Why are the Mauryan Empire and the Qin dynasty sometimes described as early examples of centralized totalitarian rule?

The Mauryan Empire and the Qin dynasty are sometimes characterized as early examples of centralized totalitarian rule because they employed strong central authority to control and direct various aspects of life through coercion and repression.12

The Qin dynasty, in particular, was guided by the philosophy of Legalism, which emphasized absolute obedience to the state and the ruler. Legalist thinkers advocated for a rigid system of laws that prescribed specific punishments and rewards to direct all human activity toward increasing the power of the state.3

In the case of the Mauryan Empire, the government was highly organized around the king, with administrative departments and officials acting as links between local units and the central government to manage resources and maintain control.4

While these historical regimes are cited for their centralized power, they are distinguished from modern totalitarian states—such as those under Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin—which utilized modern developments in communication and transportation to mobilize popular support and impose an official ideology on the citizenry.1