Maurya Empire - Knowledge

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quite well established and the Aranyachará (i.e. forest people) were grouped with the most despised castes. ... The evolution of Indo-Aryan society in the centuries before c.200 bce not only saw increased segregation with respect to caste, it also seems to have seen increased differentiation with respect to gender. ... Therefore, by the time of the Mauryan Empire the position of women in mainstream Indo-Aryan society seems to have deteriorated. Customs such as child marriage and dowry were becoming entrenched; and a young women's purpose in life was to provide sons for the male lineage into which she married. To quote the Arthashāstra: 'wives are there for having sons'. Practices such as female infanticide and the neglect of young girls were possibly also developing at this time, especially among higher caste people. Further, due to the increasingly hierarchical nature of the society, marriage was possibly becoming an even more crucial institution for childbearing and the formalization of relationships between groups. In turn, this may have contributed to the growth of increasingly instrumental attitudes towards women and girls (who moved home at marriage). It is important to note that, in all likelihood, these developments did not affect people living in large parts of the subcontinent—such as those in the south, and tribal communities inhabiting the forested hill and plateau areas of central and eastern India. That said, these deleterious features have continued to blight Indo-Aryan speaking areas of the subcontinent until the present day."

71: 3914: 3022:(262–261 BCE) which proved to be the pivotal event of his life. Ashoka used Kalinga to project power over a large region by building a fortification there and securing it as a possession. Although Ashoka's army succeeded in overwhelming Kalinga forces of royal soldiers and citizen militias, an estimated 100,000 soldiers and civilians were killed in the furious warfare, including over 10,000 of Imperial Mauryan soldiers. Hundreds of thousands of people were adversely affected by the destruction and fallout of war. When he personally witnessed the devastation, Ashoka began feeling remorse. Although the annexation of Kalinga was completed, Ashoka embraced the teachings of Buddhism, and renounced war and violence. He sent out missionaries to travel around Asia and spread Buddhism to other countries. He also propagated his own 8087:: "This particular example of a foreign model gets added support from the male heads of foreigners from Patna city and Sarnath since they also prove beyond doubt that a section of the elite in the Gangetic Basin was of foreign origin. However, as noted earlier, this is an example of the late Mauryan period since this is not the type adopted in any Ashoka pillar. We are, therefore, visualizing a historical situation in India in which the West Asian influence on Indian art was felt more in the late Mauryan than in the early Mauryan period. The term West Asia in this context stands for Iran and Afghanistan, where the Sakas and Pahlavas had their base-camps for eastward movement. The prelude to future inroads of the Indo-Bactrians in India had after all started in the second century B.C."... in 2495: 4796: 922: 4008: 3581: 115: 2506: 2698: 700: 4036: 3557: 3569: 1891: 4316: 2980: 3492:. Chandragupta Maurya established a single currency across India, and a network of regional governors and administrators and a civil service provided justice and security for merchants, farmers and traders. The Mauryan army wiped out many gangs of bandits, regional private armies, and powerful chieftains who sought to impose their own supremacy in small areas. Although regimental in revenue collection, Mauryas also sponsored many public works and waterways to enhance productivity, while internal trade in India expanded greatly due to new-found political unity and internal peace. 3988: 4780: 3533: 4048: 6320::"He was of humble Indian to a change of rule." Justin XV.4.15 "Fuit hic humili quidem genere natus, sed ad regni potestatem maiestate numinis inpulsus. Quippe cum procacitate sua Nandrum regem offendisset, interfici a rege iussus salutem pedum ceieritate quaesierat. (Ex qua fatigatione cum somno captus iaceret, leo ingentis formae ad dormientem accessit sudoremque profluentem lingua ei detersit expergefactumque blande reliquit. Hoc prodigio primum ad spem regni inpulsus) contractis latronibus Indos ad nouitatem regni sollicitauit." 3442:

foreign dignitaries, tourists and businessmen, third board made records and registrations, fourth looked after manufactured goods and sale of commodities, fifth board regulated trade, issued licenses and checked weights and measurements, sixth board collected sales taxes. Some cities such as Taxila had autonomy to issue their own coins. The city counsel had officers who looked after public welfare such as maintenance of roads, public buildings, markets, hospitals, educational institutions etc. The official head of the village was

4743:) to men; and from this moment he has made men more pious, and everything thrives throughout the whole world. And the king abstains from (killing) living beings, and other men and those who (are) huntsmen and fishermen of the king have desisted from hunting. And if some (were) intemperate, they have ceased from their intemperance as was in their power; and obedient to their father and mother and to the elders, in opposition to the past also in the future, by so acting on every occasion, they will live better and more happily. 4068: 3488:, political unity and military security allowed for a common economic system and enhanced trade and commerce, with increased agricultural productivity. The previous situation involving hundreds of kingdoms, many small armies, powerful regional chieftains, and internecine warfare, gave way to a disciplined central authority. Farmers were freed of tax and crop collection burdens from regional kings, paying instead to a centrally administered and strict-but-fair system of taxation as advised by the principles in the 3477: 3545: 707: 4764: 3637: 4374: 3041:. While he maintained a large and powerful army, to keep the peace and maintain authority, Ashoka expanded friendly relations with states across Asia and Europe, and he sponsored Buddhist missions. He undertook a massive public works building campaign across the country. Over 40 years of peace, harmony and prosperity made Ashoka one of the most successful and famous monarchs in Indian history. He remains an idealized figure of inspiration in modern India. 70: 2396: 2370: 2992: 3244: 1897: 4214: 3348: 3866: 2965: 4091: 4086: 5785:

travelled stringy routes dotted with armed cities. Outside the palace, in the capital cities, the highest ranks in the imperial elite were held by military commanders whose active loyalty and success in war determined imperial fortunes. Wherever these men failed or rebelled, dynastic power crumbled. ... Imperial society flourished where elites mingled; they were its backbone, its strength was theirs. Kautilya's

