The Maurya Empire & Ashoka

• Maurya Empire (321–185 BCE) — first large empire uniting most of the Indian subcontinent.
• Chandragupta Maurya — founder; how he built the empire.
• Ashoka — greatest Mauryan emperor; the Kalinga War and his transformation.
• Dhamma — Ashoka's code of conduct; spread of Buddhism.
• Arthashastra — Kautilya's treatise on statecraft.

Chandragupta Maurya (321–297 BCE)

• Overthrew the Nanda dynasty with help of Chanakya (Kautilya) — brilliant political adviser.
• Defeated Seleucus Nicator (Alexander's general) — gained Afghanistan and Balochistan.
• Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna, Bihar) — one of the world's largest cities at the time.
• Later abdicated, became a Jain monk, died by ritual fasting (Sallekhana).

Kautilya's Arthashastra

• Treatise on statecraft, economics, and military strategy — written ~300 BCE.
• Covers: how to run a state, collect taxes, maintain an army, use spies, conduct diplomacy.
• Often compared to Machiavelli's The Prince.

Bindusara (297–272 BCE)

• Son of Chandragupta; expanded empire southward.
• Called Amitragatha ("slayer of enemies").

Ashoka (268–232 BCE)

• Grandson of Chandragupta; greatest Mauryan emperor.
• Expanded empire to its largest extent — covered most of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan.

The Kalinga War (261 BCE) — turning point

• Ashoka invaded Kalinga (modern Odisha) to add it to his empire.
• Estimated 100,000+ killed; 150,000+ taken prisoner; even more died of wounds and disease.
• Ashoka was deeply disturbed by the carnage.
• Converted to Buddhism — embraced non-violence (ahimsa).

Ashoka's Dhamma

Not a religion — a code of ethical conduct for all citizens:

• Respect for all religions and sects.
• Non-violence; care for animals.
• Obedience to parents and elders.
• Generosity to servants and the poor.
• Truthfulness.

How Ashoka spread Dhamma:

• Rock Edicts and Pillar Edicts — inscriptions carved on rocks and pillars across empire; in Prakrit, Greek, Aramaic.
• Sent missionaries to Sri Lanka (Mahinda — his son), Central Asia, Greece.
• Built hospitals for humans and animals; dug wells; planted trees along roads.
• Ashoka's Lion Capital (Sarnath) — national emblem of India today.
• Dharma Chakra (wheel on the edict pillar) — in the centre of Indian national flag.

Administration

• Empire divided into provinces (each under a prince/viceroy).
• Mahamattas — officials who checked on welfare of people.
• Revenue: land tax, trade taxes; extensive spy network to monitor officials.

Decline of Maurya Empire

• After Ashoka's death (232 BCE), empire weakened rapidly.
• Last Mauryan emperor Brihadratha killed by general Pushyamitra Shunga (185 BCE) — founded Shunga dynasty.

• Who founded the Maurya Empire and how?
• What was the Arthashastra?
• Why is the Kalinga War described as a turning point in Ashoka's life?
• What was Ashoka's Dhamma? Name three principles.
• Name two ways Ashoka's legacy still lives in India today.

Open the Practice tab for graded questions on the Maurya Empire.