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

Maps of the Empire