4615: 3893:. Excavations have unearthed the remains of the palace, which is thought to have been a group of several buildings, the most important of which was an immense pillared hall supported on a high substratum of timbers. The pillars were set in regular rows, thus dividing the hall into a number of smaller square bays. The number of columns is 80, each about 7 meters high. According to the eyewitness account of 5263:"It was because of the Maurya empire that Brahmanism had to reinvent itself. It was because of that empire that Brahmanism transformed itself from a ritual tradition linked to local rulers in a relatively restricted part of India into a socio-political ideology that succeeded in imposing itself on vast parts of South and Southeast Asia, together covering an area larger than the Roman empire ever had." 5219:"The picture that is slowly gaining ground in modern research is that the establishment of the Maurya empire spelt disaster for traditional Brahmanism. Brahmins in earlier days performed rituals at the courts of kings in the Brahmanical heartland. This Brahmanical heartland was conquered by rulers from Pāṭaliputra, who had no respect for Brahmanical rituals and needed no Brahmins at their courts." 3728: 3704: 6035:"It is doubtful if, in its present shape, is as old as the time of the first Maurya", as it probably contains layers of text ranging from Maurya times till as late as the 2nd century CE. Nonetheless, "though a comparatively late work, it may be used ... to confirm and supplement the information gleaned from earlier sources". (Raychaudhuri & Mukherjee 1996, pp. 246–247) 1839:), state that the word "Maurya" is derived from Mura and the mother of the first Maurya emperor. However, the Puranas themselves make no mention of Mura and do not talk of any relation between the Nanda and the Maurya dynasties. Dhundiraja's derivation of the word seems to be his own invention: according to the Sanskrit rules, the derivative of the feminine name Mura ( 5793:, where key institutions seem to have survived for about seven hundred years, down to the age of the Guptas. Here, Mauryan officials ruled local society, but not elsewhere. In provincial towns and cities, officials formed a top layer of royalty; under them, old conquered royal families were not removed, but rather subordinated. In most 8024:"(Transitum deinde in Indiam fecit), quae post mortem Alexandri, ueluti ceruicibus iugo seruitutis excusso, praefectos eius occiderat. Auctor libertatis Sandrocottus fuerat, sed titulum libertatis post uictoriam in seruitutem uerterat; 14 siquidem occupato regno populum quem ab externa dominatione uindicauerat ipse seruitio premebat." 8036:"Molienti deinde bellum aduersus praefectos Alexandri elephantus ferus infinitae magnitudinis ultro se obtulit et ueluti domita mansuetudine eum tergo excepit duxque belli et proeliator insignis fuit. Sic adquisito regno Sandrocottus ea tempestate, qua Seleucus futurae magnitudinis fundamenta iaciebat, Indiam possidebat." 3458:) were responsible enumerating different classes of people in the Mauryan empire such as traders, agriculturists, smiths, potters, carpenters etc. and also cattle, mostly for taxation purposes. These vocations consolidated as castes, a feature of Indian society that continues to influence the Indian politics till today. 1884:, a notable center of learning, to work as a teacher. On one of his travels, Chanakya witnessed some young men playing a rural game practicing a pitched battle. One of the boys was none other than Chandragupta. Chanakya was impressed by the young Chandragupta and saw imperial qualities in him as someone fit to rule. 1809:) were abundant. Therefore, they came to be known as "Moriyas", literally meaning, "belonging to the place of peacocks". According to another Buddhist account, these ancestors built a city called Moriya-nagara ("Moriya-city"), which was so called, because it was built with the "bricks coloured like peacocks' necks". 3422:. Under the Mauryan system there was no private ownership of land as all land was owned by the emperor to whom tribute was paid by the laboring class. In return the emperor supplied the laborers with agricultural products, animals, seeds, tools, public infrastructure, and stored food in reserve for times of crisis. 4024: 2604:. Megasthenes' description of Mauryan society as freedom-loving gave Seleucus a means to avoid invasion, however, underlying Seleucus' decision was the improbability of success. In later years, Seleucus' successors maintained diplomatic relations with the Empire based on similar accounts from returning travellers. 5784:

The geography of the Mauryan Empire resembled a spider with a small dense body and long spindly legs. The highest echelons of imperial society lived in the inner circle composed of the ruler, his immediate family, other relatives, and close allies, who formed a dynastic core. Outside the core, empire

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Though no accounts of the conflict remain, it is clear that Seleucus fared poorly against the Indian Emperor as he failed to conquer any territory, and in fact was forced to surrender much that was already his. Regardless, Seleucus and Chandragupta ultimately reached a settlement and through a treaty

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system collected intelligence for both internal and external security purposes. Having renounced offensive warfare and expansionism, Ashoka nevertheless continued to maintain this large army, to protect the Empire and instil stability and peace across West and South Asia..Even though large parts were

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Quote: "Accordingly, as tribal societies were encountered by the expanding Indo-Aryan societies, so the evolving caste system provided a framework within which—invariably at a low level—tribal people could be placed. For example, by the time of the Mauryan Empire (c.320–230 bce) the caste system was

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In the past it was not uncommon for historians to conflate the vast space thus outlined with the oppressive realm described in the Arthashastra and to posit one of the earliest and certainly one of the largest totalitarian regimes in all of history. Such a picture is no longer considered believable;

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Always lying in wait for the neighbouring nations, strong in arms and persuasive in council, he acquired Mesopotamia, Armenia, 'Seleucid' Cappadocia, Persis, Parthia, Bactria, Arabia, Tapouria, Sogdia, Arachosia, Hyrcania, and other adjacent peoples that had been subdued by Alexander, as far as the

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However, the edicts of Ashoka reflect more the desire of rulers than actual events; the mention of a 100 'panas' (coins) fine for poaching deer in imperial hunting preserves shows that rule-breakers did exist. The legal restrictions conflicted with the practices freely exercised by the common people

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Quote: "Yet Sumit Guha considers that 20 million is an upper limit. This is because the demographic growth experienced in core areas is likely to have been less than that experienced in areas that were more lightly settled in the early historic period. The position taken here is that the population

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Quote: "Magadha power came to extend over the main cities and communication routes of the Ganges basin. Then, under Chandragupta Maurya (c.321–297 bce), and subsequently Ashoka his grandson, Pataliputra became the centre of the loose-knit Mauryan 'Empire' which during Ashoka's reign (c.268–232 bce)

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Magadha power came to extend over the main cities and communication routes of the Ganges basin. Then, under Chandragupta Maurya (c.321–297 bce), and subsequently Ashoka his grandson, Pataliputra became the centre of the loose-knit Mauryan 'Empire' which during Ashoka's reign (c.268–232 bce) briefly

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rules, and among the kings who are neighbors of Antiochos, everywhere has Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi, made provision for two types of medical treatment: medical treatment for humans and medical treatment for animals. Wherever medical herbs suitable for humans or animals are not available, I

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Bindusara's life has not been documented as well as that of his father Chandragupta or of his son Ashoka. Chanakya continued to serve as prime minister during his reign. According to the medieval Tibetan scholar Taranatha who visited India, Chanakya helped Bindusara "to destroy the nobles and kings

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And Theophrastus says that some contrivances are of wondrous efficacy in such matters . And Phylarchus confirms him, by reference to some of the presents which Sandrakottus, the king of the Indians, sent to Seleucus; which were to act like charms in producing a wonderful degree of affection, while

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also gives the method of palace construction from this period. Later fragments of stone pillars, including one nearly complete, with their round tapering shafts and smooth polish, indicate that Ashoka was responsible for the construction of the stone columns which replaced the earlier wooden ones.

