THE MAURYAN EMPIRE

♣ AN IDEA OF WHAT AN MAURYAN EMPIRE IS?

♣ WHO WAS CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA?
♣ WHO WAS ASHOKA?
♣ HOW MAURYAN EMPIRE CAME TO EXISTENCE?
♣ HOW WAS THE MAURYAN EMPIRE CONQUERED?
AN IDEA OF WHAT AN MAURYAN EMPIRE IS?
The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power
based in Magadha and founded by Chandragupta Maurya which dominated
the Indian subcontinent between 322 and 185 BCE. Comprising the majority of
South Asia, the Maurya Empire was centralized by the conquest of the Indo
Gangetic Plain, and its capital city was located at Pataliputra (modern Patna).[
The empire was the largest political entity that has ever existed in the Indian
subcontinent, extending over 5 million square kilometres (1.9 million square
miles) at its zenith under Ashoka.
WHO WAS CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA?
Chandragupta Maurya (reign: 321–298 BCE) was the founder of the
Maurya Empire in ancient India. He was born in a humble family,
orphaned and abandoned, raised as a son by another pastoral family,
was picked up, taught and counselled by Chanakya – a Hindu
Brahmin also known as Kautilya and the author of the Arthashastra.
Chandragupta with his counsellor Chanakya thereafter together built
one of the largest empires ever on the Indian subcontinent.
According to Jain sources, he then renounced it all, became a monk
in the Jain tradition. His grandson was emperor Ashoka, famous for
his historic pillars and for his role in helping spread Buddhism outside
of ancient India. Chandragupta's life and accomplishments are
described in ancient Greek, Hindu, Buddhist and Jain texts, but they
vary significantly. In Greek and Latin accounts, Chandragupta is
referred to as Sandrokottos or Androcottus.
Chanakya
 WHO WAS ASHOKA?
After Bindusara his son Ashoka became the king. Ashoka too was a great king
in a different manner. He also was a very good king. He fought against most of
the kingdoms and he succeeded. But after the great Kalinga war, it touched
the heart of Ashoka and later promised himself not to fight against any one.
Then he started to follow Buddhism which he preached all around the world.
He repaired the roads, made wells in the villages and did other facilities for the
people of his kingdom. He also built stupas for Buddhist Preachers.
 HOW MAURYAN EMPIRE CAME TO
EXISTENCE?
The founder of Mauryan Empire was Chandragupta Maurya. Chandragupta
Maurya raised an army, with the assistance of Chanakya (also known as
Kauṭilya), and overthrew the Nanda Empire in 322 BCE. Chandragupta
rapidly expanded his power westwards across central and western India by
conquering the satraps left by Alexander the Great, and by 317 BCE the
empire had fully occupied north-western India. The Mauryan Empire then
defeated Seleucus I, a diadochus and founder of the Seleucid Empire during
the Seleucid–Mauryan war, thus acquiring territory west of the Indus River.
 HOW WAS THE MAURYAN EMPIRE
CONQUERED?
Mauryan Empire was conquered by king Chandragupta Maurya. He was also a
very great and powerful king. He was not been defeated by anyone. He was
succeeded by Bindusara his own son.
Bindusara too like his father was a great king and he conquered the empire
well. He fought against the invaders well. After Bindusara his son Ashoka
became the king.
Ashoka too was a great king in a different manner. He also was a very good
king. He fought against most of the kingdoms and he succeeded. But after the
great Kalinga war, it touched the heart of Ashoka and later promised himself
not to fight against any one.
Then he started to follow Buddhism which he preached all around the world.
He repaired the roads, made wells in the villages and did other facilities for the
people of his kingdom. He also built stupas for Buddhist Preachers.