Mauryan

Empire
(321 – 184 BCE)
Introduction
Growth of Magadha culminated in the emergence of the Mauryan Empire in 321 BC.

Mauryan Empire, with its capital Pataliputra, considered to be the first empire of
Indian sub-continent.
According to the Brahmanical tradition, Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the
Maurya dynasty was born of Mura, a Shudra woman in the court of the last Nanda
king.
From here, the dynasty known as Maurya.

The name "Maurya" occurs neither in Ashoka's inscriptions, nor in the contemporary
Greek accounts such as Megasthenes Indica.

The Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman (150 AD) prefixes "Maurya" to the
names Chandragupta and Ashoka.
Literary Sources of Mauryan History

• Book on polity and governance.

• Written by Kautilya/Chanakya, Prime Minister of
Arthashastra Chandragupta Maurya.
• Arthashastra does not contain any references to Mauryas,
their empire, Chandragupta, or Pataliputra.
• Indica was written by Megasthenes who was the ambassador
of Seleucus Nicator in Chandragupta Maurya’s court.
Indica • Mentioned about Mauryan administration.
• 7-caste system was explained and also thrown light that
slavery was absent in India.
• Written by VishakhaDutta during the Gupta period.
Mudrarakshasha • Book gives an account of how Chandragupta Maurya defeated
Nandas with help of Chanakya.
Literary Sources of Mauryan History

• Buddhist texts such as Jatakas reveal socio-economic conditions

of Mauryan period.
Buddhist • Buddhist chronicles, Mahavamsa and Dipavamsa throws light on
Literature role of Ashoka in spreading Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
• Divyavadam, Tibetan Buddhist text informed about Ashoka’s
efforts in spreading Buddhism.
• Kathasaritsagar by Somadeva
• Brihatkatha Manj ari by Kshemendra
• Kamandaka by Nitisara
Other sources • Rajtarangiri by Kalhana
• Kadambari by Sana Bhatta
• Dashakumaracharita by Dandin
• Kalpasutra by Bhadrabahu
Non-Literary Sources of Mauryan History
Inscriptions of The most significant source are the inscriptions of Ashoka.
Ashoka
They mark the beginning of Indian epigraphy.
They are issued in first person, thereby revealing the voice and
ideas of the king himself.
The Junagarh/ By Rudradaman, from 150 CE.
Girnar
inscription Records the construction of a water reservoir - the Sudarshana
lake - that began during the time of Chandragupta Maurya and
completed during Ashoka’s reign.
Archaeological The remains from Bulandibagh and Kumrahar are associated with
sources the Mauryan capital Pataliputra.

Other important sites are Taxila, Mathura, and Bhita.

Origin of Mauryas

In Buddhist texts such as the Digha Nikaya, Mahavamsa, and Divyavadana, the
Mauryas are described as belonging to a Kshatriya clan called the Moriyas, who ruled
at Pipphalivana.
Hemachandra’s Parishishtaparvan describes Chandragupta as the son of the
daughter of a chief of a village of peacock tamers (mayura-poshakas).

Vishakhadatta‘s Mudrarakshasa refers to Chandragupta as being of low social

origin.
Dhundiraja, a commentator on the Vishnu Purana, states that Chandragupta was a
Nanda scion, son of the Nanda king Sarvarthasiddhi with Mura, the daughter of a
hunter.
It is suggested that as the son of Mura, Chandragupta became known as Maurya,
which went on to become the dynastic epithet.
Political History of Maurya Empire

The foundation of the Mauryan empire was laid by Chandragupta Maurya, who
overthrew the Nanda dynasty in 321/324 BCE with the help Kautilya.

According to Puranas, the Mauryan rule lasted for 137 years, i.e., the Mauryas
probably ruled till 187/185 BCE.

