Pataliputra was a major city to the Maurya people. Its features included 64 gates and 570 guard towers. Chandragupta (the Maurya ruler) protected himself in his royal palace. He never rested in the same room over two consecutive nights and he had a royal food taster making him the most paranoid ruler to ever live.
No matter how paranoid or not, Chandragupta his empire still grew under his command. the empire enjoyed peace and trade and commerce. Chandragupta saw to it that irrigation paths were established and paved roads were made.
Asoka Reforms the Maurya
Many rulers after Chandragupta's reign also added to the Maurya's legacy. Chandragupta's grandson, Asoka, ruled in the year 269 B.C. His reign ended in the tear232 B.C.With his power he brought the Maurya to the height of the empire.
In the early reign of Asoka he ruled with an ironfist. For several years he made wars to capture the area of Kalinga to the south. Unfortunately 100,000 people lost there lives. Asoka saw how much blood was shed and became very hurt by all the deaths so he became a Buddhist . Hedecided to rule hisempirewith kindness and without force.
Asoka drove for his subjects to uniteand that they should be good to eachother. Asoka tried to utilize this new buddhist ideals to rule by having a new nonviolence policy and that all living creatures. His beliefs led him to give up hunting, end animal sacrifice, and become a vegetarian.
Asoka Teaches the buddhist
In order to spread Buddhism in the Maurya Empire, Asoka issued an order that shrines be built which contain the remains of the Buddha. He encouraged many to make journeys to these shrines, and improved the roads leading to them so the pilgrims found their journeys easier.
In addition, Asoka saw the importance of spreading Buddhism to other lands. Buddhist missionaries were sent out to China and Southeast Asia. He succeeded in making Buddhism one of the worlds largest religions.
Shortly after Asoka died in 232 B.C, the Maurya Empire vanished. For the next 500 years, the territory served as a giant battleground, where many invaders fought and pushed into the region.
The first successful invaders were Greeks, who came from the northern Kush mountains. Next came the Persian Pahlavas and the Kushans from central Asia. Although each group influenced the area with their culture, they all dissolved into a Hindu culture.
Southern India which differed in language and culture from Northern India. Dravidians existed in Southern India, while the majority of people in Northern India were Aryans. The Dravidians spoke a wide variety of languages.
Economy flourished in Southern India. Ivory, cotton, pepper and gems were produced, and then shipped to china.
In 320 A.D., a young warrior named Chandragupta I united the north by setting up the Gupta Dynasty. His name comes from the ancient Maurya ruler.
The Gupta Empire existed until 535 A.D. The Guptas brought India to a golden age, bringing economic abundancy to northern India. Peace and trade both increased dramatically.
The Empire's Achievements
During the time of the Gupta Empire, art and literature developed strongly, along with mathematics. Artists painted the stories of Buddha on the caves near Ajanta. The art also included the depiction of many plants and flowers of India. A well-known playwright, Shakuntala wrote many plays and poems, some of which are still performed today.