Biography of Prince Siddhartha Gautama
I. Early Years
A. Prince Siddhartha was born in 563 BCE near the Himalayan Mountains in India, a son of a beautiful queen, Maya, and a powerful ruler, Suddhodana. At birth, he could already walk and talk and looked a few years old, saying "I am the leader of the world and guide to the world."
B. Siddhartha had two paths of destiny laid upon him. One was that he would rule the universe. The other was that he would see the pain, sorrow and ill of the world, and become the enlightened Buddha. Therefore, his father decided to give him a world without flaw to keep him on a path toward royal duties.
II. Significant Events
A. Married noblewoman at 16 years of age and had a child at 29 years of age
B. When driving around town, Siddhartha discovered the three forms of suffering, making his royal life seem empty, so he began his journey to find enlightenment
C. After his 35th birthday, Siddhartha meditated all night, until he had become the enlightened one
D. once he became enlightened, he shared the four truths and Buddhism was born
III. Personal Attributes
A. One of Siddhartha's attributes is that he is thoughtful and knowledgeable, pondering the meaning of human life and finding it while being enlightened as Buddha.
B. Siddhartha was a determined character because he would not give up on finding his enlightenment
IV. Contributions
A. One major contribution of Prince Siddhartha Gautama was reaching enlightenment and sharing his knowledge of deep truths and beginning the religion of Buddhism
B. Before Siddhartha became Buddha, he was a prince and a great rule and expressed views on the importance of democracy and strengthened the government.
C. He helped people understand the reality of human life and how to reach nirvana, peace and happiness
D. He created a new way of life for people and told that people should be treated equality, all differences set aside.
V. My Impressions
A. One of my impressions is that Prince Siddhartha was an inspirational character because he completely devoted himself to something and was determined to find himself an answer, becoming Buddha .
B. I agree with Siddhartha's truths and eight fold path but do not view it as a religion. Also, it seems very hard to accomplish.
A. Prince Siddhartha was born in 563 BCE near the Himalayan Mountains in India, a son of a beautiful queen, Maya, and a powerful ruler, Suddhodana. At birth, he could already walk and talk and looked a few years old, saying "I am the leader of the world and guide to the world."
B. Siddhartha had two paths of destiny laid upon him. One was that he would rule the universe. The other was that he would see the pain, sorrow and ill of the world, and become the enlightened Buddha. Therefore, his father decided to give him a world without flaw to keep him on a path toward royal duties.
II. Significant Events
A. Married noblewoman at 16 years of age and had a child at 29 years of age
B. When driving around town, Siddhartha discovered the three forms of suffering, making his royal life seem empty, so he began his journey to find enlightenment
C. After his 35th birthday, Siddhartha meditated all night, until he had become the enlightened one
D. once he became enlightened, he shared the four truths and Buddhism was born
III. Personal Attributes
A. One of Siddhartha's attributes is that he is thoughtful and knowledgeable, pondering the meaning of human life and finding it while being enlightened as Buddha.
B. Siddhartha was a determined character because he would not give up on finding his enlightenment
IV. Contributions
A. One major contribution of Prince Siddhartha Gautama was reaching enlightenment and sharing his knowledge of deep truths and beginning the religion of Buddhism
B. Before Siddhartha became Buddha, he was a prince and a great rule and expressed views on the importance of democracy and strengthened the government.
C. He helped people understand the reality of human life and how to reach nirvana, peace and happiness
D. He created a new way of life for people and told that people should be treated equality, all differences set aside.
V. My Impressions
A. One of my impressions is that Prince Siddhartha was an inspirational character because he completely devoted himself to something and was determined to find himself an answer, becoming Buddha .
B. I agree with Siddhartha's truths and eight fold path but do not view it as a religion. Also, it seems very hard to accomplish.
Biography of King Ashoka
I. Early Years
A. Ashoka was born in 304 BCE to his father Emperor Bindusara Maurya, the ruler of India, which is land he had inherited from his father, Chandragupta Maurya. Ashoka was the most intelligent of his many brothers.
