Civilizations Around the World: The Mauryan Empire

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The Mauryan Empire began as one of the many kingdoms in ancient India during the 4^th century BC. It began with only control of present day Bengal and later the entire of northern India and beyond. The Mauryan are credited with unifying all of India for the first time and contributing to the spread of Buddhism.

Rise of an Empire

In 321 BC, A young man named Chandragupta Maurya took control of Magadha, a kingdom that was large and militarily powerfull and feared by its neighbors. Chandragupta took control using his army inspired from Alexander the great and the Macedonian army and recruited men upset over the corrupt king Dhana of Magadha. After the conquest of Magadha, Chandragupta had gained control of an immense area ranging from Bengal in the east to Afghanistan in the west and as far south as the Narmada River. Later, his son Bindusara, became the second Mauryan emperor and conquered sixteen more states for the Maurtan empire, thus extending the empire into central and parts of southern India. Bindusara had said he had conquered the “land between the two seas.” The Mauryan empire now included the whole of India except the region of Kalinga (modern Orissa) and the Tamil kingdoms of the south. Kalinga was later to be conquered by the third Mauryan emperor Ashoka, Bindusara's son.

Spread of Buddhism

Ashoka became the third Mauryan Emperor and reigned over most of present-day India after a number of military conquests. He is one of India’s greatest and famous rulers for his conversion to and support of Buddhism. The legend told explaining his conversion to Buddhism goes, one day aftre the war was ended, Ashoka roamed a city and all he saw was burnt houses and corpse scattered everywhere, he then gave his famous monolog:

“What have I done? If this is a victory, what's a defeat then? Is this a victory or a defeat? Is this justice or injustice? Is it gallantry or a rout? Is it valor to kill innocent children and women? Do I do it to widen the empire and for prosperity or to destroy the other's kingdom and splendor? One has lost her husband, someone else a father, someone a child, someone an unborn infant.... What's this debris of the corpses? Are these marks of victory or defeat? Are these vultures, crows, eagles the messengers of death or evil?”

The brutality he witnessed after the conquest led him to adopt Buddhism. To promote Buddha’s dharma, he formulated a legal code and inscribed his laws on enormous 30-40 feet monolithic columns erected throughout his kingdom. The pillars penetrated deep intothe ground, connecting the earth and sky, forming the “axis of the universe.” Capping Ashoka’s pillars were elaborated lion capitals carved from a single block of stone. (Buddha was often referred to as “the lion.”) The two pairs of lions stand four wheels and four animals that symbolize the four quarters of the world.

The main principles of dharma (dhamma) defined by ashoka:

• Nonviolence
• Tolerance of all sects and opinions
• Obedience to parents
• Respect for the Brahmans and other religious teachers and priests
• Liberality towards friends
• Humane treatment of servants
• And generosity towards all

By 250 BC, Ashoka had monumental edicts on Buddhism carved into rocks and caves throughout his empire. Ashoka is also credited with building over 80,000 stupas to enshrine the relics of the Buddha and commemorate key events in the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. As the Mauryan Empire began to go into a decline, Western powers were able to invade and conquer India, creating the Greco-Indian kingdom. The greatest legacy left by the Mauryan civilization was certainly the spread of Buddhism in India, which remains today.

About the Author

I'm Jose Pierre and I like learning about all aspects of culture, both ancient and modern. I enjoy learning how they communicated, expressed themselves, and their technology.