Even if one takes these dates as approximate, one can conclude that the Mauryan
period lasted from around the late fourth century BCE to the first quarter of the
second century BCE.
Important Rulers of Mauryan Empire

Name Major Facts

• Founder of Maurya Dynasty.
• Kautilya is his prime minister as well as mentor
• Known as Sandrakottos or Androkottos to the Greeks.
• He ended Greek dominance over NW India by defeating Selecus
Chandragupta Nikator around 303 BC. As a result,
• Selecus’ daughter (Helena) was given in marriage to
Maurya
Chandragupta.
(321-298 BC) • Selecus had also sent his ambassador, Megasthenese to
Mauryan court.
• “Parisistaparvan” (a Jain text), under the influence of
Bhadrabahu he had abdicated the throne in favor of his son
Bindusara and performed Sallekhana at Sravana Belagola
(Karnataka).
Important Rulers of Mauryan Empire

Name Major Facts

• Title Amitraghatha (Killer of foes) hence Greek records called
him ‘Amitrakhates’.
• Follower of Ajivika sect.
Bindusara • Diplomatic relations with Syria and Egypt.
(297-268 BC) • Greek diplomats Daimachus (from Syria) and Dionysius (from
Egypt) had visited his court.
• Bindusara had requested Syrian ruler (Antiochus I) to send wine,
dried figs and a sophist.
Important Rulers of Mauryan Empire

Name Major Facts

• Taxila revolt: Divyavadana, a Tibetan text ,
informs that citizens of Taxila, under
governorship of Susima (elder son) had revolted
against oppressive Mauryan bureaucracy during
Bindusara his reign. Ujjain governor, Ashoka had
(297-268 BC) successfully suppressed it.
• Mahavamsa (a Sinhalese Buddhist text), there
was a war of succession after Bindusara and
Ashoka came to the throne around 268 BC by
fratricide.
Important Rulers of Mauryan Empire

Name Major Facts

• Mother- Ashokavadana states that Ashoka’s mother was a
queen named Subhadrangi.
• Wives- Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa tell the love story of Ashoka
and Devi, daughter of a merchant of Vidisha.
Ashoka • Texts refer to other queens such as Asandhimitta,
(268-232 BC) Tissarakhita, and Padmavati.
• An inscription on Allahabad–Kosam pillar mentions gifts
made by queen Karuvaki.
• Devi went on to become mother of Ashoka’s celebrated
children, Mahinda and Sanghamitta, both of whom joined
the Buddhist sangha.
Important Rulers of Mauryan Empire

Name Major Facts

• Kalinga war(261 BC)- Fought Kalinga War at his 8th regnal year
at Dhaulagiri (Odisha).
• Major Rock Edict XIII had described the death and
destruction in this war; about 1 lakh people were killed and
Ashoka 1.5 lakh were deported as prisoners of war.
(268-232 BC) • Finally declaimed wars and decided to dedicate his life in
promoting Dhamma.
• Left the policy of Behrighosha(conquest by force) and adopted
the policy of Dhammaghosha(conquest by Dharma).
Important Rulers of Mauryan Empire

Name Major Facts

• Welfare measures- Took up welfare measures like
digging wells, planting trees, providing medical
treatment etc.
• Conversion to Buddhism- 21st regnal year, under
Ashoka
influence of Upagupta, embraced Buddhism and
(268-232 BC)
openly confessed his faith in Buddhism by stating
Trisaranyas in Bhabru-Bairat inscription.
• Death- Ashoka dies in his 37th year of reign in
Pataliputra of illness at the age of around 72.
Important Rulers of Mauryan Empire
Name Major Facts
• No clear information is available about successors of Ashoka.
• Puranas mention Kunala (western part) and Dasarath (eastern
part) as successors.
• Dasaratha built three rock-cut caves in Nagarjuni Hills (Bihar)
Later Mauryans and donated them to Ajivikas.
(232 – 184 BC) • Divyavadana and Jain texts mention Samprati (S/o Kunala and
grandson of Ashoka) as successor.
• Rajatarangini mentions Jalaluka, who ruled over Kashmir.
• Brihadratha, last ruler was assassinated by his Brahmin senani,
Pushyamitra Shunga-hence starting the Sunga Dynasty.

