India in the 1st millennium BCE
In the 7th–6th centuries BCE several states arose in India, such as Magadha, Kosala and Malla. After Central Asia, Alexander the Great invaded the Punjab (327–325 BCE); the local people resisted fiercely, his tired army would not march further, and Alexander turned back. Afterwards the commander Chandragupta united the states of northern India and founded the Maurya state (about 321 BCE); its capital was Pataliputra. In the 3rd century BCE under King Ashoka the Maurya state reached its height; Ashoka later supported Buddhism. Mathematics and astronomy developed in India: the decimal system and the idea of zero took shape, and Indian numerals spread through the Arabs (that is why we call them “Arabic numerals”). Chess (chaturanga) also appeared in India; sugar was made from sugarcane. The epics “Mahabharata” and “Ramayana” were written in the ancient Sanskrit language. In the 6th century BCE the prince Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha, “the Enlightened One”) founded Buddhism. He taught that human suffering comes from desires, so one should not lie, not harm living beings and should give up desires.
“Counting without zero”: children try to write 100 or 205 without a zero sign and feel its importance.