A PowerPoint presentation on The Mauryan

Empire by
Swapnil Deshlahare and Roll No 24518007 of 1st
Semester BA History (H)
 THE MAURYAN EMPIRE

• The Mauryan Empire was the first empire in India which was established by The
Chandragupta Maurya. He established his vast empire in the parts of Afghanistan,
Pakistan, Bangladesh , Andhra and some region of south Shravanabelgola.
According, to Buddhist tradition, he was a member of Moriya clan. He was known
for his Governance and Centralized administration.
• After Chandragupta Maurya the empire was succeeded by his son Bindusara. He
was famous for expanding territory and friendly relation with the Greek . For
instance he has brought sweet wine, dried figs and a sophist from Antiochus.
• The Third Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great was known for annexed Kalinga,
implementation of Dhamma from Major rock and pillar edicts. What makes it
interesting the dhamma policy is relevant even today as it teaches peace,
tolerance and ethnical governance.
 Chandragupta Maurya (321-297 BC)
Bindusara (297 -272 BC)

Susima Ashoka(272 -232 BC ) Tissa Other Sons

Kunala Jalauka Trivara

Dasaratha (224-216 BC) Samprati (216 -207 BC)

Genealogical Table OF Maurya

1. Kautilya’s Arthashastra
• Kautilya’s Arthashastra were sets of books which discuss on various topic such as
administration, society, culture and economic policy
• It was written in Sanskrit by Kautilya (Chanakya) in 1-3 rd BCE
• Kautilya guided Chandragupta Maurya to create the Mauryan Empire. He was also
one of the famous minister and appointed as chief adviser of Chandragupta
Maurya period.
• Arthashastra can be divided into 15 books, 150 Chapter and 180 topics. Topic 19-
56 of 36 Chapter on Activities of Superintendents was the largest books among all.
2. Indika of Megasthenese
 Megasthenese was a Greek ambassador of Seleucus 1 Nicator visited India around 302
BCE.
 His account found in fragmented then also it tell us about society, polity, culture and
geography. Those include historian like Diodorus, Strabo, Arrian, and Pliny.
 From his accounts its clear that there was an expansion of trade with western world and the
exchange of messenger between Maurya and Hellenistic kings.
 This was the time when western world talks about kings like Chandragupta Maurya and
Bindusara; also had a capital Patiputra.
3. Ashoka’s Inscription
 These inscription were written in Brahmi script and were found in Northern and Southern India (primary
Andhra and Karnataka).
 Ashokan Inscription are divided into two categories: Major 14 Rock edicts and Minor Rock edicts. What makes
unique in this edicts is that it follows a conventional pattern and revel the voice and ideas of Ashoka.
 The Major Pillar Rock Edicts – North India

The Minor Rock Edicts – Andhra & Karnataka (mainly).

1. Military organization:
 Strong military – divided into 6 boards and 5 member each

1.Admiralty
2. Transport & service army
3.Infantry
4. Cavalry
5. Chariots
6. Elephants

 Senabhakta – villagers were required to provide food and shelter to the royal army
passing through their area
2. Imperial Administration
β The king was the head of administration all the decision made by him was final. He was guided by his
ministers; led wars made plans with Senapati.
β Province such as Texila, Ujjaini, Kosala and Avanti were governed by kumara or Prince. But the capital i.e.
Pataliputra was governed by the king.
3. Taxation
Centre collected taxes from their citizen in many ways:
α Baga – It was the main source of income for government. It was a form of land tax generally, people had to
give one sixth to one fourth.
α Pranaya – It was tax given by peasants during the time of emergency period they had to gave one-third or
one-fourth of their produce, depend upon their fertility of soil.
α Udakabhaga – It means water tax. A tax levied on irrigated land, this represent higher tax on land. A had to
pay this tax if he use irrigation and this may ranging from 1/5 th -1/3rd of the produce.
α Pindkara - a tax levied on villages, asserted by the peasants and customary in nature .
α Bali – a tax levied on peasants when the Mauryan king/kumara conquered territories . Usually they had to
gave 1/6th-1/4th of their total produce.
4. Rural Government
 At village level administration was control by Gramika (headmen) and guied by
his Gramavriddhas (village elder). All local problems of the villages were control
by them.
 An officer was appointed named Gopa whose work was to look up 5-10 villages;
and above Gopa their was Sthanika who look up a district (Janapada).
 All these officer were carefully checked/ monitored by Pradestri and Samabarta.
 ECONOMY
Mauryan Economy was based on three factor i.e. Agriculture, Trade and Craft
1. Agriculture –
a. Mauryan empire had large fertile lands supported for agriculture not only in
some of areas where there were lake of water supply they had managed to built
canals, lakes and well . So they were growing crops like rice, wheat and millets.
b. Taxes were imposed on the peasants who use irrigation facilities usually it ranges
from 1/5th to1/3rd of their produce.
c. Landed peasants had slaves and heired labour to cultivate their land.
d. In most of the cases farmer had to pay taxes for instances, during emergency
time they had to pay Pranaya tax .
2. Trade
• The Maurya had a extensive trade networks. They had traded with the countries like
Srilanka, Burma, and Bactria.
• Mauryan Empire traded items like cotton silk, cotton spices etc. They also built roads to
promote trade.
• The main trade of northern India were the river ganga and Himalayan foothills.
Megasthenese-
He mention that there was a land route which links northwestern India with Pataliputra.
Similarly, in south central and south east India was connects via Kalinga. The long land
west route were linking via. Taxila.
3. Crafts
The Mauryan period saw the emergence of metallurgists, potters, painter, textile
worker, leather worker etc.
State employed artisan like Shipbuilder, Stone builder and Armourer were exempt to
pay taxes primary because they compulsory labour of the state.
 SOCIETY