• Vishnugupta/Chanakya/Kautilya played the leading role in

NOTE rebuilding and reshaping the Indian polity.
• He was a teacher at Takshashila (now Taxila in Pakistan).
Expanse of Mauryan Empire
For the first time in the history of Chandragupta Maurya, who founded the empire ,
India, a large portion of the extended control as far northwest as Afghanistan
subcontinent, extending up to and Baluchistan, and his grandson Ashoka
the far north-west, was under a conquered Kalinga (present-day coastal Orissa).
single paramount power.
The Mauryan During the Ashoka’s reign.
empire at its
peak Included the present-day states of Bihar and good portions of
Orissa and Bengal but also western and north-western India, and
the Deccan.
Note The extreme south and north-east India was not part of the
empire.
Ashokan Edicts and Inscription

Ashokan Edicts were royal orders to

both public and officials .

About 181 edicts were found at 47

places.
Ashokan Edicts and Inscription

James Princep succeeded in deciphering Brahmi script for the first time in 1837.

Norris deciphered Kharoshti script in Ashokan edicts.

Majority of Edicts does not mention Devanampiya (beloved of the gods)

Ashoka’s name and instead refer to him
with two titles: Piyadasi (he who looks on
auspiciousness)
Minor Rock Edict I, containing the Maski, Udegolam, Nittur , and Gujjara.
personal name of the king Ashoka, were
found only at:
Ashokan Edicts and Inscription
Language of Ashoka Edicts

• Eastern part - Prakrit language in Brahmi script

• Western part- Prakrit language in Kharosthi script.
• Inscriptions present in Afghanistan were inscribed in Aramaic and Greek.
• North-Western it was written in Aramaic language and Kharosthi Script.
• Most of the inscriptions are in the Prakrit language and Brahmi script.
• Those at Mansehra and Shahbazgarhi are in the Prakrit language and Kharosthi
script.
• A bilingual Greek–Aramaic inscription was found at Shar-i-Kuna near Kandahar in
south-east Afghanistan.
• Two Aramaic inscriptions were found at Laghman (in east Afghanistan) and one
at Taxila.
• A bilingual Prakrit–Aramaic inscription was found at Lampaka and another one at
Kandahar
Ashokan Edicts and Inscription

Ashokan Inscriptions Ashoka’s Major Rock Edicts

• There are 39 inscriptions • There are 14 major rock edicts.

discovered and classified into the • Most of them are written in Brahmi
following: script Prakrit language except one
• Major rock edicts. which is carved in Aramaic and
• Minor rock edicts. Greek (located in Afghanistan).
• Separate rock edicts. • Aim - to show Emperor Ashoka’s
• Major pillar edicts. faithfulness towards peace by
• Minor pillar edicts. following Buddhism and to make
individuals aware of Dhamma.
Ashokan Edicts and Inscription

Minor Rock Edicts of Ashoka

• 15 minor rock edicts were found across the country and in Afghanistan also.
• These are Sasaram (Bihar), Gavimath, Siddhpur, Jating Rameshwar , Brahamgiri,
Palkig-undu (Karnataka), Bhabru-Bairat (Rajasthan), Rupanath (M.P.), Maski
(Karnataka)
• Four of them mentions Ashoka’s name –
Brahmagiri(Karnataka),Maski(Karnataka),Nittur(Karnataka),Gujjara(M.P.)
• The contents are related to Personal life of King
• Bhabru-Bairat Rock Edicts - It tells about Ashoka’s conversion to Buddhism.
Ashokan Edicts and Inscription
Pillar Edicts of Ashoka
• There are seven pillar edicts.
• All of them are stone monoliths.
• Two types of stones were used to carve the 2 Kalinga Edicts
pillars – white and buff coloured sandstone and
quartzite. • These are found at
• These pillars were found at • Dhauli or Tosali (Khurda
• Topra (Haryana) Odisha),
• Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) • Daugava (Ganjam,
• Allahabad (Uttar Pradesh) Odisha).
• Lauriya Araraj (Bihar)
• Lauriya Nandangarh (Bihar)
• Rampurva (Bihar)
• Kandahar (Afghanistan)
Ashokan Edicts and Inscription

