Middle Eastern and Indian History

Indian History

Shunga Dynasty

A dynasty that succeded the Mauryans

Pushyamitra Shunga

Founder and first ruler of Shunga Dynasty

Performed the Ashvameda ritual twice to legitimize his rule

Satavahana Dynasty

A dynasty based in Ammaravit, Andhra Pradesh

Established Sanchi Stupa in Madya Pradesh

Created the Ellora Caves

Gupta Empire

A 51-page birch-bark manuscript believed to be authored by this empire’s physicians was discovered by and named for Hamilton Bower. Inscriptions etched by a ruler of this empire on the Bhitari Pillar detail a defeat of the Kidarites. The Fóguójì details Xuanzang’s journey to this empire whose court of a king who briefly reunited fractured parts of this empire was visited by that king of the Vardhana dynasty is Harsha. A ruler of this empire is described as subduing the forest kings, or atavika rajya, in a pillar inscription ascribed to the court poet Harisena. Axes and archers were commonly featured on this empire’s coins. Sherman E. Lee labeled this empire’s influential sculptural design the “International Style.” A “warrior king” of this empire reaped tribute from twelve southern states and ousted the rulers of nine northern ones besides issuing bullion commemorating his revival of the horse sacrifice. One ruler of this empire issued savarna coinage and is praised in inscriptions engraved on this empire’s famed iron pillars. Its first ruler gained power by marrying a Licchavi princess and consolidating the local iron trade from his home state of MagadhaA legendary ruler of this empire created his own calendar system after driving out the Sakas and establishing a new capital at Ujjain. This empire was repeatedly invaded by the Hephthalites, or White Huns. A ruler of this empire constructed a rust-resistant iron pillar at Mehrauli. Faxian glorified that mythical ruler of this empire named Vikramaditya. The mathematician Aryabhata wrote during the rule of this empire, whose kings are generally believed to have sponsored Kālidāsa. For 10 points, name this empire that ruled during India’s golden age in the 4th through 6th centuries and was founded by Chandra I

• Who: The Gupta Dynasty, founded by Sri Gupta.

  When: Approximately 240 to 550 CE.

The Gupta period produced scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata, Varahimihira, Vishnu Sharma, and Vatsyayana

Chandragupta I, II, and Samudragupta of the Gupta Empire

Chandragupta I

• King of the Gupta Dynasty

• Married Kumaradevi in order to solidify his power

• Founded the Gupta Calender era

Samundragupta

• Son of Chandragupta I

• Expanded the military power of the Gupta Empire

• Harisena, his courteir, wrote the Allahabhad Pillar Inscription

• Made as far south as Kanchipakam in Tamil Nadu

• Also performed the Ashvameda sacrifice

Chandragupta II

• Known as Chandragupta Vikramaditya

• He is known for constructing the Delhi Iron Pillar

• He defeated the Sassanids, vassalized the Hepthalites, and reached the Amu Darya River, known as the Oxus River

• Fa-hein visited his kingdom during his reign

King Harsha(Harshavardhana)

This ruler hosted a “Great Debate” that consisted of five days of uninterrupted lectures by a visiting theologian, followed by an arson attempt by his disgruntled opponents. The following century, the capital established by this ruler was the focus of the “tripartite struggle.” After this ruler’s death, a Tibetan and Nepalese army led by Wang Xuance (“shwen-tsuh”) invaded to depose a pretender that Chinese sources call Aluonashun (“ah-lwo-na-shoon”). This ruler’s defeat by Pulakeshin II is attested on the Aihole (“eye-HO-lay”) Inscription. The visiting monk Xuanzang (“shwen-dzong”) reported the lavish quinquennial almsgiving conducted by this king, whose “deeds” are the subject of a flowery biography by his court poet Bāṇabhaṭṭa. This author of the play Nāgānanda established an empire north of the Chalukyas with a capital at Kannauj (“KUN-nodge”). For 10 points, name this 7th-century king who unified northern India after the decline of the Gupta Dynasty

Middle Eastern History

Byzantine Empire

The continuation of the Roman Empire

• An empire founded by Constantine I and whose most famous ruler was Justinian I

• An emporer by the name of Basil II was known as the Bulgar Slayer

• Greatest extent in 555 AD

• Theodosuis I made Christianity the state religion

• Lost the Battle of Yaramuk to the Rashiudan Caliphate and lost the provinces of Egypt and Syria

• The Isusurin Dynasty is manily accosiated with iconoclasm

• Leo the Wise wrote the law code Basilika

• The Macedonian Renissance saw a two-century revival but came to an end during the battle of Manzikeret

• An emporer by the name of Basil II was known as the Bulgar Slayer

Theodosious I

A ruler of the Roman empire who made Christianity the official religion

Sponsered the Olympics to further the spread of Christianity

Sassanian Empire

An empire based in Iran

Founded by Ardashir I

Founded following the battle of Hormozdgan

Shapur I wrote the Great Inscrpiton of this kingdom

According to Al-Tabari, a ruler of these people impressed dinner guests by cleaning his napkin coated with asbestos by throwing it into the fire. That ruler of this empire, known as "The Victorious," was briefly usurped by general Bahram Chobin in the midst of a White Huns invasion in the 590s. An invasion of this nation by the Byzantine emperor Heraclius ravaged much of Mesopotamia, including its capital of Ctesiphon [[TEH-seh-fawn]], leading to the deposition of this empire's shah, Khosrow II

Khosrau I solidified Sassanian Rule after a rapid decline following Shapur I

Known for signing the Perpetual Peace with Justinian

Known for the conquest of Aksum’s Yemeni territories

Captured Dara in 591

Damascus

• Old Roman Road

• Battle of Dara

• Umayyad stronghold

Aksum

An empire based in Ethiopia

Had terrritories in Yemen

Was often at odds with the Sassanian empire

This kingdom was the first to mint coins with a design of the cross, replacing a disc and crescent motif. According to legend, Christianization in this kingdom may have led Jewish communities to form the Kingdom of Simien. This kingdom invaded a nearby Jewish kingdom after Dhu Nuwas (“doo noo-WOSS”) massacred the Christian population of Najran. Many churches and monasteries in this kingdom were burned down during a revolt led by Gudit. This kingdom’s ruler Ezana was baptized by the missionary Frumentius. This kingdom constructed the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion, which the later Solomonic Dynasty believed to contain the Ark of the Covenant. For 10 points, name this ancient Christian kingdom located primarily in modern-day northern Ethiopia. King Kaleb was one of their rulers

Ummayad Caliphate

• Muawiyah I

• Abid Al Malik

  • Founded the Dome of the Rock

• Abu Muslim hated this empire

Abbasid Caliphate

1. Hired slaves like the Mamluks under Mutasim

2. Battle of Zab River

3. Abu Muslim 

4. Black banner

5. Battle of Talas River