The Maurya Empire Rhiannon Nabours Taylor Ostrum Laura
The Maurya Empire Rhiannon Nabours, Taylor Ostrum, Laura Letson, Kaiya Dublin, Kassidy Wallace, and Isaac Olivas
Origin of the Empire -In 322 BC, Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan dynasty in present-day Eastern India. -Before the Mauryans, there had been hundreds of private kingdoms and armies, but the central government formed by Chandragupta Maurya provided a stable, unified nation. -In 322 BC, Chandragupta Maurya began his rule by conquering the small kingdoms and private armies that dominated India at the time. Starting in Eastern India in the Magadha area, he spread his influence into a big territory. -Was found shortly after Alexander’s victorious campaigns in North-West India during 327 B. C. – 325 B. C.
Government Structure and Legal systems -Province and their capitals -Northern Province: Taxila -Eastern Province: Tosali -Western Province: Ujjain -Southern Province: Savarn -The empire’s capital was Pataliputra near the Ganges river in the eastern part of the empire -Had an established central government in the capital of each of the four provinces -Whole empire was ruled by an emperor but the provinces were ruled by individual kings, each part of the royal family and had their own council of ministers -Even though the kings were very trusted, they were kept in check by regular inspections to make sure maintenance was taking place on roads, public facilities, and wells along with tax collection often by the empires large network of internal and external spies -Emperor Chandragupta had a chief minister named Chanakya that made the Arthashastra, a manual that taught successors and the first emperor how to rule which was very successful -Army was said to be huge and had a rumored to have 600, 000 infantry men and even 700 elephants by Greek and Roman authors
Government and Legal systems -Punishment in the provinces depended on your Varna status, more monetary fines dealt to the varna who could pay the fines and often went unpunished by the higher varna -Petty crimes were punished with fines while more serious crimes were punishable by death immediately but after Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism, you had a 3 day respite and would appeal to the judges again -The legal system was made from four principles: Dharma, Vyavahara (legal codes), Charita (customs), and rajasasana (the royal decrees) The Arthashastra, written on planks of wood and tiles
Major Religious Beliefs -The two major religions were Jainism and Buddhism -Jainism: an ancient religion from India that practices liberation and bliss in order to live a life of harmlessness -Emperor Chandragupta (reigned from 322 -298 B. C. E) was the first Indian monarch to embrace Jainism -Because of the harsh laws the main religion in India, Jainism, declined -Ashoka the Great (ruled from 273 -232 B. C. E) practiced Buddhism and renounced war and fighting
Major Cities -The capital of the Maurya Empire was Pataliputra, and it was a major metropolis of the ancient Maurya Empire -Buddhism and Jainism were the most prevalent religions in this city -At it’s peak Pataliputra was the greatest city in the ancient world -This city was a Monarchy ruled by Chandragupta Maurya -Another important trading city was Taxila -It was located along the “Royal Highway” which means that it was connected to many other cities including the capital pataliputra. - It was described as a wealthy, prosperous city
Economy of the Empire -The economy of the Mauryan Empire was established and secure -Established a centralized government that aided the economic progress of the Empire -Agriculture was the basis of their economy selling rice, pulse, vegetables, fruits, spices, wheat, sugarcane etc. -The Mauryan government depended on taxes of the lands they also began taxing water or irrigation from the area of where water was supplied -Maurya also had major industrial growth Lower Bengal was famous for fine muslin and silk textiles Gandhara specialized in the wooden industry Magadha known for iron Rajputana known for copper
Economy of the Empire -Coastal Bengal and Punjab produced salt -South India specialized in gold -Collected taxes from artisans, traders, and laborers -State revenue was derived from tolls -The Mauryan economy also depended on trade routes -Taxalia was a great centre of trade where goods were transported to Central Asia
Spread of the Empire -By the end of the third century BC, most of North India was knit together in the first great Indian empire by Chandragupta Maurya. His son Bindusara extended the Mauryan empire over virtually the entire subcontinent. -The greatest Mauryan emperor was Ashoka (286 -231 BC). His successfully campaigned to receive the addition of Kalinga (modern Orissa). -The Empire started disintegrating and preceded to be an open invitation to invaders from Central Asia to seek their fortunes in India and saw the rise of several smaller kingdoms which did not last very long.
Spread of the Empire -At its greatest extent, the Empire stretched to the north along the Himalayas, and to the east stretching into what is now Assam. -To the west, it reached beyond modern Pakistan and significant portions of modern Afghanistan, including the modern Herat and Kandahar provinces. -Empire was expanded into India's central and southern regions by Emperor Bindusara, but it excluded a small portion of unexplored regions near Kalinga.
Collapse of the Empire -The successors of the Ashoka, the last great Mauryan Emperor, were unable to maintain stable control of the empire -The vastness of the empire made communication difficult -Some say that the conversion to Buddhism weakened the empire, as this movement made the army less of a priority because of the religion’s pacifistic nature -As the core of the empire weakened, the provinces became more independent -The Maurya empire was brought to a complete end when the chief of the army, Pushyamitra Sunga, lead a revolt against the King around 185 C. E.
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