Other Rock Edicts and inscriptions Other Pillar Inscription

• Edict I: Ashoka declared all people • Rummindei Pillar Inscription:

are my sons Ashoka’s visit to Lumbini (248 BC) &
• Edict II: proclamation of edicts even exemption of Lumbini from tax.
to a single person. • Nigalisagar Pillar Inscription: It was
• Queen Edict: Mentions about originally located at Kapilvastu. It
second queen of Ashoka mentions that Ashoka increased the
• Barbara cave Inscription: Discuss height of stupa of Buddha
giving away the Barbara cave to Konakamana to its double size.
Ajivika sect
• Kandhar Bilingual Rock Inscription:
Expresses gratification over
Ashoka’s policy.
Ashokan Edicts and Inscription

Kandahar Inscription
Other relevant inscriptions and
important edicts • It is a famous bilingual edict in Greek and
Aramaic.
• Mentions ‘All men are my children.’
• Allahabad – Kosam/Queens
Edict/Kausambi or Schism Edict.
• Ashoka asks the members of Girnar Rock Inscription of Rudradaman
the Sangha to refrain from (Kathiawar)
causing division in the ranks.
• Samudragupta’s inscription is • Mentions the Sudarshan Lake constructed
on this edict itself. by Pushyagupta, a Rastriya (means
• Jahangir shifted it to the fort provincial governor) of Saurashtra during
at Allahabad. Chandragupta Maurya’s reign.
Ashokan Edicts and Inscription
Minor Rock Edict 1
• Indicates that Ashoka turned towards Buddhism gradually, after 2.5 years in
power.

Minor Rock Edict 3

• Ashoka greets Sangha, professes his deep faith in the Buddha, dhamma, and
Sangha, also recommends six Buddhist texts for monks, nuns and general laity.
• Inscriptions at Shahbazgarhi and Mansehra.
• Written in Kharosthi script.

Indian copper plate inscriptions

• Indian copper plate inscriptions are historical legal records engraved on copper
plates in India.
Ashokan Edicts and Inscription

The Sohgaura copper plate

Tamil copper-plate inscriptions
inscription

• It is written in Prakrit language and • These are engraved copper-plate

Brahmi script. records of grants of villages, plots
• It was discovered in Sohgaura, a of cultivable lands or other
village on the banks of the Rapti privileges to private individuals or
River, near Gorakhpur, Uttar public institutions by the members
Pradesh, India. of the various South Indian royal
dynasties.
• Important in reconstructing the
history of Tamil Nadu.
Ashokan Edicts and Inscription

Pillar,
Copper
plate and
Kalinga
War edict
Ashoka’s Dhamma
Dhamma, a Prakrit version of Dharma which means piety or righteousness, is an
ethical code which is secular, non-sectarian and universally applicable in nature and
based on principles like non-violence, tolerance, welfarism etc.
Through Dhamma Asoka had tried to consolidate his territorial conquests, and to
create communal harmony and mutual trust in highly diversified Mauryan society.

Ashoka used the medium of his edicts to expound the policy of Dhamma. Ashoka
engraved his views about Dhamma on these edicts which were meant to be read by
people of various areas.

In doing so, Ashoka was trying to For example : According to Gandhara bilingual
establish direct communication inscription, fishing and hunting communities of
with his subjects. These the Gandhara region discarded their professions
inscriptions were written in and took up cultivation by the impact of
different years of his rule. Dhamma.
Steps taken by Ashoka to propagate Dhamma

Edicts - Ashoka had issued edicts and got erected them in public places engraving
principles of Dhamma in popular languages on them.

Dhamma- Majjanthika-for Kashmir & Gandhara region.

magamattras -
Appointed the Majjima- for other parts of Himalayas.
following in his 12th
regnal year: Maharakkita- for Yona region.
Yona Dhamma rakkita-for Aparantha region.
Maha Dhamma rakkita-for Maharashtra region.
Mahadeva- for Mahishamandala (Karnataka).
Rakkita-for Vyjayanti / Banavasi.
Steps taken by Ashoka to propagate Dhamma

Relatives - Also sent Charumati-for Nepal.

his kin and kith to
distant places to
propagate Dhamma Sona and Uttara-Suvarnabhoomi.

Mahendra and Samghamitra-Srilanka.

