This is a topic on Maurya empire

1. Topic – Mauryan Empire

2. INTRODUCTION

3. Chandragupta Maurya

5. Chanakya

6. Bindusara Maurya

7. Ashoka the great

8. Architecture of Mauryan Empire

9. Ashoka pillars

11. STUPAS OF MAURYAN EMPIRE
 The ashes of the Buddha were buried in stupas built at locations associated with important
events in the Buddha’s life including Lumbini (where he was born), Bodh Gaya (where he
achieved Enlightenment), Deer Park at Sarnath (where he preached his first sermon sharing
the Four Noble Truths (also called the dharma or the law), and Kushingara (where he died).
 Buddhist stupas were originally built to house the earthly remains of the historical
Buddha and his associates and are almost invariably found at sites sacred to Buddhism.
 According to legend, King Ashoka, who was the first king to embrace Buddhism (he ruled
over most of the Indian subcontinent from c. 269 - 232 B.C.E.), created 84,000 stupas and
divided the Buddha's ashes among them all.

12. STUPAS
SANCHI STUPA

14. Kalinga War
 The Kalinga War was a war fought between the Mauryan Empire and the state of Kalinga. Kalinga was an
important kingdom because it controlled the trade routes with Southeast Asia. Because of this, Ashoka, the
Mauryan king, wanted to capture it. Therefore, he lead his huge army to Kalinga in 262 BC.
 According to Megasthenes, the Greek historian at the court of Chandragupta Maurya, the ruler of Kalinga
had a powerful army comprising infantry, cavalry and elephants. After the War, 150,000 thousand men and
women were deported from Kalinga and forced to work clearing the wasteland for future settlements, and
forbidding them to ever return to their old homeland.
 The descendants of the Kalinga people migrated later to the Sindh. From there they migrated to Persia,
Mesopotamia, Egypt and Europe. It is possible that the descendants of these people are the Roma of Europe.
 Although he won the war, Ashoka realized the futility of war. He saw the bloodshed and suffering of the
soldiers' families. He vowed never to fight again. He converted to Buddhism and he dedicated his later life to
help his subjects. He left the conquest after winning a war. He wrote inscriptions for wanting that his son and
grandson also never to think about war.
 He decided to observe Dhamma (a common code of conduct). He was also inspired by the teachings of
Buddha. He sent many Buddhist scholars to distant lands in order to propagate Dhamma.

15. ECONOMY DURING MAURYAN EMPIRE

16. SOCIETY DURING MAURYAN EMPIRE