266 lines
20 KiB
Markdown
266 lines
20 KiB
Markdown
<!-- factbase:86e2bb -->
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# Maurya Empire
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## Overview
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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. @t[322 BCE..185 BCE]
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## Key Facts
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- Region: Indian subcontinent, from Afghanistan to Bengal
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- Period: ~322–185 BCE @t[322 BCE..185 BCE]
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- Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)
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- Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit
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- Religion: Initially Vedic/Hindu, Buddhism promoted under Ashoka
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## Notable Rulers
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- Chandragupta Maurya (~322–298 BCE): Founded the empire; defeated Seleucus I Nicator in the Seleucid–Mauryan War (305–303 BCE) @t[305 BCE..303 BCE], gaining Arachosia, Gedrosia, and Paropamisadae in exchange for 500 war elephants @t[322 BCE..298 BCE] [^1]
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- Bindusara (~298–272 BCE): Expanded southward @t[298 BCE..272 BCE]
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- Ashoka (~268–232 BCE): Fought the Kalinga War (~261 BCE) @t[~261 BCE], converted to Buddhism in its aftermath, and erected 33 edicts on pillars, boulders, and cave walls promoting dharma and non-violence @t[268 BCE..232 BCE] [^2]
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## Achievements
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- Unified most of the Indian subcontinent for the first time
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- Ashoka's edicts: 33 inscriptions on pillars, boulders, and cave walls — the earliest deciphered Indian inscriptions, promoting non-violence and tolerance [^2] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- *Arthashastra* attributed to Chanakya (also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta): comprehensive treatise on statecraft, economics, and military strategy [^3] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Extensive road network and trade connections linking the subcontinent
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## Administration
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- Highly centralized bureaucracy with provincial governors (*kumara*) and an extensive spy network maintaining central control
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- Megasthenes, Greek ambassador to Chandragupta's court (~302 BCE), described the empire's administration and society in *Indica* (survives in fragments quoted by Strabo and Arrian) [^4] <!-- reviewed:2026-02-23 -->
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- Standardized weights, measures, and coinage facilitated trade across the subcontinent
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## Decline
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Declined after Ashoka's death due to weak successors and regional fragmentation. Last Maurya ruler overthrown by Pushyamitra Shunga ~185 BCE. @t[~185 BCE]
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---
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[^1]: Thapar, R. *Aśoka and the Decline of the Mauryas* (Oxford, 1961)
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[^2]: Olivelle, P. *Ashoka: Portrait of a Philosopher King* (2023)
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[^3]: Olivelle, P. (trans.) *King, Governance, and Law in Ancient India: Kautilya's Arthashastra* (Oxford University Press, 2013)
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[^4]: McCrindle, J.W. *Ancient India as Described by Megasthenes and Arrian* (Trübner & Co., 1877)
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---
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Region: Indian subcontinent, from Afghanistan to Bengal" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Period: ~322–185 BCE" - when was this true?
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> 185 BCE event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Religion: Initially Vedic/Hindu, Buddhism promoted under Ashoka" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Chandragupta Maurya (~322–298 BCE): Founded the empire, defeated Seleucid f..." - when was this true?
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> 298 BCE event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Bindusara (~298–272 BCE): Expanded southward" - when was this true?
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> 272 BCE event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Ashoka (~268–232 BCE): Converted to Buddhism after the Kalinga War, erected..." - when was this true?
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> 232 BCE event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2]. BCE temporal tags not yet supported by factbase.
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 22: "Unified most of the Indian subcontinent for the first time" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Ashoka's edicts: Earliest deciphered Indian inscriptions, promoting non-viole..." - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "*Arthashastra* attributed to Chanakya: Treatise on statecraft and economics" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Extensive road network and trade connections" - when was this true?
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> Historical event. Attested by Thapar (1961) [^1]; Olivelle (2023) [^2].
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Region: Indian subcontinent, from Afghanistan to Bengal" - what is the source?
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> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Period: ~322–185 BCE" - what is the source?
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> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)" - what is the source?
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> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit" - what is the source?
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> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 14: "Religion: Initially Vedic/Hindu, Buddhism promoted under Ashoka" - what is the source?
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> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Bindusara (~298–272 BCE): Expanded southward" - what is the source?
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> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 22: "Unified most of the Indian subcontinent for the first time" - what is the source?
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> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Ashoka's edicts: Earliest deciphered Indian inscriptions, promoting non-viole..." - what is the source?
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> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "*Arthashastra* attributed to Chanakya: Treatise on statecraft and economics" - what is the source?
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> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
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- [x] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Extensive road network and trade connections" - what is the source?
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> Thapar (1961) [^1], Olivelle (2023) [^2]
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- [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?
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> Yes, Thapar (1961) scholarship on Chandragupta Maurya remains current and authoritative.
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- [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?