Dharmayatras- Visited 8 important Buddhist pilgrim centres and gave gifts to

Sramanas and Brahmins
Dhamma-Interpretations

Ashoka’s creation of the institution Had that been the case, then there would have
of the Dhamma-mahamattas been no need for such an office, as Ashoka
convincingly proves that Ashoka’s could have utilised the organisation of Samgha
Dhamma did not favour any to propagate Dhamma.
particular religious doctrine.
A careful study of the Rock Edicts depicts that Ashoka wanted to promote tolerance
and respect for all religious sects and the duty of the Dhammamahamattas included
working for the brahmanas and the sramanas.

The policy of Dhamma was not the policy of a heretic, but a system of beliefs
created out of different religious faiths.
Dhamma-Interpretations

Ashoka’s Dhamma, apart from being a superb document of his essential

humaneness, was also an answer to the socio-political needs of the contemporary
situation.
That it was not anti-Brahmanical is proved by the fact that respect for the
brahmanas and sramanas is an integral part of his Dhamma.

His emphasis on non- For Instance - In address to the forest tribes he warns
violence did not blind him them that although he hates to use coercion he may be
to the needs of the State. required to resort to force if they continue to create
trouble.
 Mauryan
Administration
Central Administration

Emperor or King was supreme power and source of all authority.

King was assisted by Mantri parishad (council of ministers), headed by
‘Mantriparishad - Adhyakshya’.
Mantri Yuvaraja: The crown prince
parishad
members Purohita: The chief priest
included
Mantris, Senapati: The commander in chief
Adhyaksha:
Amatya: Civil servants and few other ministers. Administrative and
judicial roles.
Important officials in central administration

• Tirthas were the Highest category of officials in

Tirthas administration.
• 18 in number.
• Ranked next only to Tirthas.
• They were 20 in number.
• Economic and military functions.
• Adhyakshyas were formed into a secretariat, divided into
Adhyakshya
many departments.
• Arthashastra mentions many Adhyakshyas for commerce,
storehouses, gold, ships, agriculture, cows, horses, city,
chariots, mint, infantry, etc
Mahamattas • Higher ranking officials.
Pradeshika • District administrator
Yuktas • Subordinate officers responsible for the Empire’s revenue.
Important officials in central administration

• Officers in charge of land measurement and boundary-

fixing.
Rajjukas
• Head of land revenue
• Superintendent of mint
Samasthadhyasksha • Superintendent of markets
• He was in charge of collection of revenue from various
parts of the kingdom and looked after the income and
Samaharta
expenditure by supervising the works of the
Akshapataladhyaksha (Accountant General).
Sannidhata • Chief treasury.
Vyavharika • Chief judge
Gopa • Accountant to a unit.
Saptang Theory of State

First time in Arthashastra of Kautilya, enumerated seven elements of state.

State as seven-limed is contemplated by ancient Hindu thinkers.

State is defined for first time in the Arthashastra as consisting of seven elements.
Enumerated Swamin— the King,
seven prakritis Amatya—the Minister,
or essential
organs of the Janapada—the Land, and the People,
state which are Durga—the Fortress,
as follow: Kosha—the Treasury,
Danda—the Army and
Mitra—the Allies.
Adhyakshas
Kautilya’s Arthasastra gives information Akshapatala-Accounts
about 34 departments under respective
Adhyakshas that include- Bandagara-Jails
Dhyuta-Gambling
Ganika-Prostitutes
Tankasala/Lakshana-Minting
Lavana-Salt manufacturing
Sita-Agriculture
Pattana-Port cities
Pautava-Metrology
Sulka-Customs
Sura-Excise
Akara-Mining
Dhamma-mahamattaras: propagating Dhamma.

Stri-adhyaksha /Ithihajaka mahamattaras: women welfare.

Antha-mahamattaras:border regions.

Padesika: law and order

Rajjukas: revenue, judicial administration

Vachabhumikas: cattle wealth

Pulisans, Pativedikas: spies / royal reporters.

Note: “Indica” mentioned two Agronomoi: rural administration officials
kinds of officials namely – Astinomoi: urban administration (municipal council)
Provincial Administration

Mauryan Empire was divided into 4 provinces headed by governors / Kumaras /

Aryaputras .

