DLC/Mod with 4 new Civs reusing the architectures - Magadhans, Avanti, Kalingans (Ancient Indian Architecture); Seleucids (Ancient Persian Architecture)
Grand Campaign for Magadhans
- First Section focusing on expansion of Magadh and war with Avanti as Haryanka Dynasty and Nanda Dynasty.
- Second Section focusing on war with Seleucids as Chandragupta and subsequent expansion in North-West India (Puru).
- Third Section focusing on rebellion of Ashoka, consolidation of his empire and subsequent war with Kalinga.
Haryanka Dynasty
BimbisÄra (543-491 BCE)
- In mid-Sixth Century BCE, Magadha came under the rule of Haryanka Dynasty led by King BimbisÄra (543-491 BCE)
- BimbisÄra was the first king to have a standing army. Therefore literature mentioned him as Shrenik (or Seniya BimbisÄra). This was possible due to the agrarian fertility, river based trade and central position of Magadha allowing it to collect toll tax in long distance trade.
- He strengthened Magadha by matrimonial alliances. He married Kosala Devi, sister of Prasenjit and gained KÄshi in dowry.
- He married a princess of VaishÄli (Vajji). BimbisÄra annexed Anga and took revenge of defeat of his father.
- Annexation of Anga gave Magadha the control of eastern branch of Uttarpath, lower course of Ganga River valley, access to ports of Bengal like TÄmralipti and trade routes towards Tibet and China.
AjÄtshatru (490-460 BCE)
- He was son of BimbisÄra, he expanded Magadha by military conquest.
- Due to rise of Magadha, Vajji and Malla Janpada formed a confederacy.
- AjÄtshatru defeated and conquered both of them by creating differences in their ruling class.
- AjÄtshatru annexed Kosala by defeating Prasenjit.
- AjÄtshatru built a fort in village of PÄtligrÄm and renamed it Patliputra (at the confluence of three rivers and surrounded by 3 hills)
- Like Magadha, Avanti MahÄjanpada was undergoing its own expansion and conquered Vatsa and Surashena Mahajanapada.
Udayin (460-430 BCE)
- Udayin (son of AjÄtshatru) transferred capital of Magadha from RÄjagriha to PÄtliputra.
NÄga Dynasty
- Founded by ShishunÄga who ended HaryankÄ Dynasty.
- ShishunÄga defeated Avanti and in process also conquered Chedi, Vatsa and Shursena.
- Son of ShishunÄga was KÄlashok who patronized second Buddhist Council.
Nanda Dynasty
- MahÄpadma Nanda ended NÄga Dynasty in 370s BCE. Perhaps he belonged to Shudra varna.
- MahÄpadma conquered Kuru and PancÄl MahÄjanpada.
- MahÄpadma took high sounding titles like Ekrat (Sole Authority), Akhilbhuvanpati (Owner of Entire Land), Ugrasena (King with aggressive Army)
- This indicates rising centralisation in administration which is achieved by rising revenue of state controlled by king
- Last King of Nanda Dynasty was Dhana Nanda who further expanded Magadha by conquering Matsya MahÄjanpada.
- Alexander came to India during the reign of Dhana Nanda and it was perhaps the elephant based army of Dhana Nanda which discouraged Alexander to cross Sutlej River.
- In Greek sources, Dhana Nanda is mentioned Agramese / Xandramese
Maurya Dynasty
- According to DD Kosambi, Alexanderās invasion of North West accelerated the Mauryan conquest of India. It defeated whatever strong kingdoms were left in Punjab.
- Death of Alexander made it easy for Mauryans to expel Greeks from North-western India.
- 321 BCE: A Brahmin named ChÄnakya and his disciple Chandragupta Maurya defeated Dhanananda and ended Nanda Dynasty. The sources for this event is a 7th / 8th Century CE Sanskrit play MudrÄrakshas (ring of AmÄtyarÄkshas) written by VisÄkhdatt. Story describes how ChÄnakya has stolen ring of RÄkshas (Prime Minister of Nanda Empire) and used it to forge documents and letters.
Chandragupta Maurya (321-298 BCE)
- 320-310 BCE: Western Expansion of Mauryan Empire where Chandragupta conquered regions till Western Coast. In JunÄgadh, he ordered his minister Pushyagupta to construct a lake - Sudarshan Lake.
- 310-305 BC: North-western Expansion of Mauryan Empire where Chandragupta conquered majority of Gana Sangha till the Indus River.
- 305 BC: Chandragupta defeated Seleucus in a battle fought near Indus. After this Chandragupta gained territories of Afghanistan Region and married daughter of Seleucus named HelenÄ in return Chandragupta gifted 500 War Elephants to Seleucus.