1. The Mauryan empire follows a rigid varna system based on birth i.e .
Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishyas and Shudra. In social order first three
were dvijas (twice born) but Vaishyas were considered as inferior.
2. Buddhism and Jainism began to influence but the Veda survived.
Shiva and Samkarshana were its central diety.
3. By 4th century BC Buddhism emerge as different religion and it
concentrated to the region Magadha and Koshala.
4. In Mauryan time especially Ashoka they gave respect to other religion.
 CULTURE

1. The culture of Chandragupta Maurya's era, which roughly spanned from 321 BCE to 297 BCE, was a
blend of various traditions and practices. During his reign, the Maurya Empire became one of the
largest empires in ancient India, and Chandragupta played a significant role in shaping its culture..
Here are key cultural aspects from that time:

a. Religion - Chandragupta to begin with observed conventional Vedic faith, but he subsequently
became a follower of Jainism. According to some ancient bills, he abdicated his throne in choose of his
son, Bindusara, and became a disciple of Jain monk Bhadrabahu, chickening out to Karnataka where he
spent his very last years. - Jainism flourished at some point of his reign, and the Mauryas have been
known for their guide of non secular tolerance. This duration additionally noticed the upward push of
Buddhism underneath the subsequent ruler, Ashoka, who become Chandragupta's grandson.
b. Economic Culture
The Maurya Empire had a well-structured economy with a strong agricultural base. Chandragupta's
rule promoted the development of trade routes, both land and sea, which connected India with the
Mediterranean and Southeast Asia.
This allowed for the exchange of goods, ideas, and culture. The empire's economy was also marked by a sound system of taxation,
which helped finance extensive public works and infrastructural development.
2. Ashoka policy of Dhamma
 Ashoka, the Mauryan prince of the time around 269 BC AD had the passed on the throne. Being a Mauryan
prince Ashoka has been considered by many historians as the most noteworthy among all the ancient kings.
His ideal of Dhamma became quite popular and consequently gave scholars the chance to reflect upon it.
The word Dhamma in Prakrit originated from the Sanskrit Dhnrma. The word has different meanings such as
virtues, moral life, purity, and so on but the most appropriate way to grasp the idea of Dhamma is reading
especially the edicts of Asoka. The edicts were primarily composed to broadcast among all the peoples in the
empire the policies of Dhamma.
 This is why most of the edicts talk about Dhamma, about the points like what Asoka was that his
subjects should follow Dhamma and that the tasks concerning the state were also in line with the
principles of Dhamma. To make the principles of Dhamma widespread and invisible to all the Ashoka
had edicts or inscriptions put up at the most important places throughout the empire and Himself
sent messengers of Dhamma to the rest of the world. We must remember that Dhamma was not a
mere religious faith or practice; therefore, we should not translate Dhamma (or its Sanskrit
equivalent Dharma) as religion. The purpose was not also to bring in an arbitrary formulated royal
mode. Dhamma's domain extended to the sphere of interhuman interaction and activities in a broad-
based manner. And similarly, his Dham came in an intellectual effort of carefully combining different
accepted standards in his era. Hence, to understand why and how Asoka devised the Dhamma and
what his interpretation of it is, one indeed has to acknowledge the characteristics of his time of life
and to consult Buddhist, Brahmanic, and various other texts that are rich in norms of social behavior
 VISUAL ART

1.Archietecture

The architecture of the Mauryan Empire reflects a blend of indigenous traditions and influences from Persian and Hellenistic cultures,
owing to the empire's extensive trade and diplomatic connections. Here are the key features and examples of Mauryan architecture:

• 1. Pillars and Edicts

• Stone Pillars: The Mauryan Empire is famous for its polished stone pillars, often made of sandstone. These pillars were erected across
the empire, primarily to propagate the teachings of Emperor Ashoka (r. 268–232 BCE) and his adherence to Buddhism.

• -Design: The pillars are monolithic (carved from a single piece of stone) and stand up to 40–50 feet tall. They are highly polished,
giving them a glossy appearance.

• -Capitals: The tops of the pillars are adorned with intricately carved animal capitals, such as lions, bulls, or elephants, which are
symbolic in Buddhism and Hinduism. The most famous example is the Lion Capital of Ashoka at Sarnath, which is now the national
emblem of India.

• -Inscriptions: The pillars often bear inscriptions of Ashoka's edicts, written in Brahmi script, promoting moral and ethical principles,
non-violence, and respect for all religions
• 2. Palaces and Royal Buildings

• - The Mauryan capital, Pataliputra was home to grand palaces and administrative buildings.

