Empowered of Maurya Empire
The Maurya rule marked the beginning of a new epoch in the history of India. Both Indian and Classical sources suggest that Alexander’s retreat resulted in the creation of a vacuum and therefore it was quite easy for Chandragupta to carve out a kingdom for himself.
According to the Indian tradition, Chandragupta was assisted by the Brahmin Kautilya, also known as Chanakya or Vishnugupta to rise to power.
According to Buddhist tradition Chandragupta’s father, a chief of Moriya clan, was killed in a battle. His widowed mother took shelter in pataliputra.
Literacy Sources for the Mauryan Period.
- Arthashastra:-
Chandragupta’s Minister Chanakya wrote the ‘Arthashastra’ one of the greatest treatises on economics, Politics, Foreign affairs, administration, military arts, war and religion. It is divided into 15 Adhikarnas which are further divided into 180 prakarnas. Bhattasvamin wrote a commentary on arthshastra and the name of commentary is pratipada panchika
2) Mudrarakshasa:-
It is the historical play in Sanskrit by Vishakhadatta narrating the ascent of the king Chandragupta Maurya to power in northern India with the aid of Chanakya. It gives an account of socio-economic conditions.
Click Here to download current Affairs in PDF form
3) Puranas:-
The Puranas contain some old traditions and provide a chronology of the Mauryas. The vishnugupta describes the origin of Nandas and their overthrow by Kautilya and Chandragupta Maurya.
4) Parisisthaparvan:-
It is Jaina work, written by Hemchandra and is a biography of Chanakya. It provides crucial information about Chandragupta Maurya, such as his early life, his conquest of Magadha, the famine in Magadha and his conversion to Jainism.
Click here to read about Ancient & medieval history of India
Others sources like Rajtrangini of Kalhana, Kathasarita Sagar of Somadev, and Brihatkathamanjari of Kshemendra also provide information about the Mauryan period.
Chandragupta came into limelight 326-325 B.C. He formed an army with the tribal people living in the forests of the Vindhyas and seized the throne of Magadh (324 B.C) with the help of Chanakya.
After the death of Alexander, the people of North-western India rose in revolt against the Macedonian rule. Chandragupta took advantage of the situation and launched an attack on the Greeks. In 321 BC Greek forces were totally driven out from India.
- The Tughlaq Dynasty (1320 – 1412 AD)
- Direct into Indirect speech Test-3
- Direct into Indirect speech Test-2
- Direct into Indirect Speech Test-1
- Change the Voice-5
- Current Affairs of Sep-22
Share if you care for others