The reign of Emperor Ashoka (c. 268 – 232 BCE) marks a transformative period in the history of the Mauryan Empire and ancient India. Ascending the throne of a vast empire inherited from his grandfather Chandragupta Maurya and father Bindusara, Ashoka initially pursued a policy of expansion and consolidation. However, the brutal Kalinga War around
The Mauryan Empire was a geographically extensive and powerful political entity in ancient India, flourishing from 322 to 185 BCE. Founded by Chandragupta Maurya, with the strategic guidance of his mentor Chanakya (also known as Kautilya), the empire unified a significant portion of the Indian subcontinent, encompassing regions of modern-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Its
Siddhartha Gautama, traditionally dated to approximately 563 - 483 BCE, was a spiritual teacher from ancient India and the founder of Buddhism. Revered as the Buddha ("the awakened one"), he is recognized by Buddhists as an enlightened being who attained complete liberation (Nirvana) and taught others the path to achieve the same. Born into a
Introduction Mahavira, traditionally dated to 599 – 527 BCE, was the twenty-fourth and last Tirthankara (spiritual teacher and “ford-maker”) of Jainism in the current cosmic age. Born as Vardhamana into a royal family, he renounced his worldly life at the age of thirty to pursue spiritual enlightenment. After twelve years of rigorous asceticism and meditation,
The 6th century BCE in ancient India marked a period of profound intellectual and spiritual ferment, often referred to as the "Second Urbanization" or an "Axial Age." This era witnessed the emergence of numerous new religious and philosophical movements that challenged the established Vedic traditions. Among these, Jainism and Buddhism rose to prominence, offering alternative
The Later Vedic Period, spanning from approximately 1200 to 500 BCE, represents the second major phase of the Vedic Age in the Indian subcontinent, following the Early Vedic or Rigvedic Period. This era witnessed significant transformations in the socio-political, religious, and economic landscape of the region. The focus of Vedic culture shifted eastward from the
Introduction The Early Vedic Period, also known as the Rigvedic Period, spanned approximately from 1500 to 1200 BCE and represents the initial phase of the Vedic Age in the Indian subcontinent. This era is primarily characterized by the composition of the Rigveda, the oldest of the four Vedas and a foundational text of Hinduism. The
The Vedic Period, spanning from approximately 1500 to 500 BCE, marks a formative era in the history of the Indian subcontinent, following the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization. This period is characterized by the migration of Indo-Aryan peoples into the Indian subcontinent and the composition of the Vedas, a collection of sacred texts that
The decline of the Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, represents a significant turning point in the history of the Indian subcontinent. This Bronze Age civilization, which flourished in the Indus River Valley and surrounding regions of modern-day India and Pakistan, commenced a process of decline around 1900 BCE. This period witnessed
Introduction Sunayani Devi (1875-1962) was a significant, albeit often less celebrated, woman artist associated with the Bengal School of Art. Coming from the illustrious Tagore family of Jorasanko, she was a contemporary of her brothers Abanindranath and Gaganendranath Tagore. Unlike many of her male counterparts in the Bengal School who consciously engaged with nationalist politics
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