Early Life of Asoka the Great (Devanampriya Priyadarshi) Devanampriya Priyadarshi Samrat Ashoka (also Asoka, Ashoka Maurya) was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya and the son of the second Maurya Emperor, Bindusara. Acknowledged as the greatest of monarchs in world history, Ashoka is singled out as a ruler without a parallel. In his role…
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Decline of Mauryas The decline of Mauryas started immediately after the death of Asoka. The fact that Asoka gave up conquests and preached non-violence reacted unfavorably on the military position of the Empire and rendered it weak. The sons and grandsons of Ashoka divided the empire amongst them and began to rule in independent capacity…
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The decline of the Mauryan Empire No political empire lasts forever. Every empire in history broke down for certain obvious causes. Among these causes, some causes appear almost as common, namely, the weak successors, vastness of the empire, independence of the provinces, foreign invasion, and internal revolt. The causes for the downfall and…
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Chanakya’s Arthashastra Arthashastra (also Arthasastra) is an ancient treatise on economic, political and military administration of the state. It was written by Chanakya (also Kautilya, Vishnu Gupta). Arthashastra is the the most authentic and important sources for shaping the history of the Mauryan Empire. There are fifteen sections and hundred and eighty sub-sections in…
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Brihadratha (Maurya Emperor) Emperor Brihadratha Maurya was the last Mauryan King of Mauryan Empire. He was killed by Pushyamitra Sunga, a military General in the Mauryan Army. Brihadratha Maurya had a vast empire. The extent of his empire extended from Jalandhar in the North India to the river Narmada in the South. One…
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Brief note on Mughal Empire Art and Architecture Mughal culture and refinement are best reflected in stone. More than any other forms of art, architecture depends upon rich patrons. As the might of the Mughal Empire spread and as the great Mughal emperors grew richer, more and more outstanding buildings were constructed in…
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Biography of Chandragupta Maurya Chandragupta Maurya The accession of King Chandragupta Maurya is a great event in the history of India. He was the first ruler who practically established an empire encompassing almost the whole of India. We can learn about his career from the Buddhist and the Jain literature, accounts given by…
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Ashoka Empire The Ashoka Empire was not confined to Magadha alone. Ashoka the Great was the Emperor of a major portion of the present Indian-subcontinent. The extent of Ashoka Empire is generally known from the conquests of Chandragupta. Samrat Ashoka further added Kalinga to the empire of Chandragupta. The rock edicts and inscriptions…
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Ashoka and Buddhism Emperor Ashoka was the first ruler in ancient India who embraced Buddhism as a tool for the consolidation of his empire. In the reign of Bimbasara and Ajatasatru Buddhism was taking shape into a Sangha. Early Buddhism was not concerned with laymen. Asoka in contrast sought the support of Buddhism,…
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Administration of Chandragupta Maurya Introduction The Administrative System of Chandragupta Maurya was strong and highly systematic. Luckily enough a clear picture of that administration is derived from two most important sources of history, namely, Kautilya’s Arthasastra and the Indika of Megasthenes which has survived in fragments in shape of extracts in the writings of…
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