2658:, Chandragupta Maurya subdued all of India, and Justin also observed that Chandragupta Maurya was "in possession of India". These accounts are corroborated by Tamil Sangam literature which mentions about Mauryan invasion with their south Indian allies and defeat of their rivals at Podiyil hill in 7639:

If the Jaina tradition is to be believed, Chandragupta was converted to the religion of Mahavira. He is said to have abdicated his throne and passed his last days at Sravana Belgola in Mysore. Greek evidence, however, suggests that the first Maurya did not give up the performance of Brahmanical

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in the Indus Valley and northwest India. When Alexander's remaining forces were routed, returning westwards, Seleucus I Nicator fought to defend these territories. Not many details of the campaigns are known from ancient sources. Seleucus was defeated and retreated into the mountainous region of

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a non-Indian face of a foreigner with a conical hat: "If there are a few faces which are nonIndian, such as one head from Sarnath with conical cap ( Bachhofer, Vol . I, Pl . 13 ), they are due to the presence of the foreigners their costumes, tastes and liking for portrait art and not their art

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records Chandragupta's army unsuccessfully attacking the Nanda capital. Chandragupta and Chanakya then began a campaign at the frontier of the Nanda empire, gradually conquering various territories on their way to the Nanda capital. He then refined his strategy by establishing garrisons in the

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This incorporation into a larger empire, first presumably by the Nandas, then by the Mauryas, took away all the respect and privileges that Brahmins had so far enjoyed, and might have meant the disappearance of Brahmins as a distinct group of people. The reason why this did not happen is that

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describe the intricate municipal system formed by Maurya empire to govern its cities. A city counsel made up of thirty commissioners was divided into six committees or boards which governed the city. The first board fixed wages and looked after provided goods, second board made arrangement for

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Quote: "A creative explosion in all the arts was a most remarkable feature of this ancient transformation, a permanent cultural legacy. Mauryan territory was created in its day by awesome armies and dreadful war, but future generations would cherish its beautiful pillars, inscriptions, coins,

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into Southeast Asia. India's exports included silk goods and textiles, spices and exotic foods. The external world came across new scientific knowledge and technology with expanding trade with the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka also sponsored the construction of thousands of roads, waterways, canals,

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India, after the death of Alexander, had assassinated his prefects, as if shaking the burden of servitude. The author of this liberation was Sandracottos, but he had transformed liberation in servitude after victory, since, after taking the throne, he himself oppressed the very people he has

6693:, Volume 5, p.129, Oxford University Press. "The architectural closeness of certain buildings in Achaemenid Iran and Mauryan India have raised much comment. The royal palace at Pataliputra is the most striking example and has been compared with the palaces at Susa, Ecbatana, and Persepolis." 4684:

of morality did not exist before. Mahdmatras of morality were appointed by me (when I had been) anointed thirteen years. These are occupied with all sects in establishing morality, in promoting morality, and for the welfare and happiness of those who are devoted to morality (even) among the

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Later, as he was preparing war against the prefects of Alexander, a huge wild elephant went to him and took him on his back as if tame, and he became a remarkable fighter and war leader. Having thus acquired royal power, Sandracottos possessed India at the time Seleucos was preparing future

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He (Antiochus) crossed the Caucasus and descended into India; renewed his friendship with Sophagasenus the king of the Indians; received more elephants, until he had a hundred and fifty altogether; and having once more provisioned his troops, set out again personally with his army: leaving

5216:"We know that Aśoka’s personal leanings were toward Buddhism, and tradition testifies to the fact that all the other rulers of the Maurya empire had strong links with Jainism, sometimes Ajivikism, but never with Brahmanism. A persistent tradition maintains that Candragupta was a Jaina." 3283:. However, the extent of their domains and the lengths of their rule are subject to much debate. Numismatic evidence indicates that they retained holdings in the subcontinent right up to the birth of Christ. Although the extent of their successes against indigenous powers such as the 2327:. However, any conclusions are hard to make without further historical evidence. Chandragupta first emerges in Greek accounts as "Sandrokottos". As a young man he is said to have met Alexander. Chanakya is said to have met the Nanda emperor, angered him, and made a narrow escape. 2263:

The Maurya Empire was established in the Magadha region under the leadership of Chandragupta Maurya and his mentor Chanakya. Chandragupta was taken to Taxila by Chanakya and was tutored about statecraft and governing. Requiring an army Chandragupta recruited and annexed local

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Under the Mauryas, internal and external trade, agriculture, and economic activities thrived and expanded across South Asia due to the creation of a single and efficient system of finance, administration, and security. The Maurya dynasty built Uttarapath, a precursor of the

5133:, p. 99): "the only direct evidence throwing light is that of Jain tradition it may be that he embraced Jainism towards the end of his reign after much consideration I am inclined to accept the main facts as affirmed by tradition no alternative account exists." 2297:

ruled in the Indus Valley until around 317 BCE, when Chandragupta Maurya (with the help of Chanakya, who was now his advisor) fought and drove out the Greek governors, and subsequently brought the Indus Valley under the control of his new seat of power in Magadha.

5232:, p. 68): "The brahmanized regions of north-western India were now governed by rulers who had no sympathy for Brahmins or their sacrificial culture, and whose natural sympathies lay with the religions of Greater Magadha, primarily Jainism, Jivikism, and Buddhism." 5179:, p. 68): "The brahmanized regions of north-western India were now governed by rulers who had no sympathy for Brahmins or their sacrificial culture, and whose natural sympathies lay with the religions of Greater Magadha, primarily Jainism, Jivikism, and Buddhism." 5159:, p. 68): "The brahmanized regions of north-western India were now governed by rulers who had no sympathy for Brahmins or their sacrificial culture, and whose natural sympathies lay with the religions of Greater Magadha, primarily Jainism, Jivikism, and Buddhism." 5197:, p. 164, (215) 217) states (p.164) "During the Mauryan period Brahmanism was an important religion" (Nath Sen distinguishes Brahmanism from Hinduism; p. (215) 217: n place of the old sacrificial Brahmanism, Hinduism had appeared"). Others strongly disagree: 1663:

The population of South Asia during the Mauryan period has been estimated to be between 15 and 30 million. The empire's period of dominion was marked by exceptional creativity in art, architecture, inscriptions and produced texts, but also by the consolidation of

6297::"Androcottus, when he was a stripling, saw Alexander himself, and we are told that he often said in later times that Alexander narrowly missed making himself master of the country, since its king was hated and despised on account of his baseness and low birth." 3499:, on the modern boundary of Pakistan and Afghanistan, became a strategically important port of trade and intercourse with the outside world. Greek states and Hellenic kingdoms in West Asia became important trade partners of India. Trade also extended through the 3822:

of India's and South Asia's Buddhist orders near his capital, a council that undertook much work of reform and expansion of the Buddhist religion. Indian merchants embraced Buddhism and played a large role in spreading the religion across the Mauryan Empire.

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There is also no evidence to prove the fact taken for granted without the need of any argument or demonstration by all Jain writers that Chandragupta ever became a convert to their religion after abdication. It is possible they are talking about his great

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Sandrocottus, when he was a stripling, saw Alexander himself, and we are told that he often said in later times that Alexander narrowly missed making himself master of the country, since its king was hated and despised on account of his baseness and low

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The protection of animals in India was advocated by the time of the Maurya dynasty; being the first empire to provide a unified political entity in India, the attitude of the Mauryas towards forests, their denizens, and fauna in general is of interest.

