The Culture and Religion of the Ancient Mauryan
Empire
by Lillian Bonar
Essay: The Culture and Religion of the Ancient Mauryan Empire
Pages: 11
Rating: 3 stars
Download Links:
• The Culture and Religion of the Ancient Mauryan Empire.pdf
• The Culture and Religion of the Ancient Mauryan Empire.doc
The Mauryan Empire was a very intriguing empire, with rulers of different beliefs and ways of ruling, as well as
antithetical ways that the rulers gained and maintained their power. Important events occurred during this period
of time that affected future generations. The Empire’s people mainly had a Buddhist religion. The people of the
Mauryan Empire contributed greatly to the fields of art, and architecture. The Mauryan Empire was very important
to India’s way of life.
The Mauryan Empire all began in 321 B.C., when a man named Chandragupta Maurya (340 -298 B.C.) was ruler.
Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the Mauryan Empire. Chandragupta founded the Mauryan Empire in
321 B.C. When Chandragupta came to power he drove out the Greek occupation forces and established the capital
city of his new empire, Pataliputra, in the Ganges Valley. Maurya gained power by invading and taking control with
great fury. Chandragupta first invaded and conquered Punjab. He was also successful in invading and taking
control over many other neighboring areas. Maurya was also successful in uniting most of India into the Mauryan
Empire.
Chandragupta Maurya was a man who was very paranoid in his time of power. He greatly feared assassination. His
food was always tasted before he consumed anything, and he had a secret police to look after him. There was also
a very large army and inspectors. Chandragupta did not even sleep in the same bed more than once in his palace
to make sure no one could kill him in his sleep. Finally, after years of ruling, Chandragupta Maurya became too
paranoid for his own good and retired from ruling. He then handed over his power to his son, Bindusara.
Chandragupta converted to Jainism in his late...