Mauryan Empire
(322-ca 200 BCE)
Chronology-Empire founded 322 BCE -Chandragupta ruled from 324 to 301 BCE -Ashoka ruled from 269 to 232 BCE
-Conquered Kalinga in 260 BCE -Bargained with the clergy in 258 BCE ; clergy should hear
scriptures frequently -Around 258 BCE he made a pilgrimage to the scene of
Buddha's enlightenment -200 BCE the empire broke up into separate states -Empire collapsed 185 BCE
Chandragupta
• ruled from 324 to 301 BCE • established the first imperial Indian state • originally was ruler of the Ganges state
Magadha • 305 BCE Chandragupta made a treaty with
Alexander the Great's heir that set the border along the Hindu Kush Mountains
• political realist • rule was influenced by Legalist ideas
Patna
• Mauryan capital city • on the Ganges river • 500,000 residents • largest city in the world during that era • surrounded by timber wall with 570 towers • wall was about 21 miles • Patna covered about 9 miles and was
surrounded by a moat
Ashoka
• Ruled from 269 to 232 BCE • Conquered Kalinga in 260 BCE • 258 BCE he made a pilgrimage to the scene of Buddha's
enlightenment • Ashoka was the grandson of Chandragupta• Rose to power by eliminating his rivals • After his conversion to Buddhism, promoted policies of
peace• Thought of himself as a semi-deity• Stopped military conquest after his conversion
Ashoka and Buddhism
• Promoted pascifist teachings of the Buddha• Designed laws to encourage Buddhist virtues like
compassion, mutual tolerance, and respect for all forms of life
• Dispatched Buddhist missions to different countries and was able to spread the religion to Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and Afghanistan
• He toured the empire, distributing alms and consulting holy men
• Made a pilgrimage to the scene of Buddha's enlightenment
Pillars of Ashoka• Before his conversion, Ashoka used the might of the military to rise to
power and conquer foes• Ashoka had edicts carved into rocks and sandstone pillars; early edicts
talked of Ashoka’s conquests
Break Up of Mauryan Empire
• within 50 years of the death of Ashoka, regions were breaking away from the empire
• it is a possibility that Ashoka's pacifist way of life and laws led to the break up by weakening the military
Political Profile
• Political Centralization• Entire empire ruled by a powerful state• Maintained order with army and officials• Hands-on rulers• Claimed ¼ to ½ of all agricultural production• Heavily taxing• Created the universal emperor, a divinely
sanctioned leader with a special role in the cosmic scheme of things
Social Profile
• Caste Society• Women were imperfectly human• Buddhism-practiced by monarchy• Cultural Unity
Economic Profile
• Private and public enterprise• Material gain• Economic activities were taxed• Commerce
Trade
• Mauryan prosperity• Highways fostered commerce -east-west highway• Merchant quarters• Active exchange with adjacent countries
Conrad-Demarest
Preconditions- Environmental Mosaic Agricultural Potential Military Resources
State-level governmentNo dominant statesMutual antagonisms between states
Idealogy of Conquest
Major Rewards--Economic-PoliticalEmpires Fall-
Conquest beyond practical limits
Revolutions Failure to conquest
affects economy
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