Kautilya's Arthashastra (c. 300–100 BCE)

300 BCE · Pataliputra · cultural

A comprehensive manual on statecraft, economics, military strategy and intelligence attributed to Kautilya, the minister of Chandragupta Maurya; the "Indian Machiavelli"; a theory of realpolitik and pragmatic government.

| The world's oldest and most comprehensive theoretical text on statecraft, and a reference point for modern Indian political science.

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Frequently asked questions

What was Kautilya's Arthashastra (c. 300–100 BCE)?
A comprehensive manual on statecraft, economics, military strategy and intelligence attributed to Kautilya, the minister of Chandragupta Maurya; the "Indian Machiavelli"; a theory of realpolitik and pragmatic government.
When did Kautilya's Arthashastra (c. 300–100 BCE) happen?
300 BCE
Where did Kautilya's Arthashastra (c. 300–100 BCE) take place?
Pataliputra