375 BC BC Unifier's Of India: Chandragupta and Asoka

How it Came to Be ● Chandra Maurya and his grandson, Ashoka, were the ones who created the largest Indian empire seen. ● death of Alexander the Great in 323 b.c ● Three larger fragmentation’s were... – Egypt, which was seized by a Macedonian general named Ptolemy. – Asia Minor and the eastern coast of the Mediterranean. This chunk was grabbed by the general Antigonus Monophtlialmus and Antigonid Kingdom. – The core of the old Persian Empire, Mesopotamia, and some of the surrounding regions, taken over by general Seleucus. This picture is a representation of Alexander The Great's Empire

Intro to Chandragupta Maurya ● 323 B.C - 31 B.C. Called the Hellenistic Era ● Hellenistic Era was for North India, what caused them to revert back to their original rule. ● Alexander had, apparently, met a young man named Chandragupta Maurya (Chandra) and gave him the obsession to conquer. ● Indian empire had emerged not long after Alexander had visited India 321 BCE: Chandragupta Maurya. He proclaimed the Mauryan Empire, the first Indian empire. He united most of India by conquering all others with a vast army

"Artha-Shastra" ● Chandragupta's prime minister, Kautilya was the writer of a very influential peace the "Artha-Shastra." ● An important handbook on how to advance as a ruler and how to stay in power ● Holds things like... – laying out six conditions of relationship between different states – These are defined as being peace – War – Neutrality – Alliance – Negotiation – Mobilization – What things are desirable or are to be avoided during rule. One of the prized treatises on statecraft and economy, Artha-shastra, has been lying in a state of near danger at Mysore's Oriental Research Institute. Artha-shastra has about 60,000 manuscripts at the institute of MOA.

The Mauryan Capital city ● on the Ganges River ● population approaching 1/2 million ● protected by a 900 ft wide moat ● wooden wall that was twenty-one miles in circumference ● roads were used to link major cities ● huge university, equipped with... – a library – Gardens – small temple ● Owned by the State: – Mining – Weaving – Manufacturing – Prostitution ● Everything was under strict rule ● Had a strong Military The Maurya Empire was a geographically extensive Iron Age historical power in ancient India, ruled by the Mauryan dynasty

Rise of Asoka ● Originally, throne was passed down to Asoka's Father ● Asoka was one of the most famous rulers in India ● Archaeologists accidentally found written records on pillars inside of capital city ● five thousand texts on eighteen stones and thirty pillars The great Indian emperor, Asoka, was born in 265 B.C. He was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya and he ruled over an empire that covered two-thirds of the Indian continent.

Asoka's Turning point ● Killed all his brothers in order to get the throne. ● Reigned from 269 B.C to 232 B.C ● continued the rule the same way as his grandfather ● pushed out and expand the borders of the Mauryan Empire ● turning point during the Kalinga War\ ● He renounced warfare and created a life of nonviolence ● "He, the conqueror of the Kalinga, is moved to remorse now. Foe he has felt profound sorrow and regret because the conquest of a people previously unconquered involves slaughter, death, and deportation." Ashoka The Great's The Pillar of Guilt, surrounded by pillars that were once as large, but are not destroyed.

Written on the Pillars ● "All suffer front the injury, slaughter, and deportation inflicted on their loved ones. Even those who escape calamity, are deeply afflicted by the misfortunes suffered by those friends, acquaintances, companions, and relatives for whom they feel affection. Thus all men share in the misfortune and this weighs heavily on the kings mind." ● "No living creature shall be slaughtered. Many hundreds of living creatures were formerly killed every day in the kitchens of the king in order to make curries. At present only three creatures are killed daily; two peacocks and a deer. Eventually, not even they are to be slaughtered." ● "The king has made previsions for two types of medical treatment: medical treatment for humans and treatment for animals. When herbs are not available, you much worry not, for i have had them imported and grown. All along the roads, i have had wells dug and trees planted for the benefit of both humans and animals." ● “every person who has wronged must be forgiven for the wrongs that can be forgiven.” The last Pillar of Ashoka that still stands close up.

Death of the Mauryan empire ● Asoka's attempt to govern a diverse empire in an ethical manner was remarkable. ● Empire fragmented and broke up into many smaller territories. ● the land converted back to the way it was before. ● Local kings/rajahs ruled over little kingdoms again. ● Only Differences were... – Greek influenced the art – Asoka's rules became apart of cultures in this region. ● Asoka's quotes on pillars influenced Buddhism Found in an ancient Buddhist temple. This mural shows peaceful work that was inspired by Ashoka's nonviolence act.

Recap ~Philip of Macedon and Chandragupta~ ● Tough-minded and ruthless ● Empire builders ● Used militarism to carve out huge empires. ~Alexander and Asoka~ ● Began their careers as great warriors ● After having established their empires ● Went on to display a broader vision of what an empire could be ● Seemed to have a genuinely good perception of the matter ● Were rare Rulers This picture shows four statues of Ashoka (top left), Alexander the Great (top right), Chandragupta (bottom left), and Phillip (bottom right).