Seventh Grade: Early World History SS070505Unit 5: Interactions, the Fall of Empires, and Other Stories (1000 BCE – 500 CE, Era 3) Lesson 5

Graphic Organizer

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Golden Age of the Gupta in

India

Central rule and influence

over larger area

Advances in science,

math, art, and other areas General

period of peace and prosperity

Although there were many advances, inequality still

existed. Not everyone had the same rights largely

because of the caste system and gender inequality.

Seventh Grade: Early World History SS070505Unit 5: Interactions, the Fall of Empires, and Other Stories (1000 BCE – 500 CE, Era 3) Lesson 5

Big Ideas of Lesson 5, Unit 5

In India, the global pattern of empire development in Era 3 was best embodied by the rise of the Gupta Empire, an empire that built on pre-existing societies and emerged in India around 320 CE.

The Gupta Empire was considered to be a Golden Age for India, and was characterized by prosperity, peace, and advances in culture, technology, and science.

The Gupta seem to have emphasized these areas of culture and knowledge development more than military expansion, making them somewhat different from other empires of the time.

Despite this Golden Age, Gupta India was similar to other empires in that it was characterized by a strong social hierarchy. At this time, India had a caste system, which meant that people were born into social groups that determined their occupation and status for life.

Big Idea Card

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Seventh Grade: Early World History SS070505Unit 5: Interactions, the Fall of Empires, and Other Stories (1000 BCE – 500 CE, Era 3) Lesson 5

Word CardsWord cards from previous lessons:

dynasty – Word Card #6 from Lesson 1

29 caste system

a social hierarchy that divides up labor and power across different groups that are determined by birth with people in lower castes having the most difficult or unwanted jobs and the least power

Example: The Untouchable caste in India did the dirtiest work and generally got paid less than others.

(SS070505)

1. 302. monk 3.4. a member of a religious

community of men typically living under vows of poverty, purity, and obedience

Example: Chinese monks traveled to India to learn about Buddhism where it began.

(SS070505)

31patriarchy

a social system in which men are the head of families and have authority over women and children

Example: Women today still struggle to have equal rights and many speak out against patriarchy.

(SS070505)

32 prosperity (prosperous)

being prosperous, having good fortune, wealth, and well-being

Example: It was a time of prosperity because most people living in the society worked and enjoyed financial well-being.

(SS070505)

33tolerant

willing to accept or respect ideas or people that you don’t agree with

Example: Some Indian emperors were tolerant of different religious groups.

34alliance

a relationship in which people agree to work together

Example: The countries formed an alliance in trade.

(SS070505)

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Seventh Grade: Early World History SS070505Unit 5: Interactions, the Fall of Empires, and Other Stories (1000 BCE – 500 CE, Era 3) Lesson 5

(SS070505)Student Handout #1 – Gupta Golden Age Note Tracker

In each column, take notes on examples and/or evidence that help answer the driving questions below:

The Golden Age of the Gupta How was it Golden? Why do we consider this a

Golden Age?

To what extent was it a “Golden Age”? Did it affect everyone in India? Did everyone have the same chance

to benefit from the advances of the Golden Age? Why or why not?

Video on the Gupta

Overview Article (Handout #2)

PPT slides on advances

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Seventh Grade: Early World History SS070505Unit 5: Interactions, the Fall of Empires, and Other Stories (1000 BCE – 500 CE, Era 3) Lesson 5

Reading on Faxian

Reading and slides on Caste

Slides on gender and patriarchy

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Seventh Grade: Early World History SS070505Unit 5: Interactions, the Fall of Empires, and Other Stories (1000 BCE – 500 CE, Era 3) Lesson 5

Student Handout #2

Historical Overview of the Gupta Empire and Summarization Exercise:

Read the entire article first. Then go back and summarize each paragraph in the spaces provided. Each paragraph should be summarized in 20 words or less. Finally, combine your four section summaries into one paragraph of no more than 30 words.

1) The Gupta Empire was one of the largest, most prosperous societies in the history of India. From 320 CE to around 550 CE, they ruled over much of what is India today, and some areas that border modern India. Before the Gupta Empire, India was controlled by several smaller kingdoms that divided this large territory up. Many of these kingdoms were becoming wealthy as a result of trade with Han China and the Roman Empire. Cotton and spices that were grown in India were valued in Rome and China, so trade was very profitable.

2) The Gupta family came into power in one region of India, Magadha, and from there they expanded their reach through both military conquests and also by family alliances and marriages with the children of rulers from other areas. Over time, they gained control of more and more of what is now India. Chandragupta I, who was the third Gupta to hold power, is known for finally gaining control over the whole area in 320 CE and established the complete Gupta Empire.

3) Chandragupta and other Gupta rulers were different from the rulers of China and Rome. They allowed some of the kingdoms they brought into the empire to remain somewhat independent, allowing their leaders to still control much of what happened in their land. This meant that they spent less time on military conquest and could put their energy into supporting religious, artistic, and scientific advances. Villages were

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Seventh Grade: Early World History SS070505Unit 5: Interactions, the Fall of Empires, and Other Stories (1000 BCE – 500 CE, Era 3) Lesson 5

protected from bandits by small military squads, but there was no large scale focus on war once peace was established. During the rule of the Guptas, great works of literature were produced along with important art and architecture and many advances in science and math. Hinduism also gained strength and influence in India with the support of the Gupta. As Hinduism grew, Buddhism lost some support there even as it expanded eastward. The caste system of social hierarchy was further developed under the Gupta as well and Indian law was shaped in this time. This was a time of peace and prosperity in India.

4) In approximately 450 CE, the Hepthalites – a nomadic group from central Asia – began to clash frequently with the Gupta and moved into the northwest part of the empire. Having been at peace for so long, the Gupta were not prepared to defend their empire, and the Hepthalites began an invasion around 480. Within 40 years, the Hepthalites had pushed back the Gupta and taken over most of their territory. By the middle of the next century, the Gupta Empire was completely gone, and no Gupta leader was in place anywhere in India by 720 CE.

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Seventh Grade: Early World History SS070505Unit 5: Interactions, the Fall of Empires, and Other Stories (1000 BCE – 500 CE, Era 3) Lesson 5

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