Mauryan Empire - Formative period

The Mauryan Empire was India's first great unified empire. It lasted from 321 to 185 BCE, and was ruled by the Mauryan dynasty. At its height it ruled virtually all of northern and central India, Pakistan , much of Afghanistan and a small part of Iran (Baluchistan). Archaeologically, it coincides with the Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) period. Mauryan Empire - Formative period. When Alexander the Great conquered the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent in 326 BCE, he allied with king Ambhi of ...

Including:

• Mauryan Empire - Formative period
• Mauryan Empire - The rise of a unified state
• Mauryan Empire - The Mauryan empire
• Mauryan Empire - Chandragupta
• Mauryan Empire - Bindusara
• Mauryan Empire - Ashoka
• Mauryan Empire - Mauryan Administration
• Mauryan Empire - Decline

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When Alexander the Great conquered the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent in 326 BCE, he allied with king Ambhi of Taxila (called Taxiles or Omphis in Greek sources), and with his support managed to subdue king Porus of Pauravas, a state of eastern Punjab, defeating him at the Battle of the Hydaspes River. Alexander thereafter established vassal states (satrapies), headed by the previous kings Ambhi and Porus, and founded several garrison towns. A Greek satrap named Philippus controlled a Macedonian occupation force. After his ass ...

See also:

Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire - Formative period, Mauryan Empire - The rise of a unified state, Mauryan Empire - The Mauryan empire, Mauryan Empire - Chandragupta, Mauryan Empire - Bindusara, Mauryan Empire - Ashoka, Mauryan Empire - Mauryan Administration, Mauryan Empire - Decline

Read more here: » Mauryan Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mauryan Empire - Formative period

The reign of Ashoka was followed for 50 years by a succession of weaker kings. Brhadrata, the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty, ruled territories that had shrunk considerably from the time of emperor Ashoka, but he was still upholding the Buddhist faith. He was assassinated in 185 BCE during a military parade by the commander-in-chief of his guard, the Brahmin general Pusyamitra Sunga, who then took over the ...

See also:

Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire - Formative period, Mauryan Empire - The rise of a unified state, Mauryan Empire - The Mauryan empire, Mauryan Empire - Chandragupta, Mauryan Empire - Bindusara, Mauryan Empire - Ashoka, Mauryan Empire - Mauryan Administration, Mauryan Empire - Decline

Read more here: » Mauryan Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mauryan Empire - Decline

Mauryan Empire - Chandragupta. Chandragupta was again in conflict with the Greeks, when Seleucus I, ruler of the Seleucid Empire, tried to reconquer the northwestern parts of India which had been lost, during a campaign in 305 BCE. Chandragupta defeated Seleucus and then the two rulers exchanged a peace treaty, Chandragupta received the daughter of the Seleucid king Seleucus I and the territories of Gandhara and Arachosia, and Seleucus I received 500 war elephants that were to have a decisive role in his v ...

See also:

Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire - Formative period, Mauryan Empire - The rise of a unified state, Mauryan Empire - The Mauryan empire, Mauryan Empire - Chandragupta, Mauryan Empire - Bindusara, Mauryan Empire - Ashoka, Mauryan Empire - Mauryan Administration, Mauryan Empire - Decline

Read more here: » Mauryan Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mauryan Empire - The Mauryan empire

Chandragupta Maurya's fantastic rise to power is complemented by origins shrouded in mystery and controversy. On the one hand, a number of ancient indian accounts, such as the drama Mudrarakshasa by Visakhadatta, describe his royal ancestry and even link him with the Nanda family. On the other, his fortune is often accounted to a twist of fate wherein his preceptor, Kautilya, is said to have observed this village boy's executive character and raised him to defeat Dhana Nanda. Supposedly the son of a peacock tamer (hence the name Maurya), he ...

See also:

Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire - Formative period, Mauryan Empire - The rise of a unified state, Mauryan Empire - The Mauryan empire, Mauryan Empire - Chandragupta, Mauryan Empire - Bindusara, Mauryan Empire - Ashoka, Mauryan Empire - Mauryan Administration, Mauryan Empire - Decline

Read more here: » Mauryan Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mauryan Empire - The rise of a unified state

The Empire was divided into four provinces with the imperial capital at Pataliputra. From Ashokan edicts, the name of the four provincial capitals are Tosali(in the east), Ujjain in the west, Suvarnagiri (in the south), and Taxila (in the north). The head of the provincial administration was the kumara (royal prince) who used to govern the provinces as king's representative. The kumara was in turn assisted by Mahamatyas and council of ministers. This organizational structure was reflected at the imperial level with t ...

See also:

Mauryan Empire, Mauryan Empire - Formative period, Mauryan Empire - The rise of a unified state, Mauryan Empire - The Mauryan empire, Mauryan Empire - Chandragupta, Mauryan Empire - Bindusara, Mauryan Empire - Ashoka, Mauryan Empire - Mauryan Administration, Mauryan Empire - Decline

Read more here: » Mauryan Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mauryan Empire - Mauryan Administration