MAURYAN EMPIRE HYUNSOO SHIN ROBERT CHO SUAH KIM SION BAE

BASIC INFORMATION Capital: Pataliputra Language: Pali, Prakrit, Sanskrit Religions: Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism Government type: Monarchy Population: 50 million Currency: Silver ingots Founder: Chandragupta Maurya

HISTORY: THE BEGINNING In 326 BC, Alexander the Great threatened India. His armies crossed the Indus River and conquered many small kingdoms in India’s northwestern region. Alexander intended to advance, but his army refused.

HISTORY: CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA Historical texts have records Alexander meeting Chandragupta Maurya. Chandragupta conquered the disorganized and weak kingdoms in the north and created the first strong empire of India.

HISTORY: ASOKA Asoka, the most famous leader of the Mauryan Empire, was the grandson of Chandragupta. Extended the empire to include all but the southern tip of India. Realizing the brutality of the conquests, Asoka renounced war and became a convert to Buddhism.

HISTORY: BUDDHISM Spent much of his reign promoting the Buddhist religion. Built thousands of Buddhist shrines called “stupas”. Inscribed Buddhist teachings on stone pillars throughout the empire.

HISTORY: BUDDHISM Many of these stone pillars still stand, providing valuable information concerning Asoka’s reign. Sent Buddhist missionaries abroad. Buddhism was spread across much of Southeast Asia.

HISTORY: BUDDHISM However, India was against Buddhism. Hindu priests viewed Buddhist teaching would destroy India’s caste system. Fearing that they might lose their prestige and rank in society, they worked against the acceptance of Buddhist beliefs.

DECLINE OF MAURYA EMPIRE 1.After Ashoka’s death, his successors were weak: Compare to the time of emperor Ashoka, their territories had shrunk. 2.The Mauryan Empire was too vast: lack of communication, they had different languages like Kharosthi and Barhmi. Also they had different kinds of money. Distances were so great (could not remain a closely integrated political unit for a longer time).

3.3. The independence of Provinces: princes divided the empire and ruled differently (Asoka’s son, Jalauka, ruled over Kashmir as an independent king after his father’s death). The countries, that Asoka conquered, became independent (Kalinga and etc…) Foreign Invasion: Polybius (Greek writer) refers to the unsuccessful attempts of King Antiochus the Great to conquer the Indian lands, and it lead to the Greek invasions.

5.5. Internal Revolt: Brhadrata was last ruler of Mauryan empire. Brhadrata was assassinated by his general Pushyamitra Shunga, who established the Shunga dynasty, about in 185 BC.

SIGNIFICANCE It was the first empire in India Establish Buddhism* as a major religion This is because of Ashoka as he was horrified by one of his conquests It traded internationally with other countries on the Silk Road

TRADE AND COMMERCE Mauryan Empire let the farmers to be free from the tax and crop collection burdens. Mauryan also established a currency across India in order to connect the governors and administrators. Supported by the Maurya, the waterway then made it possible for the expansion of trade in India.

TRADE AND COMMERCE The modern boundary of Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Khyber Pass, became a major place of trade by the other countries. Trade extended from Malay peninsula to Southeast Asia. Silk, textiles, spices, and exotic foods were imported from India. Gradually, the technology supported the expansion of trade.

ADMINISTRATION The Mauryan Empire is divided into four provinces. The capitals are Tosali(east), Ujjain(west), Suvarnagiri(south), and Taxila(north) There are leaders of the administration who governs the provinces. They are work as the representative of king.

ADMINISTRATION Historians presume, that an extensive bureaucracy existed in the Mauryan Empire. The Empire had strict system applied to the public by one of the strongest military forces. There 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 war elephants. Though citizens were directly ruled by thempire, they were peaceful in their lives by the peace across West and South Asia.

WORKS CITED the-downfall-of-the-maurya-empire-explained/ http-//

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