University Of Karachi
Department of History
(EVENING)
(Mauryan Economy)
Course Code : 512.
Course Title : History of South Asia (Indus Period).
Class : B.A (Hons) 3rd Year.
Seat No : EH1960007.
Submitted by : Ahmed Kamal.
Submitted to : Sir. Mukhtiar Burdi.
MAURYAN ECONOMY
INTRODUTION TO THE ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF
MAURYAN PERIOD:
The Mauryan economy was an expanding one, and the state took a keen interest in
consolidating and consolidating its economic achievements. Thus, he not only controlled
and coordinated the activities of the industrial peasantry and merchants, but also directly
participated in the production and exchange of various commodities. In fact, the state
strictly regulated the economic activities of the state.
Political unification of India, establishment of a strong central government, restoration of
law and order, Alexander's opening of western trade routes, and measures taken by the
Mauryan state to promote agriculture, trade, industries, and handicrafts. It gave impetus
to economic development during this period.
The use of iron made it easy to clear the bush and go deeper into the ground to fully
exploit the potential fertility of the Ganga-Yamuna Valley. The boom in agriculture led to
the accumulation of food surpluses required by its exports, which were facilitated by the
natural waterway of the Ganges. The resulting trade led to the emergence of gradual
urbanization. Famous cities like Saravasti, Sakita, Varanasi, Champa, Rajagreha, Ujjain,
etc. sprang up around markets and attracted craftsmen from all over the world with the
lure of the easy availability of raw materials and a ready-made market to dispose of their
goods. . With the consolidation of markets, cities multiplied and became repositories of
wealth. These famous cities were so coveted and appreciated by adventurous spirits that
they became the capitals of famous kingdoms in the 6th century BC. Mentioned in the
traditional lists of the sixteen Mahajanapadas. These centers of trade, commerce, and
crafts were linked to each other by trade routes:
• First connecting Champa with Varanasi via Rajriha, and from there to Taxila
• Second Varanasi associated with Sarasvasti via Saketa and Ayodhya
• The third joined Varanasi with Ujjain through Kausambhi
• The fourth connects these northern centers with the Deccan via Ujjain.
From Champa, merchants headed to Suvarnabhumi (Arakan in Burma), Tamrabarni
(Ceylon) and other islands to eastern India and Taxila became a trading center for the
distribution of "Indian goods" in Central and Western Asia and beyond. to West Africa
and Europe. The background was entirely set up by these widespread trade routes and an
expanding agricultural economy, which led to the gradual urbanization of the rise of
imperial politics that was manifested in Mauryas.
AGRICULTURE:
Agriculture was the mainstay of the economy at this time. The Mauryan government has
established new agricultural settlements to cultivate unprecedented land. People from
overcrowded areas and prisoners of war were being brought to these new areas to work in
the fields. These villages were owned by the king and were cared for by a government
official named Setadiaksha, or agricultural overseer. Apart from state farms, there were
individual landowners who paid various taxes to the government. The main source of
income was the Bali tax or land tax, which is charged at the rate of one-sixth of the
product. Farmers had to pay many other taxes such as pindakara, hiranya, baga, bhoga
etc. The main crops were rice, barley, sorghum, wheat, sugarcane, many legumes, peas,
and oil seeds.
The importance of irrigation in Indian agricultural conditions has been fully recognized.
Irrigation water is still distributed and measured in certain areas. Arthasastra means a
water tax levied whenever the state helps provide irrigation. Pushyagupta, one of
Chandragupta's dictators, was responsible for building a dam on the other side of the river
near Girnar in western India. The construction and maintenance of dams, tanks, ditches
and wells is part of government activities.
Livestock farming in poor communities was a factor in agriculture, but there are still
pockets for livestock. The herds belonged not only to the government but also to the rich.
Hunting and hunting were practiced as a livelihood, especially for the tribes, and those
engaged in these trades had to pay a tenth of what they caught in their catch in the royal
store. Ashoka stopped killing animals indiscriminately and introduced many social
welfare measures.