B. At 18 years old, Ashoka was appointed viceroy of Avanti, and married at age 20.
II. Significant Events
A. Expanding Mauryan Empire after becoming emperor after his brother
B. Spread Buddhism far and wide away from India showing how to live the Buddhist life.
C. Gave up violence and fighting so that he could pursue Buddhism after one very violent battle
III. Personal Attributes
A. Ashoka was a respectable leader because he tried to tell everyone to treat their fellow others with respect and should be honored for that
B. Ashoka was also peaceful and wise for refusing violence and taking a different approach to ruling
IV. Contributions
A. Ashoka spread Buddhism beyond India with the help of his two sons
B. He expanded the Mauryan Empire, but after one extremely violent battle, he never fought another kingdom for its land and valued love, peace and nonviolence, the values of Buddhism.
C. Became the emperor of the Mauryan Empire and converted the major religion of many kingdoms to Buddhism.
D. Built some of the first Buddhist schools.
V. My Impressions
A. It is unfair that while teaching everyone to be Buddhist, Ashoka himself did not completely follow the Buddhist religion.
B. Ashoka was a ruler unmatched as far as they go because he tried with so much determination to keep peace.
A. Ashoka was born in 304 BCE to his father Emperor Bindusara Maurya, the ruler of India, which is land he had inherited from his father, Chandragupta Maurya. Ashoka was the most intelligent of his many brothers.
B. At 18 years old, Ashoka was appointed viceroy of Avanti, and married at age 20.
II. Significant Events
A. Expanding Mauryan Empire after becoming emperor after his brother
B. Spread Buddhism far and wide away from India showing how to live the Buddhist life.
C. Gave up violence and fighting so that he could pursue Buddhism after one very violent battle
III. Personal Attributes
A. Ashoka was a respectable leader because he tried to tell everyone to treat their fellow others with respect and should be honored for that
B. Ashoka was also peaceful and wise for refusing violence and taking a different approach to ruling
IV. Contributions
A. Ashoka spread Buddhism beyond India with the help of his two sons
B. He expanded the Mauryan Empire, but after one extremely violent battle, he never fought another kingdom for its land and valued love, peace and nonviolence, the values of Buddhism.
C. Became the emperor of the Mauryan Empire and converted the major religion of many kingdoms to Buddhism.
D. Built some of the first Buddhist schools.
V. My Impressions
A. It is unfair that while teaching everyone to be Buddhist, Ashoka himself did not completely follow the Buddhist religion.
B. Ashoka was a ruler unmatched as far as they go because he tried with so much determination to keep peace.
Biography of Chandragupta Maurya
I. Early Years
A. Chandragupta came from humble backgrounds and the Mauryan Tribe and the clan of Buddha
B. He was born in 340 BCE
II. Significant events
A. When Chandragupta saw that northern India was weakened by the constant fighting, he took advantage of this and his 700,000 soldier army over took the land, uniting India.
B. In 298 BCE, he voluntarily retired and gave power to his son, Bindusara Maurya, and then joined a group of monks.
III. Personal Attributes
A. One of Chandragupta's attributes is that he is overly paranoid about his enemies
B. Chandragupta was also a clever person. He was able to conquer such a vast area of land because of this.
IV. Contributions
A. Chandragupta united India for the first time under one ruler.
B. Chandragupta also conquered Macedonia and by the end of his conquests, united most of southeastern Asia.
C. Chandragupta created a strong central government with written laws
V. My Impressions
A. Chandragupta had the qualities of a great leader but was too paranoid of his enemies and punished people too harshly
B. It is a great accomplishment that he was able to unite such a vast amount of land under one empire
A. Chandragupta came from humble backgrounds and the Mauryan Tribe and the clan of Buddha
B. He was born in 340 BCE
II. Significant events
A. When Chandragupta saw that northern India was weakened by the constant fighting, he took advantage of this and his 700,000 soldier army over took the land, uniting India.
