CLASS 6 · NCERT HISTORY · CH 8: FROM A KINGDOM TO AN EMPIRE (NCERT CLASS 6 — OUR PASTS I)
How did Chandragupta come to power?
With his guru-minister CHANAKYA / KAUTILYA / Vishnugupta, overthrew the NANDA dynasty of Magadha (~321 BCE). Then expanded west to defeat SELEUCUS NIKATOR (a Greek general of Alexander) ~305 BCE; gained much of present-day Afghanistan + Pakistan; received Seleucus's daughter in alliance.
Who was Megasthenes?
Greek ambassador sent by Seleucus to Chandragupta's court at Pataliputra (~302-298 BCE); wrote "INDIKA" (now lost; survives in fragments quoted by Strabo, Arrian, etc.); described Mauryan administration, Pataliputra's walls (570 towers + 64 gates), 7-caste society.
How did Chandragupta die?
According to Jain tradition, abdicated in old age (~297 BCE); went south with his guru BHADRABAHU; took Jain vows; died of fasting (sallekhana) at SHRAVANABELAGOLA hill, Karnataka.
Two key wars Chandragupta fought to build his empire?
(i) Overthrow of the NANDA dynasty of Magadha (~321 BCE) — captured Pataliputra with Chanakya's strategy. (ii) War with SELEUCUS NIKATOR (~305 BCE) — Greek successor of Alexander; Chandragupta won, gained Kabul/Kandahar/Herat/Balochistan in exchange for 500 war elephants + a marriage alliance.
Who succeeded Chandragupta and what is his reign known for?
BINDUSARA (r. 297-273 BCE) — son of Chandragupta. Known to Greeks as "AMITROCHATES" (Sanskrit Amitraghata = "slayer of foes"); extended the empire south to MYSORE region; maintained diplomatic ties with the Seleucids (envoy DEIMACHOS visited his court).
Mauryan revenue + economic foundation?
Built on intensive agriculture in the Ganga doab + state monopolies (mines, salt, timber, alcohol); Arthashastra describes detailed taxation: BHAGA (1/6 of produce), BALI (additional levy), KARA (tax on artisans), VARTANI (transit tax). Extensive use of iron tools, irrigation works, state-run craft workshops.
Why did Chandragupta convert to Jainism in the end?
Influence of Jain teacher BHADRABAHU + a 12-year famine in Magadha that the Jains predicted; Chandragupta abdicated for his son, went south with Bhadrabahu to Shravanabelagola (Karnataka), and ended his life by SALLEKHANA (ritual fasting) ~298 BCE.
Chandragupta Maurya founded the Mauryan empire by overthrowing?
Dhana Nanda (last Nanda king)
Chandragupta's guru was?
Chanakya (Kautilya)
Chandragupta defeated which Greek king?
Seleucus Nicator (305 BCE)
Chandragupta is said to have ended his life at?
Shravanabelagola, Karnataka (Jain sallekhana)
What is the Kalinga War and why was it the turning point?
~261 BCE — Ashoka conquered KALINGA (modern Odisha) in a brutal war; ~100,000 killed, 150,000 deported, many more died of disease (his own ROCK EDICT XIII says so). The horror caused Ashoka to renounce war and embrace BUDDHISM + DHAMMA.
This topic is part of the NCERT Class 6 History syllabus, specifically the textbook Our Pasts I, drawn from the chapter Ch 8: From a Kingdom to an Empire (NCERT Class 6 — Our Pasts I). Content is cross-referenced against the latest NCERT textbook editions + standard reference works (Bipan Chandra, R.S. Sharma, Romila Thapar, Satish Chandra for history; G.C. Leong, Savindra Singh for geography; the UPSC Civil Services prelims + mains syllabus).
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