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On the border of the forest, he should establish a forest for elephants guarded by foresters. The Office of the Chief Elephant Forester should with the help of guards protect the elephants in any terrain. The slaying of an elephant is punishable by

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embraced Buddhism in the latter part of his reign, he brought about significant changes in his style of governance, which included providing protection to fauna, and even relinquished the royal hunt. He was the first ruler in history to advocate

3515:. While Rome had organizational entities which were largely used for public state-driven projects, Mauryan India had numerous private commercial entities. These existed purely for private commerce and developed before the Mauryan Empire itself. 3933:, lion thrones and other colossal figures. The use of stone had reached such great perfection during this time that even small fragments of stone art were given a high lustrous polish resembling fine enamel. This period marked the beginning of 3113:) as recipients of Ashoka's proselytism. The Edicts also accurately locate their territory "600 yojanas away" (1 yojana being about 7 miles), corresponding to the distance between the center of India and Greece (roughly 4,000 miles). 7644:

or non-injury to animals. He took delight in hunting, a practice that was continued by his son and alluded to by his grandson in his eighth Rock Edict. It is, however, possible that in his last days he showed some predilection for Jainism

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Chandragupta ultimately occupied Northwestern India, in the territories formerly ruled by the Greeks, where he fought the satraps (described as "Prefects" in Western sources) left in place after Alexander (Justin), among whom may have been

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realn, lost its privileges, which threatened its very existence, and pressured it to transform itself into a "socio-political ideology" which eventually became influential far beyond the confines of its original homeland, resulting in the

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estimates that Bindusara ascended the throne around 297 BCE. Bindusara, just 22 years old, inherited a large empire that consisted of what is now, Northern, Central and Eastern parts of India along with parts of Afghanistan and

3406:: a sophisticated civil service governed everything from municipal hygiene to international trade. The expansion and defense of the empire was made possible by what appears to have been one of the largest armies in the world during the 3504:

hospitals, rest-houses and other public works. The easing of many over-rigorous administrative practices, including those regarding taxation and crop collection, helped increase productivity and economic activity across the Empire.

3395:(Council of Ministers).. The Mauryans established a well developed coin minting system. Coins were mostly made of silver and copper. Certain gold coins were in circulation as well. The coins were widely used for trade and commerce 4795: 3018: BCE) was a brilliant commander who crushed revolts in Ujjain and Taxila. As emperor he was ambitious and aggressive, re-asserting the Empire's superiority in southern and western India. But it was his conquest of 4476:

He (Seleucus) crossed the Indus and waged war with Sandrocottus , king of the Indians, who dwelt on the banks of that stream, until they came to an understanding with each other and contracted a marriage relationship.

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These legends state that the Nanda emperor was defeated, deposed and exiled by some accounts, while Buddhist accounts claim he was killed. With the defeat of Dhana Nanda, Chandragupta Maurya founded the Maurya Empire.

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that had resisted Alexander's Empire. The Mauryan army quickly rose to become the prominent regional power in the North West of the Indian subcontinent. The Mauryan army then conquered the satraps established by the

8310: 5919:) "has been wrongly included in the list of ceded satrapies by some scholars ... on the basis of wrong assessments of the passage of Strabo ... and a statement by Pliny" (Raychaudhuri & Mukherjee 1996, p. 594). 3905:, its gilded pillars being adorned with golden vines and silver birds. The buildings stood in an extensive park studded with fish ponds and furnished with a great variety of ornamental trees and shrubs. Kauṭilya's 3068:

as peoples forming a frontier region of his empire. They also attest to Ashoka's having sent envoys to the Greek rulers in the West as far as the Mediterranean. The edicts precisely name each of the rulers of the

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Reasons advanced for the decline include the succession of weak emperors after Ashoka Maurya, the partition of the empire into two, the growing independence of some areas within the empire, such as that ruled by

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have had them imported and grown. Wherever medical roots or fruits are not available I have had them imported and grown. Along roads I have had wells dug and trees planted for the benefit of humans and animals.

5797:, the Mauryan Empire consisted of strategic urban sites connected loosely to vast hinterlands through lineages and local elites who were there when the Mauryas arrived and were still in control when they left. 3806:, and commissioned the construction of monasteries and schools, as well as the publication of Buddhist literature across the empire. He is believed to have built as many as 84,000 stupas across India, such as 2795:. He brought sixteen states under the Mauryan Empire and thus conquered almost all of the Indian peninsula (he is said to have conquered the 'land between the two seas' – the peninsular region between the 8328: 4023: 3229:, among others, have argued that archaeological evidence in favour of the allegations of persecution of Buddhists are lacking, and that the extent and magnitude of the atrocities have been exaggerated. 3182:, a top-heavy administration where authority was entirely in the hands of a few persons, an absence of any national consciousness, the pure scale of the empire making it unwieldy, and invasion by the 12052: 4642:

An influential and large Greek population was present in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent under Ashoka's rule, possibly remnants of Alexander's conquests in the Indus Valley region. In the

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measures for wildlife and even had rules inscribed in stone edicts. The edicts proclaim that many followed the emperor's example in giving up the slaughter of animals; one of them proudly states:

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Chandragupta established a strong centralised state with an administration at Pataliputra, which, according to Megasthenes, was "surrounded by a wooden wall pierced by 64 gates and 570 towers".

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The Mauryas firstly looked at forests as resources. For them, the most important forest product was the elephant. Military might in those times depended not only upon horses and men but also

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across India. Some of them are still found in the towns of Ahmedabad, Viramgam, Ujjain, and Palitana. It is also said that just like Ashoka, Samprati sent messengers and preachers to Greece,

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The dynasty's connection to the peacocks, as mentioned in the Buddhist and Jain traditions, seems to be corroborated by archaeological evidence. For example, peacock figures are found on the

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believes that he died around 274 BCE. Sailendra Nath Sen believes that he died around 273–272 BCE, and that his death was followed by a four-year struggle of succession, after which his son

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Brahmanism reinvented itself. Deprived of their earlier privileges, Brahmins made an effort to find new ways to make themselves indispensable for rulers, and to gain the respect of others."

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The population of South Asia during the Mauryan period has been estimated to be between 15 and 30 million. According to Tim Dyson, the period of the Mauryan Empire saw the consolidation of

2442:. In contrast to the easy victory in Buddhist sources, the Hindu and Jain texts state that the campaign was bitterly fought because the Nanda dynasty had a powerful and well-trained army. 13569: 3415:

under the control of Mauryan empire the spread of information and imperial messages was limited since many parts were inaccessible and were situated far away from capital of empire.

3275:. The Indo-Greeks would maintain holdings on the trans-Indus region, and make forays into central India, for about a century. Under them, Buddhism flourished, and one of their kings, 13564: 4526:" implies lawful marriage between Greeks and Indians was recognized at the State level, although it is unclear whether it occurred among dynastic rulers or common people, or both. 2650:(people who resided in Andhra-Karnataka regions immediately to the north of Tamil Nadu) formed the vanguard of the Mauryan Army. He also had a Greek ambassador at his court, named 11948: 6305: 4035: 3580: 873:). Outside this imperial centre, the empire's geographical extent was dependent on the loyalty of military commanders who controlled the armed cities scattered within it. During 3122: 12900: 4343:

river Indus, so that the boundaries of his empire were the most extensive in Asia after that of Alexander. The whole region from Phrygia to the Indus was subject to Seleucus.

