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 Bindusara (297 BCE-272 BCE) Chandragupta's son and successor Bindusara, identifiable with Amitrochades/Amitrochates of the Greek accounts (the name possibly corresponds to his epithet Amitraghata or a slayer of foes, suggesting his invincible military prowess), is not known to have made fresh conquests, nor lost any territory, implying thereby that he maintained intact the expansive realm. Early Tamil poets of the South mention Mauryan chariots thundering across the land, their white pennants brilliant in the sunshine. Some scholars have suggested that this reference to Mauryan expansion in the Deccan could only have taken place during the reign of Bindusara. To Bindusara goes the credit of continuing the dynastic policy of maintaining friend- ly diplomatic relations with Seleucid rulers of West Asia. Bindusara had contacts with Antiochus I, the Seleucid king of Syria whose ambassador, Deimachus, was said to have been at the Mauryan court. Bindusara was interested in the Ajivika s...

  Chandragupta Maurya (321-297 BCE)   Mahavamsa refers to the early life of Chandragupta Maurya . His mother, after the death of her husband sought shelter in Pushpapura (Kusumpura-Pataliputra) where she gave birth to him. He was brought up first by a cowherd and then by a hunter in a village. The child showed promise right from his childhood. He towered over his friends when he played the role of the king with them. This attracted the notice of Chanakya, i.e., Kautilya, who once happened to pass through that village. The latter took him away to the city of Taxila. The new mentor gave him a thorough grounding in certain aims and objectives and, the most important was that he must rid the country of the hated rule and tyranny of the Nanda king, who had insulted Chanakya. The Nanda ascendancy was not only regarded as 'unlawful' and 'irreligious because of their origin, but also it was equally despised for the wickedness of the disposition of its rulers and the forcible...

  Ashoka Ashoka was the Governor of Avanti, before ascending the throne.  During his fathers' reign, he also went Taxila to supress the rebellion. According to the Buddhist traditions, Ashoka was extremely cruel in his early life and sat on the throne after killing his 99 brothers, however there is no historical authenticity of this. Dipavamsa states that in the year 273 BC, he captured the Magadha empire but crowned in 269 BC with the help of his abled minister Radhagupta. Ashoka was the first Indian king, who gave Royal public orders through his Edicts. Information about Ashoka's reign can be obtained from his inscriptions, which can be categorised in five types: 1.     Major rock inscriptions 2.      Minor rock inscriptions 3.      Separate inscriptions  4.     . Major pillar inscriptions 5.     . Minor p...

 Phases of Indus Valley Civilisation The period of Harappan culture is divided into three phases which are as follows: Early Harappan Phase (3300 to 2600 BC) The Early Harappan Phase is related to the Hakra (a Phase, identified in the Ghaggar-Hakra River Valley . • This phase stands characterised by centralised  authority and an increasingly urban quality of life.  • Trade networks had been established and there are also evidences of the cultivation of crops. Peas, sesame seeds, dates, cotton, etc., were grown during that time. • Kot Diji represents the phase leading up to Mature Harappan Phase. Mature Harappan Phase (2600 to 1900 BC) By 2600 BC, the Indus Valley Civilisation had entered  into a mature stage.  The early Harappan communities were turning into large urban centers, like Harappa and Mohenjodaro  in Pakistan and Lothal in India. Sites of this phase were Harappa, Mohenjodaro, Chanhudaro, Lothal, Kalibangan, Banawali, Sutkagendor and Surkotda. ...

  The Chalcolithic Age The use of metal began towards the end of the Neolithic age and thus the Chalcolithic age. The first metal to be used was copper. Later, it was mixed with metals such as tin, zinc and lead to make new metal of alloy called bronze. The Chalcolithic man was fond of ornaments and decoration. The women wore ornaments of shell and bone. Man had invented the technique of spinning and weaving cloth. There were several cultures that were using stone implements along with the copper implements. Such cultures are called Chalcolithic cultures. As per scientific analysis, Chalcolithic cultures were not older than 1800 BC.  They seem to have continued in some areas till 1000 BC and in other areas till 800 BC. The Early Settlers The Chalcolithic communities founded the first villages in India (not in Indian sub-continent) and cultivated barley, wheat, lentil in Western India and rice in Southern and Eastern India. Except for the alluvial plains, Chalcolithic cultures ...