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Early Indian Empires

320 BCE to 550 CE

Mauryan Empire

Started when Chandragupta Maurya seized power in the Magadha

Controlled most of present day India, Pakistan and Afghanistan

Built an army with over half a million soldiers

Mauryan Empire

Strong centralized gov’t.

Arthasatra – manual for maintaining power

Districts with loyal officials to run them

Controlled all aspects of economy

Large bureaucracy with a network of spies

Ashoka

Was shocked by the violence after expanding the empire

Converted to Buddhism

Worked to spread Buddhism across India and into SE Asia

Improved infrastructure in the empire

Gupta Empire

Started in the same northern region as the Maurya

Less centralized structure

Local rulers in conquered regions

Restored Hinduism as the main religion of India