3410:. According to Megasthenes, the empire wielded a military of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 8,000 chariots and 9,000 war elephants besides followers and attendants. A vast 5139:: "It was here, in the third century BC, that the first Emperor of India, Chandragupta Maurya, embraced the Jain religion and died through a self-imposed fast to the death." 4126:'s former generals. The Mauryas sought to preserve supplies of elephants since it was cheaper and took less time to catch, tame and train wild elephants than to raise them. 8306: 3839:

who had settled in the Gangetic plain, increasingly meeting tribal people who were incorporated into their evolving caste-system, and the declining rights of women in the

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at present what is taken to be the realm of Ashoka is a discontinuous set of several core regions separated by very large areas occupied by relatively autonomous peoples.

3544: 638: 624: 610: 596: 582: 568: 554: 529: 515: 501: 487: 3221:, Pushyamitra may have been the main author of the persecutions, although later Shunga kings seem to have been more supportive of Buddhism. Other historians, such as 2851:, his eldest son. The reason for the second revolt is unknown, but Bindusara could not suppress it in his lifetime. It was crushed by Ashoka after Bindusara's death. 75:

Territories of the Maurya Empire conceptualized as core areas or linear networks separated by large autonomous regions in the works of scholars such as: historians

12047: 1880:

when he informed them of Alexander's invasion. Chanakya swore revenge and vowed to destroy the Nanda Empire. He had to flee in order to save his life and went to

13245: 12973: 8324: 4947:. His name is mentioned in the list of Mauryan princes, and also in the list of the Yadava dynasty, as a descendant of Pradyumna. He may have been a grandson of 4814:, Ashoka mentions the Hellenistic kings of the period as recipients of his Buddhist proselytism, although no Western historical record of this event remains: 7527: 3568: 13158: 12073: 11970: 8132:

The Roots of Indian Art: A Detailed Study of the Formative Period of Indian Art and Architecture, Third and Second Centuries B.C., Mauryan and Late Mauryan

8095:

The Roots of Indian Art: A Detailed Study of the Formative Period of Indian Art and Architecture, Third and Second Centuries B.C., Mauryan and Late Mauryan

3556: 881:

excepting the deep south. It declined for about 50 years after Ashoka's rule, and dissolved in 185 BCE with the assassination of Brihadratha by

12912: 12848: 11859: 8245: 1860:

ruled over a broad swathe of the Indian subcontinent. The Nanda Empire was a large, militaristic, and economically powerful empire due to conquering the

4590:; and that Antiochus wrote to him in answer, "The dry figs and the sweet wine we will send you; but it is not lawful for a sophist to be sold in Greece. 9303: 7746: 4534:

Classical sources have also recorded that following their treaty, Chandragupta and Seleucus exchanged presents, such as when Chandragupta sent various

2843:

of the sixteen kingdoms and thus to become absolute master of the territory between the eastern and western oceans". During his rule, the citizens of

11965: 4176:

to guard borders and trap animals. The sometimes tense and conflict-ridden relationship nevertheless enabled the Mauryas to guard their vast empire.

3450:. The city counsel also had some magisterial powers. The taking of census was regular process in the Mauryan administration. The village officials ( 12978: 1523: 7233: 4330:

of the Asian portion of Alexander's former empire, conquered and put under his own authority eastern territories as far as Bactria and the Indus (

2438:

conquered Nanda Empire. The army of Chandragupta and Chanakya first conquered the Nanda outer territories, and finally besieged the Nanda capital

1794:(2nd-1st century BC) mentions era of Maurya Empire as Muriya Kala (Mauryan era), but this reading is disputed: other scholars—such as epigraphist 13574: 12954: 12040: 4779: 3656:, Chandragupta Maurya sponsored Brahmanical rituals and sacrifices, according to a Jain text from the 12th century, Chandragupta Maurya followed 1513: 2319:, describe his imperial ancestry and even link him with the Nanda family. A kshatriya clan known as the Mauryas are referred to in the earliest 13489: 4168:

The Mauryas valued certain forest tracts in strategic or economic terms and instituted curbs and control measures over them. They regarded all

10694: 10277: 6653:"In the royal residences in India where the greatest of the kings of that country live, there are so many objects for admiration that neither 699: 12825: 12512: 3798:

was so charmed with Buddhist ideals that he adopted them himself and made Buddhism the state religion. Ashoka sent many Buddhist missions to

1473: 7484: 12917: 12078: 3782:

on the use of force, intensive policing, and ruthless measures for tax collection and against rebels. Ashoka sent a mission led by his son

2301:

Chandragupta Maurya's ancestry is shrouded in mystery and controversy. On one hand, a number of ancient Indian accounts, such as the drama

8400: 5693: 2537:

The two rulers concluded a peace treaty in 303 BCE, including a marital alliance. Under its terms, Chandragupta received the satrapies of

13378: 12476: 11975: 8053: 7838:

in Mauryan times (320–220 bce) was between 15 and 30 million—although it may have been a little more, or it may have been a little less."

6591: 6302: 5998:

in Mauryan times (320–220 BCE) was between 15 and 30 million—although it may have been a little more, or it may have been a little less."

3913: 8408: 6321: 4361:

sealed in 305 BCE, Seleucus, according to Strabo, ceded a number of territories to Chandragupta, including eastern Afghanistan and

13163: 12922: 12471: 8037: 8025: 7025: 6474: 4515: 3685: 3391:(great ministers) and council of ministers. This organizational structure was reflected at the imperial level with the Emperor and his 1890: 1576: 4883:

Everywhere within Beloved-of-the-Gods, King Piyadasi's domain, and among the people beyond the borders, the Cholas, the Pandyas, the

4715:. It is said to be written in excellent Classical Greek, using sophisticated philosophical terms. In this Edict, Ashoka uses the word 4401:

concluded a peace treaty and a marriage alliance in 303 BCE. Chandragupta received vast territories and in a return gave Seleucus 500

13579: 12820: 11985: 1533: 4912:

The Greeks in India even seem to have played an active role in the spread of Buddhism, as some of the emissaries of Ashoka, such as

3608:

was an important religion throughout the period of the empire, the Mauryans were rooted in the non-Vedic Magadha realm, and favored

13584: 13499: 11955: 3271:

capitalized on the breakup, and he conquered southern Afghanistan and parts of northwestern India around 180 BCE, forming the

2380:

and the Maurya Empire between 600 and 180 BCE, including Chandragupta's overthrow of the Nanda Empire (321 BCE) and gains from the

2235: 3052:), Ashoka's edicts state his policies and accomplishments. Although predominantly written in Prakrit, two of them were written in 13519: 12988: 12793: 12641: 12636: 12502: 12017: 12012: 11980: 9544: 9502: 4161:

The Mauryas also designated separate forests to protect supplies of timber, as well as lions and tigers for skins. Elsewhere the