Sl. No Province Capital

1 Uttarapatha Taxila
2 Dakshinapatha Suvarnagiri (A.P.)
3 Avantipatha Ujjain
4 Prachyapada Toshali (Odisha)
Local Administration

Each province was divided into Aharas headed by Rajjukas and Padesikas.

Villages were at grass-root level headed by Gramanis appointed by the State.

Gramanis were assisted by Gramavridha (village-elder) and Gramika (village

councilor).
Local Administration
• Sangrahana is a group of 10 villages.
Sangrahana
• Head of a Sangrahana: Gopa.
• Districts/administrative head were called Ahar/Vishaya.
Ahar/Vishaya • Pradeshika was the provincial governors or district
magistrates.
• Province is called Chakra
Chakra
• Head of a chakra: Rashtrapal or Kumara
Sthanika • Tax collectors working under Pradeshikas.
Durgapala • Governors of forts.
Antapala • Governors of frontiers.
Akshapatala • Accountant General
• Scribes (A person whose job was to write copies of
Lipikaras
documents)
Municipal Administration

Megasthenes Indica mentions Astinomoi (a municipal council) consisting of 30

members divided into 6 sub-committees with 5 members each.
Each sub-committee looked after Board of Taxes.
different aspects of city
administration viz, which five were Board of weights and measures.
to look after Pataliputra’s
administration- Board of manufactured goods
Board of handicrafts and industries
Board of foreigners
Board of census
Important officials of municipal administration

Nagaraka In charge of city administration

Sita- Adhyaksha Supervisor of agriculture
Samastha-Adhyaksha Superintendent of market
Navadhyaksha Superintendent of ships
Sulkaadhyaksha Collector of tolls
Lohadhyaksha Superintendent of Iron
Akaradhyaksha Superintendent of mines
Pauthavadhyaksha Superintendent of weight and measures etc.
Military Administration

Commander-in-chief of the entire military was called Senapati and position was next
to the emperor. Appointed by the emperor.

Army’s salary was paid in cash.

As per Pliny, Chandragupta maintained 600000-foot soldiers, 30000 cavalry, 9000
elephants.
Megasthenese Indica mentioned a war council consisting of 30 members divided into
6 boards of 5 members each to control 6 wings of army.
Major wings of army under Senapati included-
Military Administration

S.No. Military wing Head

1. Infantry Padadhyaksha
2. Cavalry Asvadhyaksha
3. Elephantry Hastadhyaksha
4. Chariotry Rathadhyaksha
5. Navy Navadhyaksha
6. Armoury Ayudhagar-adhyaksha
Revenue Administration

A variety of taxes Shulka- Sales tax in cities.

such as Bali, Bhaga, Nishkramya- Export duty.
Shulka, Kara, etc.
fertile Gangetic Vartani- Road cess.
region around Pindakara- A fixed commuted tax paid by the villages
Pataliputra. Pranaya- Emergency tax
Senabhaktam- Punitive tax imposed by army on region
through which it passed.
Visthi- Tax payable in labour i.e., forced labour
Bali- A religious tribute
Sita- Income of royal lands.
Vanikpatha (roads of traffic).
Revenue Administration

Tax-Exempted
villages Pariharaka - Villages that were exempted from taxation.
include-
Ayudhiya - Villages that supplied soldiers instead of tax.

Kupya - Villages that paid taxes in form of grain, cattle, gold or raw
material.

Collection of tolls were through officials like Panyadhyaksa, Mudradhyaksa,

Kosthagaradhyaksa, Pautvadhyaksa and Sulkadhyaksa, all of them working under
Samaharta.
Revenue Administration

State derived its revenue from Durga (fortified towns),

seven main heads (Ayasarira) viz.,
Rastra (country side),
Khani (mines)
Setu (buildings and gardens),
Vana (forest),
Vraja (herds of cattle),
Vanikpatha (roads of traffic).
Judicial administration

Emperor/King was highest appellate authority.

