Maurya Empire- From Rise to Fall 321–185 BCE!

Maurya Empire’s Rise & Fall
1. Rise (321–268 BCE): Chandragupta’s conquests, Chanakya’s strategies, Seleucid peace treaty.
2. Peak (268–232 BCE): Ashoka’s Kalinga reform, *Dhamma* edicts, infrastructure growth.
3. Decline (232–185 BCE): Weak successors, administrative corruption, Shunga coup.

Timeline of Key Events
321 BCE: Chandragupta overthrows Nanda Dynasty.
305 BCE: Maurya-Seleucid Treaty.
261 BCE: Kalinga War; Ashoka’s conversion.
232 BCE: Ashoka dies; empire weakens.
185 BCE: Pushyamitra Shunga ends Mauryan rule.

8 Facts About the Maurya Empire:
1. Covered 5 million km² at peak.
2. First empire to unite most of South Asia.
3. Ashoka’s edicts written in Brahmi script.
4. Maintained 600,000 infantry, 9,000 war elephants.
5. Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna).
6. Spy network (*Gudhapurushas*) monitored officials.
7. Trade links with Rome and Hellenistic kingdoms.
8. Declined after Ashoka’s pacifist policies.

8 Benefits of the Maurya Empire:
1. Unified fragmented regions under one rule.
2. Advanced administrative systems (*Arthashastra*).
3. Promoted Buddhism globally.
4. Built infrastructure (roads, hospitals).
5. Standardized weights, measures, and currency.
6. Encouraged art (e.g., Ashokan pillars).
7. Established diplomatic ties with Greece.
8. Enhanced agricultural productivity.

8 Losses of the Maurya Empire:
1. Over-reliance on Ashoka’s *Dhamma* weakened military.
2. Economic strain from vast bureaucracy.
3. Corruption in provincial governance.
4. Succession disputes post-Ashoka.
5. Neglected defense against foreign invasions.
6. Peasant revolts due to heavy taxation.
7. Decline in trade post-Ashoka.
8. Fragmentation after Shunga coup.

#MauryaEmpire, #AshokaTheGreat, #ChandraguptaMaurya, #AncientIndia, #Chanakya, #KalingaWar, #Arthashastra, #AshokanEdicts, #IndianHistory, #Buddhism, #Pataliputra, #AncientEmpires, #MauryanArmy, #PushyamitraShunga, #Dhamma, #AncientArchitecture, #Megasthenes, #SeleucidEmpire, #GuptaEmpire, #AncientWars, #hisroriessecret, #historyshorts, #history, #ytshortshistory.