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# Maurya Empire

# Maurya Empire

## Overview
The Maurya Empire (~322–185 BCE) was the first empire to unify most of the Indian subcontinent, founded by Chandragupta Maurya and reaching its greatest extent under Ashoka.

## Key Facts
- Region: Indian subcontinent, from Afghanistan to Bengal
- Period: ~322–185 BCE
- Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)
- Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit
- Religion: Initially Vedic/Hindu, Buddhism promoted under Ashoka

## Notable Rulers
- Chandragupta Maurya (~322–298 BCE): Founded the empire, defeated Seleucid forces [^1]
- Bindusara (~298–272 BCE): Expanded southward
- Ashoka (~268–232 BCE): Converted to Buddhism after the Kalinga War, erected edicts promoting dharma [^2]

## Achievements
- Unified most of the Indian subcontinent for the first time
- Ashoka's edicts: Earliest deciphered Indian inscriptions, promoting non-violence and tolerance
- *Arthashastra* attributed to Chanakya: Treatise on statecraft and economics
- Extensive road network and trade connections

## Decline
Declined after Ashoka's death due to weak successors and regional fragmentation. Last Maurya ruler overthrown by Pushyamitra Shunga ~185 BCE.

---
[^1]: Thapar, R. *Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas* (Oxford, 1961)
[^2]: Olivelle, P. *Ashoka: Portrait of a Philosopher King* (2023)
---

## Review Queue

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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Region: Indian subcontinent, from Afghanistan to Bengal" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Period: ~322–185 BCE" - when was this true?
> 185 BCE event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Religion: Initially Vedic/Hindu, Buddhism promoted under Ashoka" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Chandragupta Maurya (~322–298 BCE): Founded the empire, defeated Seleucid f..." - when was this true?
> 298 BCE event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Bindusara (~298–272 BCE): Expanded southward" - when was this true?
> 272 BCE event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Ashoka (~268–232 BCE): Converted to Buddhism after the Kalinga War, erected..." - when was this true?
> 232 BCE event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 22: "Unified most of the Indian subcontinent for the first time" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Ashoka's edicts: Earliest deciphered Indian inscriptions, promoting non-viole..." - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "*Arthashastra* attributed to Chanakya: Treatise on statecraft and economics" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Extensive road network and trade connections" - when was this true?
> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Region: Indian subcontinent, from Afghanistan to Bengal" - what is the source?
> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Period: ~322–185 BCE" - what is the source?
> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)" - what is the source?
> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit" - what is the source?
> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 14: "Religion: Initially Vedic/Hindu, Buddhism promoted under Ashoka" - what is the source?
> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Bindusara (~298–272 BCE): Expanded southward" - what is the source?
> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 22: "Unified most of the Indian subcontinent for the first time" - what is the source?
> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Ashoka's edicts: Earliest deciphered Indian inscriptions, promoting non-viole..." - what is the source?
> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "*Arthashastra* attributed to Chanakya: Treatise on statecraft and economics" - what is the source?
> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Extensive road network and trade connections" - what is the source?
> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
- [x] `@q[stale]` Line 17: "Chandragupta Maurya (~322–298 BCE): Founded the empire, defeated Seleucid f..." - Thapar source from 1961 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
> Yes, Thapar (1961) scholarship on Chandragupta Maurya remains current and authoritative.
- [x] `@q[stale]` Line 19: "Ashoka (~268–232 BCE): Converted to Buddhism after the Kalinga War, erected..." - Olivelle source from 2023 may be outdated, is this still accurate?
> Yes, Olivelle (2023) scholarship on Ashoka remains current and authoritative.