1. The First Empire of india: the maurya
How did Chandragupta unify and rule India?

2. While viewing the short clip, think about the following:
How might have Chandragupta’s early encounter with Alexander the Great affected his rule?
How did the Greek ambassadors describe the capital city of Pataliputra? (modern day Patna) What do their accounts tell us about the reign of Chandragupta Maurya?

4. Chandragupta Maurya (340-298 BCE)
Unified India through conquest and established the Maurya Empire in 321 B.C. (first empire of India)

5. Bureaucratic state Highly organized Empire divided into districts
Relatives in control of districts
Civil servants ruled various departments such as trade, taxation, mining, roads, and irrigation canals
Standardized weights, measurements and currency

6. Role of Kautilya Chanakya
Brahmin scholar
Trained Chandragupta and later became his prime minister
wrote Arthasastra
Spy network, food tasters
*Is it ever okay for the government to spy on its’ citizens?*

7. Chandragupta’s death He renounced his throne Converted to Jainism
Died of intentional starvation
santhara

8. jainism Originated in 6th century B.C. in response to strict Hinduism
Goal: to reach liberation of the soul
Actions: non violence towards all living things

9. Is Santhara still practiced today?
Yes, approximately 200 people die each year of santhara
“Our constitution says that every person living in India has a right to live. If I have a right to live then I have a corresponding right not to live - that is, to die... The goal is to live a dignified life. It is my right, it is my body. It is not the property of the state.”
Justice Pana Chand Jain

10. Two views of santhara
“This fasting is not to die, but a festival to face death. She is not trying to kill herself because that is considered sinful in our religion. She is only cleansing her soul. This is our festival.”
Sudhir Hiravat, grandson of Keila Devi
“Old people usually resort to santhara, it's during this stage when they need more love, care and attention. If a person undertakes santhara even on his own, the members of the family are duty bound to stop them. They just can't let a suffering person die without painkillers or medical assistance; even the food and water is stopped. We consider this inhuman.”
Madhav Mitra, counsel for the anti-santhara petition