Chandragupta Maurya And The Fall Of The Mauryan Empire

In 321 B.C., Chandragupta Maurya had been married into royalty and then set-out to overthrow the Nanda King, thus starting the Mauryan Empire. Thought this empire, there were three people who had ruled it, Chandragupta, his son, and his grandson Asoka. During Chandra’s rule, he had fought Seleucus I and defeated him in 202 B.C., and set out to expand his territory through conquest. By 303 B.C. ,he had achieved more than 2.000 ml of land, as well as politically uniting the northern parts of India. Chandra was more violent about his way of ruling, having political assassinations, spies within his government, harsh taxes, etc. Eventually his rule ended, and was passed down to his son in 301 B.C., which he would rule for 32 years. Then, Asoka …show more content…
Thought this empire, there were three people who had ruled it, Chandragupta, his son, and his grandson Asoka. During Chandra’s rule, he had fought Seleucus I and defeated him in 202 B.C., and set out to expand his territory through conquest. By 303 B.C. ,he had achieved more than 2.000 ml of land, as well as politically uniting the northern parts of India. Chandra was more violent about his way of ruling, having political assassinations, spies within his government, harsh taxes, etc. Eventually his rule ended, and was passed down to his son in 301 B.C., which he would rule for 32 years. Then, Asoka would have the throne passed down to him, in 269 B.C., which would lead the empire to its highest point. Throughout his rule, Asoka would be known as an enlightened ruler, from the way he ruled and his new policies/ways of …show more content…
Asoka achieved this enlightened state through the way he ruled and his new policies. The way Asoka ruled was very different than his grandfather, who had a move violent approach to ruling the empire. In contrast, he had encouraged religious tolerance and promoted welfare so that his people were much happier and healthier. He was also a lot less selfish and cared for his people. Asoka also applied some Buddhist beliefs to his own policies and his rules. He was fair, humane and had a non-violent judgement. Asoka's enlightenment was important because it forever changed the culture of the Sub-Indian continent and laid a foundation in governing. Another reason why of Asoka’s enlightenment, is in the policies which he made. Like previously mentioned, Asoka had a change of heart after his war. During this, he had sought out a Buddhist monk who instructed him to meditate underneath the Bodhi tree where Buddha had once sat. There he had found new ideas on how to rule his empire in a different way. He began to consult with his people about the way to govern and having good conduct. Asoka then applied his Buddhist beliefs into his own policies, and eventually his own rules. He would treat his subjects with fair, humane, equally, and with a nonviolent judgement. For example in a PBS documentary, The Story of India, with Michael Woods, Ahsoka had “a