Important Vyavaharika/ Dharmakarini- Chief justice
judicial officials
include- Nagaravyavaharamattara/Pauravyavaharamattara- City judge
Rajjukas- Enjoyed judicial powers at provincial level.
Gramani- Enjoyed judicial powers at village level.
Arthasastra mentioned the Dharmasthiya- Civil courts
following two kinds of courts-
Kantakasodhana- Criminal courts

Special Courts trailing the cases related to foreigners were also found.
Judicial administration

Arthasashtra mentioned about Dharma (dharma sastras)

the following four sources of
law- Vyavahara (existing laws)
Charita (customs and precedents)
Rajasasana (royal orders)
Trail by ordeals were conducted Amputation for theft of less than 40 panas.
to prove one’s guilt or innocence
and penal code was very harsh.
Capital punishment for theft more than 40 panas,
damage to irrigation projects, tax evasion,
harming artisans etc
Trade and Commerce

Important source of revenue; eighteen chief handicrafts of the time were organized
in guilds called srenis.

Each sreni was under its president called pramukha and the alderman called
jetthaka.
Trade was organized in merchant-guilds (sanghas and srenis).

Tamluk (Tamralipti) on the east coast and Broach and Soparaon on the west coast,
most important sea-ports of India in those times.

Guilds had to employ hired Karmakaras or bhritakas on a regular wage and

labour of two categories:
Dasas who were slaves.
Coins and currency

Punch-marked silver coins, Carry the symbols of the peacock, and hill and crescent,
called pana, formed the imperial currency of the Mauryas.

Copper masika was the token currency and quarter pieces of masika was called
kakini.

Copper punch-marked coins were rare.

Money was not only used for trade; even government paid its officers in cash.
Arthasashtra refers to state officers in charge of coinage, suvarnadhyaksa,
laksanadhyaksa and rupadarsaka.
Mauryan Society

Basis of society Mauryan society was based on Varna (caste). Buddhist literature
mentions four castes as -Brahman ,Kshatriya , Vaishya and
Shudras. 15 hinajatis outside Varna were mentioned in Arthasastra
like Nishadas, Chandalas etc.
Megasthenes Megasthenes divided Indian Society into seven classes-
division Philosophers; Cultivators; Herdsman; Artisans and traders;
Soldiers; Overseers; and Councilors.
Mauryan Society

Position of Women occupied relatively a respectable position in Mauryan

Women society.
They have the right to remarry and Niyog.
But they were not allowed to go outside without the prior
permission of her husband.

Kautilya considered divorce as salvation.

Both husband and wife had the right to take divorce.
Kautilya considered women to be Anishkasini and Asuryapansaya.
Mauryan Society
Position of Women
Other Categories of Women
Ganikas or This class included actresses, dancers, musicians and other artists.
public women They were appointed by the state.

Rupajiva They did independent prostitution.

They used to pay tax to the state.
They had their own organisation and its head was known as
Bandhikposhaka.
Peyshalrupa The ones who served the wine. Kautilya suggested they live in the
southern part of the empire.

Samrangniya Kautilya and Megasthenese both mentioned about them

(bodyguards)
They were the female bodyguards of Chandragupta Maurya.
Mauryan Society
Slavery Megasthenes had stated that slavery Kautilya's Arthashastra
did not exist in India, which is not dedicates the thirteenth
proved by historical facts as Dasas chapter on dasas, in his
existed. third book on law
But according to Kautilya, there were nine types of slaves .

According to him Aryans cannot be slaves in any condition. Only

Malechas and non-aryans could be made slaves.

Superstitions Most of Book Fourteen of the Arthashastra called Aupanisadika,

describes a number of rites and practices which are supposed to
produce occult manifestations or miraculous effects.
Mauryan Art
Pottery Northern Black Polished Ware was the
commonly used pottery type during the
Mauryan empire.

Statues Woman at Besnagar, statue at Patna

and elephant statue at Dhauli reveal a
state-of-art sculpture during the
Mauryan times.

