324-184 B.C.E.
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India initially fragmented into local states and
rulers
Chandragupta Maurya expanded his kingdom
into Mauryan Empire
 Possible he met Alexander the Great and was
inspired
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Death of Alexander the Great allowed
expansion into Northwest
Mauryan leaders controlled almost entire
subcontinent
Chandragupta used any means necessary to
expand
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Paid ¼ of harvest in taxes
Friends and relatives of the king were local
authorities
Large army
Standardized monetary system
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Grandson of
Chandragupta
 Ruled 269-232 BCE
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Initially a brutal and
powerful military
leader
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Upset by brutality of war
Converted to Buddhism and focused on
Buddhist ideals
 Nonviolence
 Morality
 Moderation
 Religious Tolerance

Published his ideas for empire to see on large
sandstone towers
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After Ashoka’s death disagreement about
successor
Empire collapsed in 184 BCE
Several centuries of less centralized
leadership
 Local cultural developments
 Time period during which Mahabarata took its
current form