revenue, maintaining law and order, and keeping rebellious elements under control. In his area, a governor was a deputy of the Sultan. The difference

between the administrations of each empire was caused by the place you originated. Both the Gupta and Mauryan Empires had almost the same administrative system, despite the fact they were almost half a century apart. The Delhi Sultanate, however, originated farther north and therefore had learned different methods of administration. The Delhi Sultanate brought their new technique to where the governed. Trade was important to each of the three empires. Salt, cloth, and iron were common goods traded in South Asia/India, and were good sources of income for the empires. Sea routes connected her to the distant regions of Europe, China and other countries in the Pacific Ocean. Land routes connected her to Central Asia, Afghanistan, Persia, Tibet and Bhutan .Domestic and foreign trade during the Mauryan Empire boomed. The Gupta Empire grew wealthy from trade. The Guptas also traded with the Romans, which offered them insight into the powerful empire. During the Delhi Sultanate, inland and foreign trade flourished. In all three empires, trade was a very good source of revenue. It was most important in the Gupta Empire, since the main source of their wealth was trade and commerce. The trade routes remained the same through all of the empires, as they were major trade routes connecting more than just these empires to goods they cant manufacture themselves. All three empires were strong, and were similar in many ways, as I told above. Throughout each period of time, each empire built upon each other, while at the same time they added their own ideas (religious, political, etc.). Without the continuity from empire to empire, the history we now study may be different and, had there not been changes in the succession of the empires, the people who are now present in the locations where the empires used to be situated may follow different beliefs, traditions, etc.