Mauryan Empire321BCE – 185 BCE

The Aryans weren’t unifiedDifferent Aryan tribes settled into different

farming communities

Chandragupta Maurya

He was from the Mauryan family in India

He united all of the fragmented states after Alexander the Great’s death

He ruled very strictly

Chandragupta’s Rule His empire is the largest Indian empire

ever in history He ruled very strictly. He created laws on

everything in society from trade to gender behaviors

Hinduism was still dominant in India, even though Buddhism was already rapidly spreading

Chandragupta expanded the empire to be the largest Indian

Empire in history

The Mauryan

Dynasty in 320 BCE

The Mauryan

Dynasty in 305 BCE

after defeating Seleucus

of Seleucid Persia

The Mauryan

Dynasty in 300 BCE

after expanding

into the Deccan Plateau

Bindusara Maurya

Took control after Chandragupta’s death

He encouraged trade with other empires like Greece

He kept the empire unified

His son was Ashoka the Great

Ashoka the Great

Like his grandfather, he was focused on expansion of the empire

He leads India into the bloody Kalinga War

Kalinga War Ashoka the Great wanted to expand into the

Kalinga region of the sub-continent in 262 BCE

The region was very valuable because it could provide coastal trading with southeast Asia

The number of deaths rose to 250,000 people

Ashoka the Great was disgusted by his actions and swore to be a more peaceful ruler

The Mauryan

Dynasty in 265 BCE after the

Kalinga War

Ashoka the Great converts to Buddhism

To become more peaceful, Ashoka converts from Hinduism to Buddhism

He does not force his citizens to convert with him though

Ashoka placed edicts around his empire

He placed edicts with laws and Buddhist sayings around his empire

He wanted to spread his message

Why was Ashoka’s governing style successful?

Red each quote that was inscribed on Ashoka’s pillars

Write down:Your interpretation of what it

means (What is it saying?)Your explanation as to why this

would be a successful governing tactic

“On the roads…trees have been planted for the enjoyment of animals and men. I have had ponds dug and shelters erected along the roads. Everywhere I have had wells dug.”

“My officers have been appointed for the welfare and happiness of the…people. I have given them…authority in judgment and punishment. But it is desirable that there should be uniformity in judicial [trial] procedure and punishment”

“If the unconquered peoples on my border ask what is my will, they should understand this: I desire that they should trust me and have only happiness in their dealings with me”

“Everywhere, I, Ashoka, King of Priyadarsi, Beloved of the Gods, have arranged for two kinds of medical treatment: medical treatment for men and treatment for animals”

The Decline of the Mauryan Dynasty

After Ashoka’s death, he was followed by 50 years of weaker emperors

The last Mauryan emperor Brihadratha was assassinated in 185 BCE, and the Shunga Dynasty was established

The Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius took over the empire in 180 BCE and formed the Indo-Greek Kingdom