1733: 9229: 13146: 12344: 12007: 11938: 9296: 4136:

contains not only maxims on ancient statecraft, but also unambiguously specifies the responsibilities of officials such as the

2494: 9244: 7571: 4749: 3929:

During the Ashokan period, stonework was of a highly diversified order and comprised lofty free-standing pillars, railings of

2827:(modern Odisha) was the only kingdom in India that did not form part of Bindusara's empire. It was later conquered by his son 13240: 12949: 12624: 12507: 12401: 12002: 11846: 11837: 11647: 11029: 9192: 9164: 9095: 9045: 9024: 8975: 8938: 8908: 8839: 8776: 8725: 8690: 8669: 8645: 8624: 8599: 8578: 8556: 8534: 8506: 8471: 8140: 8103: 7935: 7859: 7831: 7468: 7345: 7019: 6019: 5991: 5858: 5777: 5749: 5431: 5405: 5379: 5346: 5312: 3418:

The economy of the empire has been described as, "a socialized monarchy", "a sort of state socialism", and the world's first

2924:

Historical evidence suggests that Bindusara died in the 270s BCE. According to Upinder Singh, Bindusara died around 273 BCE.

2611:, although not expressly quoting Megasthenes nor mentioning Pataliputra, described Indian palaces as superior in splendor to 2260:. Soon after Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BCE, his empire fragmented into independent kingdoms led by his generals. 5629: 4711:

Fragments of Edict 13 have been found in Greek, and a full Edict, written in both Greek and Aramaic, has been discovered in

4172:

with distrust and controlled them with bribery and political subjugation. They employed some of them, the food-gatherers or

13529: 13514: 13252: 12983: 8007: 6733: 3299:, brought about the demise of the Indo-Greeks from around 70 BCE and retained lands in the trans-Indus, the region of 3048:, set in stone, are found throughout the Subcontinent. Ranging from as far west as Afghanistan and as far south as Andhra ( 11553: 3897:, the palace was chiefly constructed of timber, and was considered to exceed in splendour and magnificence the palaces of 2462:

play, it contains narratives not found in other versions of the Chanakya-Chandragupta legend. Because of this difference,

13494: 13139: 12497: 5756:

briefly had a presence throughout the main urban centres and arteries of the subcontinent, except for the extreme south."

5106: 3209:

write that the assassination of Brihadratha and the rise of the Shunga empire led to a wave of religious persecution for

1419: 921: 8384: 13524: 13129: 12481: 11699: 10699: 8120: 7093:

son Bindusara; and Dyonisius, whom Ptolemy Philadelphus sent to the court of Ashoka, Bindusara's son", McEvilley, p.367

6760: 6567: 3772:, the centre of the empire, was also the birthplace of Buddhism. In later life Ashoka followed Buddhism; following the 3532: 6070: 4763: 4498:

After having made a treaty with him (Sandrakotos) and put in order the Orient situation, Seleucos went to war against

12883: 12312: 12307: 11894: 10343: 9289: 9127: 9055:

Singh, Upinder (2012). "Governing the State and the Self: Political Philosophy and Practice in the Edicts of Aśoka".

8887: 8867: 8804: 8752: 8346: 8274: 7991: 7771: 7666: 7608: 7494: 7438: 7399: 7372: 7295: 7251: 7165: 6992: 6921: 6866: 6770: 6743: 6468: 6282: 6255: 6216: 6080: 5833: 3795: 7335: 5278: 2905:

religion. Bindusara's guru Pingalavatsa (Janasana) was a Brahmin of the Ajivika religion. Bindusara's wife, Empress

13554: 13549: 13544: 13274: 13089: 12810: 12317: 12035: 11943: 11933: 11912: 3495:

Under the Indo-Greek friendship treaty, and during Ashoka's reign, an international network of trade expanded. The

825: 13559: 13191: 13109: 13074: 12843: 12537: 11325: 4646:, some of them inscribed in Greek, Ashoka states that the Greeks within his dominion were converted to Buddhism: 4578:

says, "There's really nothing nicer than dried figs"), that even Amitrochates, the king of the Indians, wrote to

2646:

which comprised Tamil country was invaded by the Mauryan Army using troops from Karnataka. Mamulanar states that

10487: 5439:

had a presence throughout the main urban centres and arteries of the subcontinent, except for the extreme south.

3398:

Historians theorise that the organisation of the Empire was in line with the extensive bureaucracy described by

13168: 12893: 12815: 10141: 9494: 6533: 5642: 4047: 3968:

The peacock was a dynastic symbol of Mauryans, as depicted by Ashoka's pillars at Nandangarh and Sanchi Stupa.

3843:

regions of India, though "these developments did not affect people living in large parts of the subcontinent."

1801:

According to the Buddhist tradition, the ancestors of the Maurya kings had settled in a region where peacocks (

1569: 617: 8325:"The Literature Collection: The deipnosophists, or, Banquet of the learned of Athenæus (volume III): Book XIV" 7549: 7089:"Three Greek ambassadors are known by name: Megasthenes, ambassador to Chandragupta; Deimachus, ambassador to 4464:

province of Pakistan. Archaeologically, concrete indications of Mauryan rule, such as the inscriptions of the

3193:, have argued that Ashoka's pacifism undermined the "military backbone" of the Maurya empire. Others, such as 2410:

believe that Ashoka's empire did not include large parts of India, which were controlled by autonomous tribes.

861:

in 322 BCE, it existed in loose-knit fashion until 185 BCE. The empire was centralized by the conquest of the

12961: 12277: 11990: 11763: 3633:

in which Brahmanical ideology, local traditions, and elements from the sramana-traditions, were synthesized.

2697: 7740: 2505: 2422:

are unavailable and legends written centuries later are inconsistent. Buddhist, Jain, and Hindu texts claim

13504: 11758: 11642: 9997: 9611: 9434: 5203:: "...the Mauryas did not conform to the accepted religion of most royal families of the time, Brahmanism." 4943:

ruler of the 3rd century BCE, described in ancient Greek sources, and named Subhagasena or Subhashasena in

3292: 3024: 3019: 2824: 2522: 1677: 1548: 1412: 1211: 846: 402: 8953:

Political History of Ancient India: From the Accession of Parikshit to the Extinction of the Gupta Dynasty

8877: 8249: 7362: 6272: 6245: 4566:'Amitraghata' (Slayer of Enemies) also is recorded in Classical sources as having exchanged presents with 4456:

Mainstream scholarship asserts that Chandragupta received vast territory west of the Indus, including the

4165:

also worked to eliminate thieves, tigers and other predators to render the woods safe for grazing cattle.

