• Magadha - strongest kingdom

• overthrown in 321 BCE by Chandragupta

Chandragupta Maurya

• trained by an educated Brahmin (Kautilya)

• seized power through military

• ruled most of Indian subcontinent

• 1st time one state controlled all of northern India

• united into 1 empire

  • split 4 regions into provinces

Chandragupta

• set up a bureaucracy

  • officials in each region carried out orders

• set up tax system

  • supported large army/gov.

• peace treaty with neighbors

• constant fear - servants/guards/spies

• gave up being emperor to become a monk

Asoka's Rule

• Chandragupta's son, Bindusara, took over

  • expanded empire farther

• after he died, Asoka took over

  • killed his brother for the thrown

• waged war, then turned to peace

• followed Buddhist values

• rule based on dharma (moral law)

• 1 - ahimsa (not hurt living things)

• 2 - tolerance (respect differences)

• 3 - well being of people

Asoka's Legacy

• spread of Buddhism

• set up hospitals/dug wells

• built excellent road system

• Royal Road - 1,000 miles used for travel

• India prospered w/ his efforts

• country at peace - little crime

• empire struggled after death