Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka

The powerful rulers, Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka, created comparable political and economic systems during the time in which each of them ruled India. Chandragupta Maurya took control over small regional kingdoms in the ruling dynasty, and made them into one empire, the Mauryan Empire, of which he then became ruler. Chandragupta’s political advisor, Kautalya, advised Chandragupta on political policies and government. Some of his advice can be found in the Indian political handbook called Arthashastra. With Kautalya’s help, Chandragupta Maurya made the Mauryan Empire the first state to establish a centralized government in India. This form of government was 'taken from the Persians because it worked so well. Ashoka followed his grandfather’s example by instituting a centralized government in India during his rein. Governors from each of the regional kingdoms would have a member of the royal family who would govern over them and report to the central government. Chandragupta Maurya and Kautalya formed a bureaucratic administrative system, which enabled them to make policies that applied to the entire state. Ashoka also applied this idea to India during his reign. Both rulers made certain that agriculture continued to expand, thereby increasing their economy. Both of them used spies to help ensure security and keep out foreigners. With Kautalya’s influence, they both collected taxes and had a central treasury that looked over the collection of taxes. This offered many new jobs such as accountants, clerks, and officials. Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka were both extremely influential rulers that established similar political and economic systems during each of their reigns.

Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka had many differences in the way in which they ruled. Chandragupta Maurya ruled ruthlessly and sternly, but later converted to Jainism and became a Jain monk. Ashoka practiced Buddhism and was a very caring and humane ruler. Chandragupta Maurya was a warrior and adventurer who conquered small regions in order to establish his own empire. Ashoka, likewise, conquered Kalinga during a bloody war. Although unlike Chandragupta Maurya, Ashoka hated the violence so much that he turned to Buddhism. Ashoka’s Buddhist beliefs played a key role in the way he ruled. He imposed his views upon his people and helped spread the religion throughout the state. Ashoka practiced non-violence, ahimsa, a major part of Buddhism. Chandragupta continued to rule pitilessly. Any suspected traitor would receive the death penalty, or worse, an 18-day cycle of