Annotated Bibliography

Mookerji, Radhakumud. "Bindusara Maurya." Chandragupta Maurya and His Times. Delhi:
Motilal Banarsidass, 1966. 162-64. Print.

Mookerji writes a comprehensive work detailing the life and times of Indias first
historical emperor, and paints a picture of early Indian civilization under the Mauryan Empire.
Mookerji utilizes a lot of material found in Arthasastra, and his book embodies collation and
comparison of evidence from multiple valid sources, classical Sanskrit works, and Buddhist
texts, as well as the inscriptions of Asoka. All of this validates it as an excellent source from
which research can be done. In writing about Chandragupta Maurya, Mookerji also illuminates
some of Bindusara Mauryas rule.

Pletcher, Kenneth. "Bindusara." The History of India. New York, NY: Britannica Educational
Pub. in Association with Rosen Educational Services, 2011. 69. Print.

This book recounts the history of India very succinctly as well as major factors that
contributed to Indias economic successes. Its written in narrative form, and although many
valid sources are referenced, its not as solid as the previous two sources. However, the fact that
Britannica has published it does grant it enough validity to be included as a source. It gives a
very rough summary of Bindusaras reign in one section.

Sastri, Nilakanta. "Asoka." Age of the Nandas and Mauryas. Banaras: Published for the
Bharatiya Itihas Parishad by Motilal Banarsidass, 1952. 208-10. Print.

This book deals with the decades preceding the Mauryas and more importantly the
Mauryan Empire. In it, vivid pictures of outstanding events are painted in eleven chapters
contributed by eminent historians. Therefore, the validity of this source is quite solid, because its
a compilation of expert knowledge rather than an opinionated version of historical events. The
influence of Buddhism on Indian culture, the fusion of Brahma-Ksatra in the early Mauryan rule,
and the rule of Asoka and his successors are some of the topics included in this book. It also
contained relevant information about Bindusara Maurya, who preceded Asoka.

Singh, L. K. "Indus Valley Civilization." Indian Cultural Heritage Perspective for Tourism.
Delhi: Isha, 2008. 29-30. Print.

This book is about the cultural heritage of India from the perspective of tourism.
Exploring the multi-colored cultural heritage of India, it focuses on the ancient Indus Valley
Civilization, in which the Mauryan Empire is covered. Because its perspective is not one that
would grant too much validity to the information pertaining to the Mauryan Empire, this book is
perhaps the weakest source of the four. However, the author is Indian, and has referenced several
Buddhist texts, as well as the inscriptions of Asoka. Therefore, it is strong enough as a source to
reference.