2nd - part
The following period in the history of the sub-continent saw the birth of Gautama Buddha and Mahavira. The founder of Jainism, Mahavira, also lived during this period.
Christianity spread to India from Europe around the end of the 1100s. It is said that Saint Thomas arrived in India in 52 AD. Historians believe Judaism reached Indian shores even earlier. While Zoroastrians landed in Gujarat around 7 AD. Guru Nanak laid the foundation of Sikhism in Punjab in the 15th century. And Islam was brought to India by Arab traders and later on by Muslim rulers.
THE EMPIRES
Alexander the Great destroyed the Persian Empire and penetrated the far North-west of India. But after Alexander’s death in 317 BC, the Greeks withdrew. A number of small and big kingdoms had begun to conquer one another, but it wasn’t until 322 BC that the first great empire arose.
In 322 BC, Chandragupta Maurya became king of the powerful state of Magadha in the North of India. Aided by his advisor Kautilya Chandragupta, he created an empire. After Alexander the Great died his empire had split up. Seleucos took the eastern part and attempted to reclaim the Indian provinces that were earlier ruled by Alexander. But his army was stopped by Chandragupta in 305 BC.
This new empire was rich and trade thrived. Its capital was one of the largest cities in the ancient world. In 296 BC Chandragupta abdicated in favor of his son Bindusara, who pushed the frontier of the empire further south.
But the greatest Mauryan ruler was Ashoka or Asoka at around 4th century BC. He led the empire to take over almost all of what is now modern India. He conquered Kalinga (modern day Orissa). But after the battle of Kalinga, he embraced Buddhism, appalled by the suffering caused by war and decided against any further conquest. But despite his conversion to Buddhism, Mauryan rule was authoritarian and punishments for wrongdoers were severe.
Asoka decreed the Buddhist principles of right conduct should be engraved in stone pillars or on rocks throughout his kingdom to teach the people how to live—monuments like the ones in Sanchi. The Ashoka pillar at Sarnath is India’s national emblem while the Dharma Chakra on the pillar adorns the country’s national flag. After his death, the Mauryan Empire suffered an economic decline and political instability.
After Alexander’s death his empire was split between his generals. The various successor states fought each other until a strong state emerged in Bactria (roughly modern Afghanistan). The Greek rulers of Bactria attempted to control Northwest India. About 185 BC King Demetrius invaded India. About 160 BC one of his successors, King Menander conquered most of northern India. But after the death of Menander this empire broke up into separate states and Indian civilization developed without European influence.
India now faced a new invader. Nomads from Central Asia conquered Bactria in about 120 BC. One of the tribes, the Kushanas turned their attention to Northern India and went on to gradually conquer territories in India, with successive kings carved out a bigger and bigger empire in Northern India. The Kushan Empire reached its peak under King Kanishka. During his reign Northern India was prosperous and did much trade with the Roman Empire. After his death the empire declined and broke up. By the early 3rd century AD India was once again split into small states.
A new empire was founded early in the 4th century AD by Chandragupta. After his death in 335 AD his son Samudragupta (335-375) conquered the whole of Northern India and much of Central India. India once again became prosperous and stable. Trade flourished with China and other kingdoms in Asia. Mathematics, astronomy, medicine and literature flourished. The Gupta Empire reached a peak under Chandragupta II 375-415 AD, after which it went into decline. The Gupta Empire finally broke up in the early 6th century.
The next great ruler in Indian history was king Harshavardhana (606-647). He created an empire to rival the Guptas. But in 630, when he attempted to conquer Southern India he was routed by a king called Pulakesin (610-643). Despite this setback, Harsha remained a powerful ruler. But after his death the empire quickly broke up.
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