ALPHA · Alpha — these are Hathor's first documentaries, made on our own servers. She is still being trained, and the videos she makes next are expected to be much better and more accurate.

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Empires of India: the Rise and Fall

From the Mauryan empire to the end of Mughal rule, this ten‑minute film traces the political, cultural and artistic achievements of India's great dynasties.

Chapters

0:07 Mauryan Foundations
0:58 Gupta Golden Age
2:07 South Indian Empires
3:52 Mughal Apex and Decline

On-screen text

0:07 Mauryan Foundations
0:14 Mauryan Foundations
0:31 Ashoka's Dhamma inscriptions Historical record · Edicts of Ashoka (inscriptions, 3rd century BCE)
0:49 Kautilya's statecraft Historical record · Arthashastra of Kautilya (c. 3rd century BCE, manuscript)
0:58 Gupta Golden Age
1:05 Gupta Golden Age
1:22 Gupta iron pillar inscription Historical record · Iron Pillar of Delhi (Gupta period, 4th century CE)
1:40 Gupta land grant to Nalanda Historical record · Nalanda copper‑plate inscription (c. 5th century CE)
1:58 Idealized Gupta sculpture The Institute's interpretation · John Boardman, *The Diffusion of Classical Art in India* (1991)
2:07 South Indian Empires
2:14 South Indian Empires
2:31 Chola Nataraja bronze Historical record · Bronze statue of Nataraja, Chola period (c. 11th century, British Museum)
2:49 Rajendra's Ganges campaign Historical record · Thanjavur temple inscription of Rajendra Chola I (c. 1025 CE)
3:07 Chola overseas trade The Institute's interpretation · K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, *The Cholas* (1955)
3:25 Deva Raya II inscription Historical record · Hampi stone inscription of Deva Raya II (c. 1440 CE)
3:43 Vijayanagara market scene Tradition / scripture · Domingo de Toral, *Narrative of the Conquest of the Kingdom of Vijayanagar* (1585)
3:52 Mughal Apex and Decline
3:59 Mughal Apex and Decline
4:16 Babur at Panipat Historical record · Baburnama, memoir of Babur (1526–1530)
4:34 Akbar's religious policy Historical record · Akbarnama by Abul Fazl (1590)
4:52 Taj Mahal mausoleum Historical record · Taj Mahal, Agra (completed 1653, UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Sources

Historical record: Edicts of Ashoka (inscriptions, 3rd century BCE) · Megasthenes, *Indica* (c. 300 BCE, fragments) · Arthashastra of Kautilya (c. 3rd century BCE, manuscript) · Iron Pillar of Delhi (Gupta period, 4th century CE) · Nalanda copper‑plate inscription (c. 5th century CE) · Bronze statue of Nataraja, Chola period (c. 11th century, British Museum) · Thanjavur temple inscription of Rajendra Chola I (c. 1025 CE) · Hampi stone inscription of Deva Raya II (c. 1440 CE) · Baburnama, memoir of Babur (1526–1530) · Akbarnama by Abul Fazl (1590) · Taj Mahal, Agra (completed 1653, UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Tradition / scripture: Domingo de Toral, *Narrative of the Conquest of the Kingdom of Vijayanagar* (1585)

The Institute's interpretation: John Boardman, *The Diffusion of Classical Art in India* (1991) · K. A. Nilakanta Sastri, *The Cholas* (1955) · William Dalrymple, *The Last Mughal* (2002)

Sound: synthesized ambient (wind, drone, water) (CC0 — made by SoapBox). Made in 69 s of CPU.

Scenes Hathor has no parts for yet (6) — the next things to make

A Greek diplomat in a royal audience hall, gesturing toward a map of roads.
A Greek diplomat in a royal audience hall, gesturing toward a map of roads.
A crowded market square in Hampi, merchants displaying textiles and spices.
Babur on horseback surveying the battlefield after the 1526 victory.
Sepoy mutineers firing from the Red Fort as smoke rises over Delhi.
Sepoy mutineers firing from the Red Fort as smoke rises over Delhi.