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> Yes, Olivelle (2023) scholarship on Ashoka remains current and authoritative.---
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## Review Queue
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<!-- factbase:review -->
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 8: "Region: Indian subcontinent, from Afghanistan to Bengal" - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)" - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit" - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Religion: Initially Vedic/Hindu, Buddhism promoted under Ashoka" - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 20: "Unified most of the Indian subcontinent for the first time" - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 21: "Ashoka's edicts: 33 inscriptions on pillars, boulders, and cave walls — the..." - when was this true? @t[~2026-02-23]
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 22: "*Arthashastra* attributed to Chanakya (also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta)..." - when was this true? @t[~2026-02-23]
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Extensive road network and trade connections linking the subcontinent" - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 26: "Highly centralized bureaucracy with provincial governors (*kumara*) and an ex..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 27: "Megasthenes, Greek ambassador to Chandragupta's court (~302 BCE), described t..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 28: "Standardized weights, measures, and coinage facilitated trade across the subc..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 41: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Region: Indian subcontinent, from Afghanistan to..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 43: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Period: ~322–185 BCE" - when was this true?" - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 45: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)" - when was ..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 47: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit" - when was this true?" - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 49: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Religion: Initially Vedic/Hindu, Buddhism promot..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 51: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Chandragupta Maurya (~322–298 BCE): Founded th..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 53: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Bindusara (~298–272 BCE): Expanded southward" ..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 55: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Ashoka (~268–232 BCE): Converted to Buddhism a..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 57: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 22: "Unified most of the Indian subcontinent for the ..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 59: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Ashoka's edicts: Earliest deciphered Indian insc..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 61: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "*Arthashastra* attributed to Chanakya: Treatise ..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 63: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Extensive road network and trade connections" - ..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 65: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Region: Indian subcontinent, from Afghanistan to ..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 67: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Period: ~322–185 BCE" - what is the source?" - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 69: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)" - what is th..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 71: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit" - what is the source?" - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 73: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 14: "Religion: Initially Vedic/Hindu, Buddhism promote..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 75: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Bindusara (~298–272 BCE): Expanded southward" -..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 77: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 22: "Unified most of the Indian subcontinent for the f..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 79: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Ashoka's edicts: Earliest deciphered Indian inscr..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 81: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "*Arthashastra* attributed to Chanakya: Treatise o..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 83: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Extensive road network and trade connections" - w..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 85: "[x] `@q[stale]` Line 17: "Chandragupta Maurya (~322–298 BCE): Founded the e..." - when was this true?
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>
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- [ ] `@q[temporal]` Line 87: "[x] `@q[stale]` Line 19: "Ashoka (~268–232 BCE): Converted to Buddhism afte..." - when was this true?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 8: "Region: Indian subcontinent, from Afghanistan to Bengal" - what is the source?
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> Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 9: "Period: ~322–185 BCE @t[322 BCE..185 BCE]" - what is the source?
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> Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)" - what is the source?
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> Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit" - what is the source?
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> Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Religion: Initially Vedic/Hindu, Buddhism promoted under Ashoka" - what is the source?
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> Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 16: "Bindusara (~298–272 BCE): Expanded southward @t[298 BCE..272 BCE]" - what is the source?
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> Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 20: "Unified most of the Indian subcontinent for the first time" - what is the source?
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> Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Extensive road network and trade connections linking the subcontinent" - what is the source?
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> Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 26: "Highly centralized bureaucracy with provincial governors (*kumara*) and an ex..." - what is the source?
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> Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 28: "Standardized weights, measures, and coinage facilitated trade across the subc..." - what is the source?
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> Need to verify whether this claim has an explicit source citation in the document footnotes.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 41: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 10: "Region: Indian subcontinent, from Afghanistan to..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 43: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 11: "Period: ~322–185 BCE" - when was this true?" - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 45: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 12: "Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)" - when was ..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 47: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 13: "Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit" - when was this true?" - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 49: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 14: "Religion: Initially Vedic/Hindu, Buddhism promot..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 51: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 17: "Chandragupta Maurya (~322–298 BCE): Founded th..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 53: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 18: "Bindusara (~298–272 BCE): Expanded southward" ..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 55: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 19: "Ashoka (~268–232 BCE): Converted to Buddhism a..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 57: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 22: "Unified most of the Indian subcontinent for the ..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 59: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 23: "Ashoka's edicts: Earliest deciphered Indian insc..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 61: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 24: "*Arthashastra* attributed to Chanakya: Treatise ..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 63: "[x] `@q[temporal]` Line 25: "Extensive road network and trade connections" - ..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 65: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 10: "Region: Indian subcontinent, from Afghanistan to ..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 67: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 11: "Period: ~322–185 BCE" - what is the source?" - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 69: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 12: "Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna)" - what is th..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 71: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 13: "Language: Prakrit, Sanskrit" - what is the source?" - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 73: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 14: "Religion: Initially Vedic/Hindu, Buddhism promote..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 75: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 18: "Bindusara (~298–272 BCE): Expanded southward" -..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 77: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 22: "Unified most of the Indian subcontinent for the f..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 79: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 23: "Ashoka's edicts: Earliest deciphered Indian inscr..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
|
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 81: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 24: "*Arthashastra* attributed to Chanakya: Treatise o..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
|
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 83: "[x] `@q[missing]` Line 25: "Extensive road network and trade connections" - w..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
|
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 85: "[x] `@q[stale]` Line 17: "Chandragupta Maurya (~322–298 BCE): Founded the e..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body.
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- [ ] `@q[missing]` Line 87: "[x] `@q[stale]` Line 19: "Ashoka (~268–232 BCE): Converted to Buddhism afte..." - what is the source?
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> This question was generated about a line in the document's own review queue section, not about a historical fact in the document body. |