Known by many names—Manavadharmashastra, Manu Smriti, and the Law Codes of Manu—the Laws of Manu is both a legal and a religious text that elaborates on the basic Hindu tenets while providing a window into the religion, culture, and society of ancient India. It covers topics ranging from the role of women to the definition of sin to an explanation of the caste system and its utility in the maintenance of the universe. The Laws of Manu probably dates to between the second century bce and the second century ce, most likely during the end of the Maurya Dynasty (324–180 bce).