Maurya Empire (300 BCE)

Asia, 200 BCE

"The Indians occupy [in part] some of the countries situated along the Indus, which formerly belonged to the Persians: Alexander deprived the Ariani of them, and established there settlements of his own. But Seleucus Nicator gave them to Sandrocottus in consequence of a marriage contract, and received in return five hundred elephants.” - Strabo, a Greek historian

Asokan pillar edicts

Asokan Edict in Kandahar, Afghanistan in Greek and Aramaic

"Ten years (of reign) having been completed, King Piodasses (Ashoka) made known (the doctrine of) Piety to men; and from this moment he has made men more pious, and everything thrives throughout the whole world. And the king abstains from (killing) living beings, and other men and those who (are) huntsmen and fisher-men of the king have desisted from hunting. And if some (were) intemperate, they have ceased from their intemperance as was in their power; and obedient to their father and mother and to the elders, in opposition to the past also in the future, by so acting on every occasion, they will live better and more happily."

What is “India?” Four different geographical regions North – mountainous Himalayas and Hindu Kush – nomadic Central Plains – Ganges and Indus Rivers – agricultural, highly productive farming Deccan plateau – mountainous, dry interior Ocean-based trading cities on the coasts

Climate

Indian Ocean Trade: Western India faces Middle East and Africa; Eastern India faces Southeast Asia

Arabian Sea Culture; Bay of Bengal Culture

Indian Languages