History for kids

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Right after Alexanders departure from India, one of India's

greatest rulers, Chandragupta Maurya invaded central
and western India. With Pataliputra (near Patna) as it's
capital, he had occupied north western India in it's entirety
by the year 316 BC.

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The great strategist and minister Chanakya (also known as

Kautilya) was one of Chandragupta Maurya's closest advisors. At Chanakya's behest, Chandragupta took over
Magadha from the Nanda dynasty. With the aid of an intelligence network filled with young recruits from Magadha
and other provinces, Chandragupta kept a close eye on
the happenings within his kingdom and elsewhere. These
recruits were the ones who were upset with the corrupt
rule of King Dhana of Magadha. Chandragupta gathered
enough of such recruits and resources needed for his army
to fight long battles. The men included the former General of Taxila and accomplished students of Chanakya.
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Eventually, with an elaborate plan and perseverance, Chandragupta took over the throne of Magadha. His empire
went on to become one of the most widespread across
India known for it's great political and military rule. The
empire stretched north, all the way up to the Himalayas and
eastward till modern day Assam. To the west the kingdom
reached present day Pakistan and parts of Afghanistan.

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During this time, Chanakya went on to write the Arthashastra, one of the greatest collections of observations and
manuals on economics, politics, foreign affairs, administration, warfare, military arts and religion known to man.
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Under Chandragupta's rule a single currency was established all across India. Through regional governors and administrators he governed deep into his kingdom. Justice and
security of his subjects was paramount and he established
strong practices to ensure that law and order was maintained. Trade and agriculture also flourished in his rule along
with an efficient system for finance and administration.

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The Mauryan army brought peace upon the land by

wiping out bandits, gangs, private armies and powerful
chiefs who tried to establish their rule. Many public works
including road and water ways were built to help with
travel and trade. Agriculture also flourished around this
time.
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In 305 BC,the Greek ruler Seleucus I, ruler of the Seleucid

Empire, attacked Northern India to reclaim parts of their
earlier kingdoms. The campaign failed and eventually the
two rulers signed a peace treaty under which the Greek
ruler received 500 elephants from Chandragupta. These
elephants helped Seleucus I in his conquests abroad. This also
opened up a deeper friendship between the Indian's and
the Greeks. Greek historians and scholars like Megasthenes,
Deimakos and Dionusius attended Chandragupta's court.

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In Chandragupta's reign Jainism gained huge popularity.

Jain temples and stupas were built across the length and
breadth of his kingdom. As Chandragupta grew old he renounced his throne and all his wealth and joined a group of
wandering monks.
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Chandragupta was succeeded by his son, Bindusara

around 298 BC. After Bindusura, came Ashokavardhan
Maurya, better known as Ashoka the Great, one of the
greatest emperors that India had ever seen.

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