B. In 298 BCE, he voluntarily retired and gave power to his son, Bindusara Maurya, and then joined a group of monks.
III. Personal Attributes
A. One of Chandragupta's attributes is that he is overly paranoid about his enemies
B. Chandragupta was also a clever person. He was able to conquer such a vast area of land because of this.
IV. Contributions
A. Chandragupta united India for the first time under one ruler.
B. Chandragupta also conquered Macedonia and by the end of his conquests, united most of southeastern Asia.
C. Chandragupta created a strong central government with written laws
V. My Impressions
A. Chandragupta had the qualities of a great leader but was too paranoid of his enemies and punished people too harshly
B. It is a great accomplishment that he was able to unite such a vast amount of land under one empire
Biography of the Gupta Family
I. Early Years
a. After the Mauryan Empire fell apart, the next great empire to Rise was the Gupta, beginning 320 BCE.
b. The first emperor of this empire was Chandragupta I. These rulers, however, gave much more freedom and independence to smaller groups of India than the Mauryan rulers did.
II. Significant Events
a. A significant event during the reign of the Gupta family was when they built great temples using their skills of mathematics
b. The height of the Gupta Empire was when they ruled the most land. The whole time period of the Gupta Empire until 550 CE was called the Golden Age of India.
III. Personal Attributes
a. The rulers of the Gupta empire were very knowledgeable and intelligent people. They made so many discoveries that we still use today in every field, for example, the decimal system in mathematics.
b. The Gupta empire's people were also skillful because they showed such advanced metalwork that people today still cannot master.
IV. Contributions
a. During the reign of the Gupta empire, many great discoveries were made and many universities and colleges were built, providing religious, math, astronomy, chemistry, Sanskrit (writing), art, music, and dancing. One such university was the University of Nalanda, where many much was learned about medicine.
b. Made very many literary works
c. Created beautiful murals and scrolls, sculptures, and metalwork to honor noblemen and rulers
d. Created a huge system of roads
e. Expanded empire over a vast area and wrote down a set of laws for the people to follow
V. My Impressions
a. The Gupta family had achieved so much and should definitely be honored. It is amazing how people who came so long before us had so much knowledge and skill.
b. Also, the laws under the Gupta family were fair and just and it was a time of relative piece. The golden age is something to remember.
a. After the Mauryan Empire fell apart, the next great empire to Rise was the Gupta, beginning 320 BCE.
b. The first emperor of this empire was Chandragupta I. These rulers, however, gave much more freedom and independence to smaller groups of India than the Mauryan rulers did.
II. Significant Events
a. A significant event during the reign of the Gupta family was when they built great temples using their skills of mathematics
b. The height of the Gupta Empire was when they ruled the most land. The whole time period of the Gupta Empire until 550 CE was called the Golden Age of India.
III. Personal Attributes
a. The rulers of the Gupta empire were very knowledgeable and intelligent people. They made so many discoveries that we still use today in every field, for example, the decimal system in mathematics.
b. The Gupta empire's people were also skillful because they showed such advanced metalwork that people today still cannot master.
IV. Contributions
a. During the reign of the Gupta empire, many great discoveries were made and many universities and colleges were built, providing religious, math, astronomy, chemistry, Sanskrit (writing), art, music, and dancing. One such university was the University of Nalanda, where many much was learned about medicine.
b. Made very many literary works
c. Created beautiful murals and scrolls, sculptures, and metalwork to honor noblemen and rulers
d. Created a huge system of roads
e. Expanded empire over a vast area and wrote down a set of laws for the people to follow
V. My Impressions
a. The Gupta family had achieved so much and should definitely be honored. It is amazing how people who came so long before us had so much knowledge and skill.
b. Also, the laws under the Gupta family were fair and just and it was a time of relative piece. The golden age is something to remember.