Mauryan Empire Overview And Timeline

Key Features of the Empire

• Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna), famed for its timber fortifications and cosmopolitan courts.
• Government: Absolute monarchy supported by a bureaucratic class; advised by the prime minister and detailed statecraft manual, the Arthashastra.
• Economy and Society: Thriving agriculture, trade routes linking Central Asia to the Indian Ocean, and standardized weights, measures, and coinage (karshapana).
• Cultural and Religious Patronage: Embrace of Brahmanism, Jainism, Buddhism, and even Greek polytheism; monumental art and architecture flourished, notably the Pillars and Edicts of Ashoka.