CRAFTS AND INDUSTRIES:
Under Mauryas, the mining and steel industry was the most important industry and was
controlled by the government. Build the foundation of the political and economic power
of the Mauryas power. He was visited by a mining chief who will be an expert in mining
and mining. He had to upgrade old mines and discover new ones. The metals were made
of gold, silver, copper, lead, tin, iron, and bitumen. Literary evidence indicates that
working with metal was more expensive than any other metal. Lohadhyaksha was an
officer in charge of metalworking. Metal production and mining trading were a special
state center. Thus, minerals and mines were among the most important political elements
of the Mauryan empire. Kotelia shows that the origin of hacienda is mines, the power in
hacienda, and the earth is found in hacienda and power. He was in control of everything
from processing to refinement. One of the most significant effects of the political unity of
this small continent was the security provided by a stable, central government that funded
the expansion of various trade and commerce organizations.
The Mauryan region directly hired certain technicians such as shields, shipbuilders, etc.,
who were not taxed but others who worked in government workshops were taxed.
Handicrafts have also been an important source of revenue for the government.
Craftsmen living in cities were required to pay taxes in cash or in kind or to serve the
king free of charge. Vendors and professionals are organized by associations called srenis
or organizations. The Mauras were responsible for a wide distribution of steel in various
parts of the Indian subcontinent. They continued to control the production of steel, which
was much needed in the military, industry and agriculture. This was done by an official
named Loha-adyaksha.
The Maurya Empire organized trade and industry with the help of various supervisors.
• The sales manager was in charge of the market
• Weight manager and scales used to set appropriate weights and scales
• The Superintendent of Ships was in charge of water communications and fundraising.
• Overseeing the collection of taxes on domestic and foreign goods.
• The textile industry manager works with the textile industry, which is largely owned by
women workers.
• Alcohol Manager manages government wine shops.
The empire had the power to trade in salt and alcohol.
STATE CONTROL:
The Mauryan region itself was a large industrial and commercial enterprise and employed
a large number of artisans and merchants in its work. Therefore, the state had to be
completely in control of its trade to protect its interests. Controlling the relationship
between the interests of the state and the private sector was a sensitive task, and
Arthasastra provides clear evidence that the Mauryan regime carried out this task with
great success.
In addition to economic business revenue, the state has also imposed a large number of
new and traditional taxes. The economy of the Maurya State saw a well-controlled tax
system designed by Kautilia. Apply taxes on all manufactured items and stamp the date
on them. Products are strictly regulated. A business manager considers various factors
such as current price, supply and demand, and production costs before measuring assets.
Global income was a major source of government revenue. The land was subject to
normal taxes and a standard was set. Taxes were also levied on industries and businesses.
The main tax was 1/6 of the production of farmers as part of the land. The state also
received 1/4 and sometimes 1/2 of the share of the farmers who acquired the land and
other agricultural inputs from it. Farmers also paid another tax known as pindakara,
which was levied by district groups. Bali is an ancient Vedic tribute, now perhaps
regarded as a religious tribute. Kara was a tax found in flower gardens and orchards.
Senabhakta was a tribute to the local people as the property of the army as it passed
through the villages. Hiranya is known for paying cash. Farmers also had to pay for
irrigation problems.
There was also a property tax and a boat tax. Urban organizations were also taxed. Even
those large taxes could not cover the growing costs of the state. Therefore, Arthasastra
provides huge royal emergency taxes. One of these measures was the pruning of pranaya
or charitable gifts that were to be given only once to the farmers and equal to one third or
one quarter of their production. Arthasastra also arranged for the compulsory cultivation
of a second crop, part of which would go to the state. According to Patanjali and Kutelia,
the rulers of Maurya also collected monuments to the image. Jain culture also proposes
that Kautilya produce 800 million karsapana, which means reducing the value of
Kautilya's silver coins to fill a treasure trove. All of these repatriation measures have
greatly increased the value of the Mauryan state.
Thus, the entire Mauryan economy was equipped to meet the state's financial needs.
Many of these taxes were collected in one form or another. From the nature of the duties
of mint director, it seems that the financial economy under Mauryas has made great
strides. But monetary growth, at the same time, was delayed by Mauryan's policy of
investing in the treasury and not investing it for production purposes. In addition, excise
taxes on all kinds of goods have disrupted the economic growth of the economy.
CONCLUSION:
Despite these limitations, the Maurya period saw significant economic progress with a
major step in expanding agriculture and the mining industry. The development of
transportation and communications helped to boost domestic trade and commerce.