706: 12586: 11768: 10805: 9106: 8156: 6856: 5498: 5494: 2385: 2274: 534: 10116: 6673: 4735:

Ten years (of reign) having been completed, King Piodasses (Ashoka) made known (the doctrine of) Piety (

4338:, The Syrian Wars 55), until in 305 BCE he entered into a confrontation with Emperor Chandragupta: 3170:

in a military parade without any heir. Hence, the great Maurya Empire finally ended, giving rise to the

1820:. Based on this evidence, modern scholars theorize that the peacock may have been the dynasty's emblem. 13539: 13316: 12083: 4979:, went to India in 206 BCE and is said to have renewed his friendship with the Indian king there: 3511:

of several centuries later. Both had extensive trade connections and both had organizations similar to

3312: 2600:, ambassador Megasthenes (c. 350 – c. 290 BCE) lived in Arachosia and travelled to 2592:

Megasthenes in particular was a notable Greek ambassador in the court of Chandragupta Maurya. His book

2324: 1608:. Chandragupta rapidly expanded his power westwards across central and western India by conquering the 1453: 987: 957: 931: 8068: 7428: 3279:, became a famous figure of Buddhism; he was to establish a new capital of Sagala, the modern city of 2623:. The architecture of the city seems to have had many similarities with Persian cities of the period. 1813: 13589: 13262: 13151: 13094: 12339: 11885: 11830: 11726: 10874: 10438: 9416: 9207:

Kauṭilya and the Arthaśāstra: a statistical investigation of the authorship and evolution of the text

7055: 5655:

Taagepera, Rein (1979). "Size and Duration of Empires: Growth-Decline Curves, 600 B.C. to 600 A.D.".

4499: 3467: 1824: 1652:, the Empire experienced nearly half a century of centralized rule under Ashoka. Ashoka's embrace of 1562: 1538: 1468: 1463: 1009: 901: 4226:

Relations with the Hellenistic world may have started from the very beginning of the Maurya Empire.

1676:

regions of India. Archaeologically, the period of Mauryan rule in South Asia falls into the era of

1616:, and by 317 BCE the empire had fully occupied northwestern India. The Mauryan Empire then defeated 13235: 13134: 13099: 12888: 12358: 12197: 11684: 11659: 11509: 11168: 11163: 10079: 9817: 9733: 9577: 9530: 9440: 9312: 9184: 8918: 8717: 5946: 5026: 5001: 4619: 4310: 3660:

after retiring, when he renounced his throne and material possessions to join a wandering group of

3190: 3038: 2894:

to India. According to Sailendra Nath Sen, this appears to have happened during Bindusara's reign.

2526: 2489: 1786:) of 12th century AD chronologically mention Maurya as one of the dynasties which ruled the region. 1629: 1400: 1185: 96: 7243: 6116: 4319:

A map showing the north western border of Maurya Empire, including its various neighboring states.

3961:

and carved edicts of Ashoka, often exquisitely decorated, with more than 40 spread throughout the

877:'s rule (ca. 268–232 BCE), the empire briefly controlled the major urban hubs and arteries of the 13509: 12733: 12594: 12282: 11751: 11632: 11173: 11126: 11069: 10768: 10712: 10460: 10279:

Hinduism. In: Joseph Kitagawa, "The Religious Traditions of Asia: Religion, History, and Culture"

10137: 8956: 8526: 8442: 7912: 6978: 6455:

Chandragupta Maurya and His Times, Radhakumud Mookerji, Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1966, p.26-27

5302: 5070: 4985: 4831: 4434: 3783: 3550:

Silver punch mark coin of the Maurya empire, with symbols of wheel and elephant. 3rd century BCE.

3132: 3086: 2984: 2887: 2577:

in 301 BCE. Diplomatic relations were established and several Greeks, such as the historian

1791: 1543: 1458: 1246: 1035: 575: 260: 46: 17: 2733:, the founder of the Mauryan Empire. This is attested by several sources, including the various 13484: 13359: 13349: 13230: 13218: 13178: 13084: 12934: 12107: 12088: 12068: 11773: 11674: 11669: 11357: 11305: 11225: 11158: 11062: 11047: 10940: 10707: 10661: 10502: 10389: 8926: 7556: 6208:

Between the Patterns of History: Rethinking Mauryan Imperial Interaction in the Southern Deccan

5713: 5657: 4843: 4583: 4548: 4450: 4267: 3941:, which were large domes and bearing symbols of Buddha. The most important ones are located at 3300: 3268: 3264: 3248: 3110: 2968: 2891: 2791:. Bindusara extended this empire to the southern part of India, as far as what is now known as 2586: 2294: 2252:

and refused to advance farther eastward when confronted by another army. Alexander returned to

1912: 1689: 1275: 132: 9085: 8766: 8680: 8461: 8049: 7389: 7185: 6982: 6905: 6523: 5452: 5395: 5369: 5039:

269–232 BCE: The Mauryan Empire reaches its height under Ashoka, Chandragupta's grandson.

4490: 4315: 3127:

Ashoka was followed for 50 years by a succession of weaker emperors. He was succeeded by

1757:

The Jain texts state that Chandragupta was the son of an imperial superintendent of peacocks (

13438: 13413: 13408: 12868: 12411: 12267: 12093: 11907: 11704: 11664: 11477: 11352: 10416: 10406: 10365: 10336: 9899: 9783: 9754: 9654: 9117: 8922: 8898: 8849: 8825: 8546: 8494: 7981: 7977: 7849: 7821: 7528:"Explained: History and politics of caste census in Bihar | India News - Times of India" 7458: 7155: 6886: 6557: 6458: 6206: 6009: 5981: 5767: 5739: 5421: 5336: 5288: 4461: 3934: 3832: 3197:, have suggested that the extent and impact of his pacifism have been "grossly exaggerated". 3183: 2467: 1843:: Murā) would be "Maureya"; the term "Maurya" can only be derived from the masculine "Mura". 1697: 1503: 1488: 1478: 1367: 11592: 8829: 8568: 8216:

W. W. Tarn (1940). "Two Notes on Seleucid History: 1. Seleucus' 500 Elephants, 2. Tarmita",

7009: 13354: 13311: 13213: 13104: 12873: 12690: 11823: 11797: 11627: 11597: 11472: 11403: 11374: 11293: 10627: 10465: 10455: 8262: 8126: 8089: 7191: 4859: 4185: 3987: 3840: 3791: 3700:

for the spread of Jainism, but, to date, no evidence has been found to support this claim.

3094: 2944:, which names Chandragupta's successor as "Bhadrasara", states that he ruled for 25 years. 2788: 2659: 1724: 1673: 1657: 818: 124: 11577: 2979: 8: 13364: 12751: 12421: 11960: 11489: 11369: 11335: 11237: 11057: 11052: 10864: 10583: 10519: 10394: 10379: 10162: 10100: 9552: 9347: 8859: 8796: 8661: 8490: 8481:

Bronkhorst, Johannes (2011). "Candragupta Maurya and his importance for Indian history".

8286: 7090: 5627:

India, the Ancient Past: A History of the Indian Sub-continent from C. 7000 BC to AD 1200

4231: 4123: 3962: 3882: 3815: 3645: 3311:

Megasthenes mentions military command consisting of six boards of five members each, (i)

3131:, who was Ashoka's grandson. None of Ashoka's sons could ascend to the throne after him. 2804: 2730: 2510: 2483: 2435: 2340: 2245: 1989: 1613: 1308: 1228: 1217: 1091: 1079: 878: 862: 858: 774: 714: 351: 279: 11205: 11195: 6110: 5022:

317–316 BCE: Chandragupta Maurya conquers the Northwest of the Indian subcontinent.