• - Materials: The palaces were constructed using wood, stone, and brick. Greek historian Megasthenes described the
Mauryan palace as an architectural marvel, comparable to the palaces of Persia.

• - Design: The palaces featured large pillared halls, courtyards, and intricate carvings. The use of polished stone and
wooden pillars was common.

• - Example: The remains of the 80-pillared hall at Kumrahar (Patna) provide evidence of the grandeur of Mauryan palace
architecture.
• 3. Rock-Cut Architecture

• - The Mauryan period saw the beginning of rock-cut architecture in India, where structures were carved directly into
rock faces.

• - *Example: The **Barabar Caves* in Bihar, commissioned by Ashoka for Ajivika monks, are the earliest examples of
rock-cut caves in India. These caves feature polished interiors and simple, yet elegant, designs
2. Stupa
The architecture of the Mauryan Empire reflects a blend of indigenous traditions and influences from
Persian and Hellenistic cultures, owing to the empire's extensive trade and diplomatic connections. Here
are the key features and examples of Mauryan architecture
• Palaces and Royal Buildings*

• - The Mauryan capital, *Pataliputra* (modern-day Patna), was home to grand palaces and administrative
buildings.

• - *Materials*: The palaces were constructed using wood, stone, and brick. Greek historian Megasthenes
described the Mauryan palace as an architectural marvel, comparable to the palaces of Persia.

• - *Design*: The palaces featured large pillared halls, courtyards, and intricate carvings. The use of polished stone
and wooden pillars was common.

• - *Example: The remains of the **80-pillared hall* at Kumrahar (Patna) provide evidence of the grandeur of
Mauryan palace architecture.
• 3. Rock-Cut Architecture*

• - The Mauryan period saw the beginning of rock-cut architecture in India, where structures were carved directly into
rock faces.

• - *Example: The **Barabar Caves* in Bihar, commissioned by Ashoka for Ajivika monks, are the earliest examples of
rock-cut caves in India. These caves feature polished interiors and simple, yet elegant, designs.

• Artistic and Symbolic Elements*

• - Mauryan architecture often incorporated symbolic and artistic elements, reflecting the empire's religious and cultural
ethos.

• - *Animal Motifs*: The use of animals like lions, elephants, and bulls in pillars and capitals symbolized power, royalty,
and religious significance.

• - *Floral Patterns*: Lotus motifs and other floral designs were commonly used in carvings and decorations.
3. Sculpture
The *Maurya period* (circa 322–185 BCE) is a significant era in Indian art history,
marking the beginning of monumental stone sculpture and architecture in the Indian
subcontinent. Under the patronage of the Mauryan Empire, particularly during the
reign of Emperor Ashoka (circa 268–232 BCE), sculpture flourished, reflecting both
religious and secular themes. The art of this period is characterized by its grandeur,
precision, and the use of stone as a primary medium, which was a departure from
earlier traditions that relied on perishable materials like wood and clay.
1. Themes*: - *Religious Themes: The sculptures often reflected Buddhist
iconography, as Emperor Ashoka was a great patron of Buddhism. Symbols like
the **Dharma Chakra (wheel of law), the **lotus*, and animal motifs were
commonly used. - *Secular Themes: The art also included depictions of nature,
animals, and human figures, such as **Yakshas* and *Yakshis* (nature spirits).
2. *Monumental Scale*: - The Mauryan period is known for its large-scale
sculptures, such as the *Ashokan pillars* and *capitals*, which were erected
across the empire to spread Buddhist teachings and royal edicts.
 DECLINE OF MAURYAN EMPIRE

The decline of the Mauryan Empire, one of the largest and most powerful empires in ancient
India, was a complex process influenced by a combination of internal and external factors.
Here are the key reasons for its decline:
1. Weak Successors after Ashoka- The Mauryan Empire reached its zenith under Emperor
Ashoka (r. 268–232 BCE), who expanded the empire and promoted Buddhism. However, after
Ashoka's death, the empire was ruled by weaker successors who lacked his administrative
and military capabilities. This led to a gradual loss of control over the vast empire.
2. Administrative Challenges- The Mauryan Empire was vast, stretching from present-day
Afghanistan to Bangladesh and from the Himalayas to the Deccan Plateau. Managing such a
large territory was difficult, especially with limited communication and transportation
systems. Over time, provincial governors and local officials became increasingly autonomous,
weakening central authority.
3. Military Weakness
• The Mauryan military, once a formidable force, became less effective under later rulers.
The empire faced invasions and rebellions, and the lack of a strong military response
eroded its territorial integrity.
• 5. Religious and Social Changes
• Ashoka's promotion of Buddhism and his policy of non-violence (ahimsa) may have
contributed to a decline in the martial spirit of the empire. Additionally, the rise of
Brahmanical Hinduism and the decline of Buddhism as a unifying force led to social and
religious fragmentation.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

• HISTORY OF ANCIENT INDIA – RAMA SHANKAR TRIPATHI