Ashoka and the Maurya Dynasty - The History and Legacy of Ancient Indias Greatest Empire

An illuminating history of the ancient Maurya Empire and its great leader Ashoka, offering insight into the lasting political and cultural legacies of both.

At its peak in 250 BCE, the Maurya Empire was the wealthiest and largest empire in the world, extending across much of modern India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. In this book, Colleen Taylor Sen explores the life, achievements, and legacy of the Maurya emperor Ashoka, one of the greatest leaders in Indian history. Sen relates how, after a bloody war in 261 BCE, Ashoka renounced violence and spent the rest of his life promoting religious tolerance, animal rights, environmental protection, peace, and multiculturalism--a policy he called Dhamma. This well-illustrated book explores the legacy and influence of the Mauryas in politics throughout Southeast Asia, China, and India, as well as contemporary popular culture.

About the author

Colleen Taylor Sen lives in Chicago, and is the author of Reaktion’s Curry: A Global History and Feasts and Fasts: A History of Food in India, named one of the best food books of the year by Vogue and the Smithsonian Magazine.

Summary

A comprehensive, well-illustrated account of the emperor Ashoka and the Maurya Dynasty.

Product details

• Authors: Colleen Taylor Sen, Sen Colleen Taylor
• Publisher: Reaktion Books
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.10.2022
• EAN: 9781789145960
• ISBN: 978-1-78914-596-0
• No. of pages: 264
• Series: Dynasties
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Antiquity; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; HISTORY / Ancient / General, HISTORY / Asia / General, India, Asian History