1. By Alex Gray, Andrew Trepanier, and Michael Evans
The
Maurya
Empire
322–185 BCE
By Alex Gray, Andrew Trepanier, and Michael Evans

2. Background/ Origins
The Empire was founded by Candra Gupta Maurya (also known as Chandragupta Maurya)
Chandragupta was born sometime in 340 BCE
After Alexander the Great abandoned the Punjab in Northwestern India, Chandragupta came in and usurped the region, capturing and killing the Magadha king
When he was only 20 he conquered all of India north of the Narmada River
Regarded as the first unifier of India
In 297 he gave up the throne to his son Bindusara
He then died while fasting in 286

3. Government
Chandragupta set up a formal bureaucracy, with an organized system of the empire divided into four general regions ruled by one official, then broken into smaller provinces led by a governor, then into districts and lastly villages. Each level reported to its superior and eventually to Chandragupta himself. Bindusara kept the system during his reign and ruled similar to how his father had set up the empire
Military was used to enforce and keep the system running, with over 600,000 soldiers including some calvary
Bindusara’s son, Asoka, led the empire from 269 BCE to 232 BCE, continuing to conquer land as his father and grandfather had done
After one difficult and bloody campaign, Asoka was horrified at the loss of life and underwent a huge mental change, converting to Buddhism, and becoming a much more compassionate and just ruler
This is one of 9 pillars asoka created with teachings of Buddhism inscribed on them

4. Religion
Emperor Asoka converted to Buddhism, though it was not a huge religion in the region.
Asoka used the full use of his powers to spread Buddhism, and created 9 pillars, like the ones on the right, across his kingdom inscribed with ideas and teachings promoting Buddhist
Asoka also built many monasteries and other places of worship for buddhist teachings
Asoka used his rule to promoted the religion
Hinduism and jainism were also popular reli­gions at the time
Krishna, Balaram, Siva, Indra and rivers like Ganga, Yamuna were looked upon as God or Goddess

5. Major cities
Pataliputra was the capital of the Maurya Empire from 326–184 B.C.E
At the time it was thought to be the largest city in the world
The city of Taxila is in the path of three major trading routes in The Maurya Empire
The Maurya Empire was surrounded by two major bodies of water allowing for good trade to all the cities.

6. Economy of Maurya Empire
The Caste System, which is a system that was founded by the religion Hinduism was used in the Maurya Empire but had a few changes bringing farmers, artisans, and shepherds into the system.
Small Landlords dominated the Mauryan agriculture and these landlords had slaves and sudras to maintain the land.
The main productions of the mauryan empire were grains, millet, rice, bosporum. Millet is a cereal plant that can be used to create flower and alcoholic drinks.
they used a metal coinage that became more widespread, and would stimulate trade.

7. Spread of Maurya Empire
For two centuries the Maurya Empire dominated the Indian Sub Continent.
At the time of the Mauryan Empire, in 3nd century BCE, India was at a time of peace that had never before been kept.
Buddhism was spread during Asokas reign throughout many surrounding regions
The Empire spread throughout the whole subcontinent of India and was there for 2 centuries.
Fifty years or so after Asoka's death, perhaps sooner, the huge empire began to crumble. Outlying provinces fell away, and by the mid-3nd century BC the empire had shrunk to its core areas.

8. The Collapse of the Maurya Empire
After Emperors Asoka’s death the empire began to fall allowing the Greeks to invade the Indian subcontinent
Before the fall the Greeks were scared of the Maurya’s army and did not want to invade the empire
The fall of the Maurya empire was a tragedy, the first great Indian empire was gone
Increase on taxes also lead to collapse in the infrastructure of the Empire
The lack of a good ruler was high after Asoka’s death the Mauryan Empire was lead by weak rulers thus causing another weak point
After the collapse, India became fragmented politically and vulnerable to invaders for the next 5 centuries

9. THE END

10. Works Cited
Tucker, Spencer C. "Candra Gupta Maurya." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, Web. 5 Nov
"bureaucracy." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, Web. 6 Nov
"Maurya Empire." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, Web. 11 Nov
Emmons, Jim Tschen. "Asoka." World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. ABC-CLIO, Web. 11 Nov