- Seleucus sends his ambassador Megasthanes to Magadh in which he described Sandrokottus and his capital city PalibothrÄ. In 1785, William Jones (in Asiatic Society of Bengal) identified Sandrokottus as Chandragupta Maurya and PalibothrÄ is PÄtliputra. This identification became the basis for history writing in India.
- 298 BC: Inspired by a Jain Monk BhadrabÄhu, Chandragupta renounced the throne and became a Jain Monk. He migrated Southwards to Shravana BelagolÄ (HÄssan District, Karnataka). In Shravana BelagolÄ, Chandragupta committed SallekhanÄ / SanthÄrÄ (Ritual suicide by Starvation).
BindusÄra (298-272 BC)
- He was son of Chandragupta Maurya. In Greek sources he is mentioned as Amichocottus sounding similar to his title Amitraghatakam (Killer of Enemies). He had cordial relations with Seleucid King Antiochus.
- Antiochus sent two ambassadors to his court - Deimachos and Dionysius. During his rule, a Greek traveller named Iambulus came to India and wrote about India. His accounts are also exaggerated and unbelievable like Ctesias.
- BindusÄra launched the invasion in Deccan Region and conquered till lower Deccan. This Southern Invasion by Mauryan Empire is mentioned in Sangam Literature (Mauryans mentioned as MoriÄr).
BindusÄra was follower of Ajivika sect and was disciple of an Ajivika Monk Pingalavatsa
Ashoka (268-232 BCE)
Mauryan Civil War (272-268 BCE)
- 100 sons of BindusÄra fought a Civil War among themselves.
- Ashoka won by killing all his brothers (Sushima was chosen by BindusÄra) except one Vishtashoka / TissÄ.
Kalinga War (268-262 BCE)
- After his coronation, Ashoka launched invasion of Kalinga and after a long war he conquered Kalinga.
- According to Buddhist Literature, AshokavadÄna, Ashoka renounced warfare and violence after Kalinga War by adopting Buddhism. He even changed many of his policies.
- Minor Rock Edicts of Ashoka proves that although he changed his policies after Kalinga War, however he was already a Buddhist during his coronation.
Change in policies of Ashoka after Kalinga War
- Chandashoka (Violent and Cruel Ashoka) to Dhammashoka (Moral and Righteous Ashoka)
- Bherighosa (threatening neighbouring kingdoms by military power) to Dhammaghosa (conveying moral actions to neighbouring kingdoms) (Bheri - War Trumpet, Ghosa - Sound)
- Digvijay (conquering neighbouring kingdoms) to Dhammavijay (moral victory over neighbouring kingdoms by making alliance)
- VihÄryÄtrÄ (pleasure tours by Ashoka) to DhammayÄtra (tours of Ashoka to pilgrimage centres of Buddhism).
- DhammamahÄmÄtra (officers appointed by Ashoka to ensure that people live moral and righteous life)
- Dhamma PrachÄraka (ambassadors sent by Ashoka to spread Buddhism to neighbouring kingdoms). Example - He sent his son Mahendra and daughter SanghamitrÄ to Sri Lanka as Dhamma PrachÄraka.
- This change of policy by Ashoka is now identified as his Dhamma Policy.
Views on Ashokan Inscriptions and his Dhamma Policy
- When Ashoka mentions Dhamma, is he talking about purely morality or about Buddhism? (Example - He is asking his people to follow Dhamma)
- Ashokaās emphasis on morality was purely his conviction for morality or it was a tool to consolidate and bring stability in empire.
- Perhaps his morality is rooted in Buddhism
Although Buddhist Literature and Ashokan Inscriptions claim that he renounced violence, it is highly doubtful that Ashoka became absolutely Pacific -
- According to AshokavadÄna, Ashoka killed 18000 Jains / Ajivika for a painting.
- He even burnt a family alive for disrespecting Buddhism.
- He expelled 60000 Buddhist Monks on the first day of Third Buddhist Council.
- He kept the army intact.
- In his separate edict, he threatened people of Kalinga that they will have to co-operate with authority.
- Even his DhammamahÄmÄtra are sometimes considered as a tool of oppressive Morality.
Contact of Ashoka with Greek Kings
- Five Greek Kings mentioned in Ashokan Inscriptions (Ashoka exchanged Embassies) - Antiochus, Ptolemy of Egypt, MÄgus of Northern Egypt, Alexander and Antigonus - Greece and North of Macedonia
- In Ashokan Inscriptions, distance between India and Greece is described exactly correct.
- Ashoka ordered his Greek Minister TushÄra to add Canals in Sudarshan Lake.
Ashoka and non-Buddhist Sects
- Ashoka donated group of four caves to monks of Ajivika sect. This cave complex is known as BarÄbar Caves (JehÄnÄbad, BihÄr).
- According to MahÄyÄna Literature, Ashoka was follower of Upagupta.
According to HÄ«nayÄna Literature, Ashoka was follower of Mogaliputta TissÄ