Stone Portrait An inscription in Brahmi letters read

of Ashoka at ‘Ranyo Ashoka’ (king Ashoka).
Kanaganahalli
Mauryan Art
Lion Capital of Sarnath National Emblem is adapted from the design of the
Lion Capital of an Ashokan pillar.
Officially adopted on January 26, 1950 along with the
motto “Satyameva Jayate” which has been taken from
Mundaka Upanishad and translates to “truth always
triumphs”.

Lions sit atop a cylindrical abacus, adorned with

representations of- A horse, A bull, A lion and an
elephant, made in high relief.
Wheel with 24 Spokes(Ashok Chakra / Dharma
chakra)- Animals are separated by intervening
chakras.
Chakra also finds representation on the National Flag.
Disintegration of the Mauryan Empire
Mauryan rule was the first experiment in imperial government in India.

The imperial authority of the Mauryas began to weaken with the death of Ashoka
(232 BCE) and finally collapsed in 180 BCE.

Reasons for the Decline

Successors of After Ashoka, the empire got fragmented and there was a quick
Ashoka succession of rulers.

The quick succession of kings made this difficult as none of the

rulers could actually settle down and be in the control of things.

This weakened the imperial control over administration.

Disintegration of the Mauryan Empire

Reasons for the Decline

The policy of
Dhamma came It is not clear whether despite Another related feature of the
into question Ashoka’s personal exhortations political importance of
his successors attached the Dhamma was the existence of a
same kind of importance to large body of officials of the
Dhamma, as he himself had State called Dhamma-
done. mahamattas.
It has been suggested by some
historians that they had
become very powerful and
oppressive during the latter half
of Ashoka’s reign.
Disintegration of the Mauryan Empire

Reasons for the Decline

Weakening of The social basis of the Mauryan bureaucracy was under stress and
Bureaucracy strain resulting in an inefficient administration unable to maintain
social order in general.

Economic The decreasing silver content of the punch- marked coins

Problems attributed to the later Mauryan rulers indicate that debasement in
Mauryas had actually taken place to meet the needs of a depleted
treasury.
Growth of the The political decline of the Mauryas created a situation for many
local politics in of the local powers to rise.
post Mauryan
period
Previous Year
Questions
Prelims

1. According to Kautilya's Arthashastra, which of the following are correct?

1. A person could be a slave as a result of a judicial punishment.
2. If a female slave bore her master a son, she was legally free.
3. If a son born to a female slave was fathered by her master, the son was
entitled to the legal status of the master's son.
Which of the statements given above are correct? ( 2022)
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (D)
Prelims
2. Consider the following pairs:
Site of Ashoka's Location in the State of
major rock edicts
Dhauli Odisha
Erragudi Andhra Pradesh
Jaugada Madhya Pradesh
Kalsi Karnataka
How many pairs given above are correctly matched? (2022)
a) Only one pair
b) Only two pairs
c) Only three pairs
d) All four pairs
Answer: (B)
Prelims

3. Who among the following rulers advised his subjects through this inscription?
(2020)
“Whosoever praises his religious sect or blames other sects out of excessive devotion
to his own sect, with the view of glorifying his own sect, he rather injures his own sect
very severely”
a) Ashoka
b) Samudragupta
c) Harshavardhana
d) Krishnadevaraya
Answer: (A)
Prelims

4. In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is ‘Ranyo Ashoka’ (King

Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka? (2019)
a) Kanganahalli
b) Sanchi
c) Shahbazgarhi
d) Sohgaura
Answer: (A)
Prelims

5. With reference to the guilds (Shrine) of ancient India that played a very important
role in the country’s economy, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. Every guild was registered with the central authority of the State and the king
was the chief administrative authority on them.
2. The wages, rules of work, standards and prices were fixed by the guild.
3. The guild had judicial powers over its own members.
Choose the correct option: (2012)
a) 1 & 2 Only
b) 3 Only
c) 2 & 3 Only
d) 1,2, & 3
Answer:( D)
Prelims

6. Assertion (A): According to Asoka’s edicts social harmony among the people was
more important than religious devotion. (1998)
Reason (R): He spread ideas of equity instead of promotion of religion.

a) Both A and Rare true and R is the correct explanation of A

b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
c) A is true but R is false
d) A is false but R is true
Answer: (A)
Thank you