13428: 13301: 13296: 12548: 12243: 11995: 11602: 11582: 11565: 11516: 11381: 11190: 11141: 11074: 10992: 10933: 10928: 10923: 10879: 10849: 10741: 10639: 10507: 10482: 9911: 9738: 9682: 9638: 9072: 7906: 7628: 6654: 6627: 5674: 5053: 4896: 4827: 4553: 4398: 4323: 4284: 4119: 3836: 3316: 3272: 3238: 3167: 3159: 3078: 3070: 3000: 2914: 2407: 2265: 2100: 1617: 1164: 1015: 882: 794: 603: 561: 415: 375: 80: 8369:

Thomas Mc Evilly "The shape of ancient thought", Allworth Press, New York, 2002, p.368

7892: 7511: 6665:

is to be compared with them. ... In the parks, tame peacocks and pheasants are kept."

6096: 4662:

and the Palidas, everywhere people are following Beloved-of-the-Gods' instructions in

4586:

who tells this story) to buy and send him some sweet wine, and some dried figs, and a

1656:

and sponsorship of Buddhist missionaries allowed for the expansion of that faith into

13344: 13339: 13306: 13257: 13206: 13201: 13196: 12708: 12698: 12391: 12248: 11711: 11607: 11543: 11538: 11467: 11364: 11079: 11007: 11002: 10844: 10773: 10756: 10751: 10746: 10546: 10497: 10150: 10146: 10104: 10093: 10071: 10039: 10025: 9710: 9222: 9188: 9160: 9123: 9091: 9076: 9041: 9037:

A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century

9020: 8971: 8934: 8904: 8883: 8863: 8835: 8800: 8772: 8748: 8721: 8686: 8665: 8641: 8620: 8595: 8574: 8552: 8530: 8502: 8467: 8342: 8270: 8136: 8099: 7987: 7931: 7855: 7827: 7767: 7662: 7604: 7490: 7464: 7434: 7395: 7368: 7341: 7291: 7247: 7161: 7015: 6988: 6917: 6882: 6862: 6766: 6739: 6666: 6563: 6529: 6464: 6278: 6251: 6212: 6076: 6072:

A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century

6015: 5987: 5932: 5854: 5829: 5773: 5745: 5705: 5638: 5427: 5401: 5375: 5342: 5308: 5016: 4835: 4802: 4703: 4579: 4507: 4263: 4029:

Remains of the shaft of the pillar of Ashoka, under a shed near the Southern Gateway.

4014: 3958: 3819: 3218: 3158:, Kunala's son. Post Samprati, the Mauryas slowly lost many territories. In 180 BCE, 3128: 2883: 2771: 2639: 2608: 2554: 2336: 2290: 1943: 1764: 1498: 1493: 1425: 1373: 1223: 1153: 946: 744: 315: 238: 5502: 5488: 5052:

184 BCE: The empire collapses when Brihadratha, the last emperor, is killed by

5049:

250 BCE: Ashoka builds Buddhist stupas and erects pillars bearing inscriptions.

4992:

the duty of taking home the treasure which this king had agreed to hand over to him.

2925: 2779:. Some Greek sources also mention him by the name "Amitrochates" or its variations. 2248:

was leading his Indian campaigns and ventured into Punjab. His army mutinied at the

13534: 13334: 13326: 13042: 13030: 13018: 12756: 12746: 12703: 12139: 11917: 11560: 11347: 11342: 11298: 11285: 11215: 11183: 11178: 11042: 11037: 11019: 10980: 10913: 10896: 10837: 10827: 10822: 10763: 10719: 10689: 10649: 10632: 10615: 10578: 10329: 10035: 10020: 10016: 9969: 9965: 9925: 9891: 9887: 9706: 9239: 9201: 9064: 8948: 7787: 7568: 7239: 7219: 5666: 5353:

sculptures, buildings, ceremonies, and texts, particularly later Buddhist writers."

5101: 5091: 4905: 4867: 4811: 4770: 4671: 4643: 4465: 4197: 3874: 3852: 3811: 3715:

complex was originally built by the Maurya Empire, but the balustrade around it is

3669: 3641: 3471: 3154:

The empire lost many territories under Dasharatha, which were later reconquered by

3049: 3045: 2996: 2867: 2674: 2463: 2184: 2002: 1715: 1685: 1641: 1518: 1314: 1199: 1193: 1085: 910: 734: 208: 120: 38: 3758: 3684:, patronized Jainism. Samprati was influenced by the teachings of Jain monks like 2934: 2751: 2745: 2739: 2596:

is a major literary source for information about the Mauryan Empire. According to

2466:

suggests that most of it is fictional or legendary, without any historical basis.

13291: 13283: 13223: 12998: 12878: 12741: 12723: 12566: 12556: 12386: 12287: 12192: 12169: 12144: 11902: 11778: 11746: 11619: 11587: 11570: 11526: 11521: 11499: 11494: 11452: 11445: 11420: 11280: 11275: 11116: 10997: 10891: 10886: 10854: 10679: 10669: 10563: 10556: 10551: 10536: 10492: 10374: 10360: 10273: 10154: 10112: 10108: 10075: 10047: 10043: 9989: 9895: 9827: 9789: 9595: 9233: 9205: 9178: 9154: 9068: 9035: 9014: 9001: 8965: 8853: 8815: 8790: 8762: 8713:

The Land of the Elephant Kings: Space, Territory, and Ideology in Seleucid Empire

8711: 8655: 8635: 8610: 8589: 8520: 8446: 8388: 8289:(1919). "The Importance of Hellenism from the Point of View of Indic-Philology", 8130: 8093: 7791: 7761: 7632: 7575: 7553: 7181: 6909: 6623: 6309: 6138: 5789:

indicates that imperial power was concentrated in its original heartland, in old

5633: 5626: 5469: 5242:(barbarian) land where Vedic sacrifices and Brahmanic rituals were not performed. 4876: 4839: 4600: 4446: 4438: 4406: 4067: 3954: 3803: 3752: 3693: 3664:

and in his last days, he observed the rigorous but self-purifying Jain ritual of

3630: 3500: 3222: 3102: 2879: 2859: 2574: 2454:

conquered territories, and finally besieged the Nanda capital Pataliputra. There

2402:

The same animation, modified in accordance with Kulke and Rothermund (see text).

2381: 2142: 2118: 2041: 1965: 1923: 1783: 1779: 1625: 1285: 1269: 1240: 1120: 811: 520: 174: 100: 92: 11200: 7207:

The Archaeology of Early Historic South Asia: The Emergence of Cities and States

4409:

in 301 BCE. In addition to this treaty, Seleucus dispatched an ambassador,

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Hinduism and the Ethics of Warfare in South Asia: From Antiquity to the Present

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298–269 BCE: Reign of Bindusara, Chandragupta's son. He conquers parts of

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In many ways, the economic situation in the Mauryan Empire is analogous to the

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