Q1.Who laid the foundation of the Mauryan empire and how?
Dear Student,
The foundation of Mauryan Empire is known as a milestone in the history of India. In 321 BC, Chandragupta Maurya defeated the Nandas, with the guidance of his Prime minister, a brahman named Chanakya (also known as Kautilya). Plenty of research has been done by the historians to enquire about the origin of Mauryas. Buddhist traditions indicate that they belonged to Kshatriya Moria class, allied to the Sakyas. While, Pauranic tradition describes Chandragupta as the last Nanda King’s son from his sudra mistress, Mura and also the name Maurya comes from Mura.
In the last days of their rule, the Nandas were getting very unpopular and weak and Chandragupta took advantage of this growing weakness. Despite of his inferior military strength in comparison to Nandas, his strategy aided him. He initially took Ganga Plain under his control. Thenm moving towards the north-west, he made north western India free from the successor of Alexander, the Greek general Seleucus Nikatar, by signing a treaty with them in 303 BC, thus acquiring some Seleucid regions under Mauryan control. There is also a prospect that the two royal families might have had a marriage alliance. Thus, the regional foundation of Mauryan empire was laid and the Gangetic Plains and Indus was under the control of Chandragupta Maurya.
Regards,
The foundation of Mauryan Empire is known as a milestone in the history of India. In 321 BC, Chandragupta Maurya defeated the Nandas, with the guidance of his Prime minister, a brahman named Chanakya (also known as Kautilya). Plenty of research has been done by the historians to enquire about the origin of Mauryas. Buddhist traditions indicate that they belonged to Kshatriya Moria class, allied to the Sakyas. While, Pauranic tradition describes Chandragupta as the last Nanda King’s son from his sudra mistress, Mura and also the name Maurya comes from Mura.
In the last days of their rule, the Nandas were getting very unpopular and weak and Chandragupta took advantage of this growing weakness. Despite of his inferior military strength in comparison to Nandas, his strategy aided him. He initially took Ganga Plain under his control. Thenm moving towards the north-west, he made north western India free from the successor of Alexander, the Greek general Seleucus Nikatar, by signing a treaty with them in 303 BC, thus acquiring some Seleucid regions under Mauryan control. There is also a prospect that the two royal families might have had a marriage alliance. Thus, the regional foundation of Mauryan empire was laid and the Gangetic Plains and Indus was under the control of Chandragupta Maurya.
Regards,