Back to Literature & Languages
๐
๐ Indian Literature
๐ฎ๐ณ Arthashastra
Kautilya's ancient treatise on governance, economics and statecraft; India's Machiavelli moment
India 300 BC Indian Literature
๐ Key Facts
1
Written by Chanakya (Kautilya), minister of Chandragupta Maurya, around 4thโ3rd century BC
2
15 books covering statecraft, military strategy, economic policy and espionage
3
Often compared to Machiavelli's The Prince โ predates it by nearly 2,000 years
Rediscovered in 1905 by R. Shamasastry in a Mysore library after being lost for over 1,000 years
Quick Reference
Category
๐ Indian Literature
Country/Origin
๐ฎ๐ณ India
Year / Era
300 BC
About
Kautilya's ancient treatise on governance, economics and statecraft; India's Machiavelli moment