Chandragupta

Maurya
HISTORY 134
YAKUBER, LUKE M
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Luke Yakuber

Professor Thomson

History 134

12 April 2017

Chandragupta Maurya

Chandragupta Maurya was one of the most influential and greatest leaders in Indian

history. His remarkable leadership and military abilities set him apart from the others. He was

born in 340 BC in Pataliputa and died in 297 BC. He was the spouse of Durdhara and followed

the religion of Jainism. Chandragupta Maurya is known for many different things but is most

notably known for being the founder of the Maurya Empire and the first emperor. In addition, he

unified the north and south portions of what is today known as India. He unified these two

separate states into one cohesive state. Chandragupta Maurya reigned from 324 BC to 297 BC

when he voluntarily retired from power. He later died that year before letting his son, Bindusara

come into power (Bhargava).

Chandragupta Maurya grew up in a very difficult and tough atmosphere. Some think that

his early childhood toughness that he developed really shaped his leadership for the future. At an

early age his father, chief of the migrant Mauryas, was killed in a dispute along a border1,

according to the Britannica Encyclopedia. The encyclopedia goes onto say that his maternal

uncles left him with a cowherd who brought him up as his own son. However, a hunter bought

him from these people and Chandragupta Maurya began to tend to the cattle. As if this was not
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enough he was then purchased by a Brahman2 (highest ranked person in Hindu classes) politician

named Kautilya and was taken to Taxila, where he received an education. Chandragupta Maurya

got a very good education in military tactics and also in aesthetic arts. This is where the basis of

his knowledge came from and what eventually led to one of the greatest empires that ruled vast

lands.

Alexander the Great died in 323 BC leaving his empire in some instability. Chandragupta

Maurya used his military background and education in order to destroy the sources of Nanda. He

used great techniques and tactics that took out the enemies. According to the Britannica

Encyclopedia he even used a secret service as part of the tactics to destroy the enemy. In 322

Chandragupta Maurya won the Punjab region and that was the beginning of the Mauryan

dynasty. Again, expanding Chandragupta Maurya was able to reach all the way to Persia. In 305

BC, Chandragupta Maurya was able to defeat a threat of Seleucus I Nicator and take control of

the Asian empire that once belonged to Alexander the Great. Chandragupta Maurya had one of

the most extensive empires, in regards to the amount of territory covered, in history. The

Britannica Encyclopedia says that the empire ranged from the Himalayas3 and the Kbul River

valley (in present-day Afghanistan) in the north and west to the Vindhya Range in the south.

After the death of Chandragupta Maurya, Bindusara expanded the empire even greater than his

fathers boundaries were.

In Purushottam Bhargavas book he talks about the achievements that Chandragupta

Maurya made in regards to uniting India and the economic reforms that then were made. He got

with his Chief advisor, Chanakya, to build one of the strongest economies. The power of the

government was extremely efficient and highly centralized, meaning that decisions were

happening at a quick pace. Because of the strong unification that the empire went under, the
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economy was very strong. Trade both inside and outside of the country was booming, along with

strong agriculture. Along with this increased prosperity within the country came great religious

movements. Chandragupta Maurya was responsible for bringing some of the greatest reform in

history by bringing in Jainism and Buddhism (Violatti).

Chandragupta Maurya was a very devoted follower to the religion of Jainism. It even

took him to his death. Bhadrabahu I, a follower of Jainism himself, predicted a 12 year famine

and Chandragupta Maurya tried to stop and reverse this famine. He realized that this was not

going to be possible. At that point he then went to a very important religious site in southwestern

India called Shranvanabelagola, where he fasted himself to death (Britannica Encyclopedia). He

was practicing a starvation method called santhara, which was common for Jains. The legacy that

he left was great as his empire continued to rule until 185 BC. His sons and grandsons followed

his steps by becoming great leaders and expanding the territory. In fact his one grandson,

Ashoka, was one of the greatest rulers and had heavy religious influence for the empire. He was

a great follower of Buddhism. However, in the year of 297 BC, Chandragupta Maurya did die

which ended the life of a great ruler and leader. He will go down in history as one of the most

unifying leaders that the world has seen (Mookerji).

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Notes

1. For more information in regards to the death of Chandragupta Mauryas father read the

first page of the Britannica Encyclopedia.

2. For more information in regards to what a Brahman is read the side of the first page in the

Britannica Encyclopedia.
3. For information on where these landmarks are, read the first page of the Britannica

Encyclopedia.

Annotated Bibliography
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Bhargava, Purushottam L. Chandragupta Maurya : A Gem of Indian History. 1st ed., New Delhi,

D K Printworld, 2014.

This book walks through Chandraguptas career, administration of the empire, and

his achievements. He was a natural-born leader who established a gigantic empire over

his reign. This book focuses on Chandragupta's rise to political supremacy. Bhargava, the

author, is a highly esteemed historian with a Ph.D in History. He received the Award for

Eminence in Sanskrit Scholarship from the President of India and has written many

books on Indian history.

"Chandragupta: Emperor of India." Encyclopdia Britannica, Encyclopdia Britannica, inc.,

2014, bit.ly/2otOkZW. Accessed 12 Apr. 2017.

This encyclopedia discusses Chandraguptas early life and education.

Chandragupta had well-planned administrative tactics that included secret service. He

continued to win many regions leading to the founding of the Mauryan dynasty, unifying

the majority of India under a single administration. Encyclopdia Britannica uses

professional researchers and editors. This includes 110 Nobel Prize winners and five

American Presidents.

Mookerji, Radhakumud. Chandragupta Maurya and His Times. Motilal Banarsidass Publ., 1966.

This book deals with the life of Indias first historical emperor, and what

civilization was like in fourth century BC. It gives a detailed account on his view of

administration and the social and economic conditions of the times. This book has been

reviewed and published by The English Historical Review. Mookerji was an Indian
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historian who obtained a doctorate from the University of Calcutta in 1905, and taught at

Bengal National College.

Violatti, Cristian. " Chandragupta Maurya." Ancient History Encyclopedia. , 2014,

bit.ly/2o72axT. Accessed 12 Apr. 2017.

This source summarizes the ruling of Chandragupta while providing details to his

role in the liberation of India. It also explains the government of Chandragupta and how

he used violence to ascend the power of the empire. His beliefs of Jainism led him to

starving himself to death inside of a cave. This encyclopedia is written by Cristian

Violatti, a frequent contributor from the University of Leicester. The Ancient History

encyclopedia is well known and edited by credible historians.