Mauryan Empire

(1) Instability of North west India Mahajanapads of Kamboja, Madra, and Gandhara were continuously fighting with each other led to disruption of local power, Persian invasions like Cyrus destroying the city of Kapisha (lying south east of the Hindu Kush mountains) Darius, controlling Punjab, the west of Indus, and Sindh.

(2) Macedonian Alexander’s invasion encouraged political unification of north India under the Mauryas who after conquering over local rulers decided to leave India  as his Army were exhausted after years of battles

Effects of Alexander’s Invasion

• Alexander’s invasion augmented political unification in northern India under the Mauryas.
• After the invasion, there was direct contact between India and Greece.
• Post the invasion there were Indo-Greek rulers in the northwest part of India.
• Grecian impact on Indian art can be seen in the Gandhara school of art.

(3) Powerful Mentor in Chanakya: ChandraGupta had successful Mentor In Chanakya using his intelligence network, gathered many young men from across Magadha and other provinces, who were upset over the corrupt and oppressive rule of King Dhana as well as the resources necessary for his army to fight a long series of battles These men included the former general of Taxila, accomplished students of Chanakya etc . When Battle was announced Maurya’s general and spies bribed the Nanda’s corrupt general, and created an atmosphere of civil war in the kingdom, which culminated in the death of the heir to the throne.

According to Kautilya a state comprises seven inter-related and interlocked angas

(i) Swami (The Ruler)(ii) Amatya (The Minister)(iii) Janapada (The Population)(iv) Durga (The Fortified Capital)(v) Kosha (The Treasury)(vi) Danda (The Army)(vii) Mitra (Ally and Friend)                                                                                                                                                                                                                      Trick[O1] 

Concept of Kingship

Mauryans had a Highly Centralized Kingship, King used to select ministers. the supreme authority of judiciary, civil and military administration and Legislation However, he was not a complete autocrat Kautilya’s Arthashastra does not believe in the ‘Theory of Divine’ origin of the Monarch.

• Prabhu Shakti (the power of the army and the treasury),
• Manta Shakti (advice of wise men, especially the council of ministers) and
• Utsah Shakti (charisma).

Decentralization

Altough in Outlook everthing was centralized but in pRactise largeness of the empire, it was very difficult for any king to control its far-flung areas. Empire was divided in The First and Second Separate Rock edicts and the Brahamagiri Rock-3 edict of Maurya King Ashoka mention that his kingdom was divided into five provinces

City Administration

Under mauryas was also very extensive. The Greek envoy to Chandragupta Maurya’s court, Megasthanes gave detailed account of city administration of Pataliputra and other cities. The administration of city was supervised by an organization of 30 members. This organization consisted 6 committees,5 members in each committee. Each committee looked after different responsibilities.

Trick[O2] 

 Mauryan Ministerial Divisions

Maurays had the Most Extensive Ministerial Staff to Exist in the Indian Subcontinent Their selection was based on a process called ‘Upadhashudham’ and on the basis of ability and irrespective of caste, religion, or sect. Basically, an interview test based on 3 factors: However, its important to note that they held office at the pleasure of Monarch. 4 Councils Existed during the Muryan Peirod

1] Dharmopadha (test of moral values),

2] Arthopadha (related to financial wrongdoings), and

3] Kamopadha (related to sexual wrongdoings).

Mauryas were Perhaps the First Kingdom where Ministers formed a council, there was concept of joint responsibility as well as Individual Responsibilities

Important Departments 

Revenue and Taxation  

Chanakya or Kutilya was the prime minister of Chandragupta Maurya at the time. He was known for his intellect and he is the one who devised the revenue system..

While Chanakya wrote the duties of the Two main important officers at the Top lelvel were Sannidhata (treasurer) and Samaharta (Collector general) while the lower-level officials included Sthanikas and Gopas, Agronomoi. He also mentioned the items on which the revenue will be implied.  Different Taxes that were charged during this time included

Judicial Administration

The emperor was the highest authority in delivering justice hOwever there were many Officers assisting him – Vyavharika was the Chief Justice and Pradesikas and Rajukas helped the emperor in Law and Order.

Severity of Punishment: Convicts with criminal charges were usually punished by death sentence. Fines, life imprisonment, dismemberment were other forms of punishments. Districts and villages had their own courts. Village disputes were tried in gram panchayaths.

Kautilya refers to the existence of two kinds of courts. Dharmasthaniya courts which settled civil disputes and Kantakashodhana courts investigated criminal cases

Police and Espionage

Mauryan Empire was truly a Police State. Police duties were performed by many individuals.  Apart from the Police theier existed secret police to have strict vigilance on the subjects Main Officers of Police Department , Dandapala While exclusively the Police department was headed by him who the chief of Police, he was assisted by Nayaka, Dauvarika (was in charcge of police duites in the Royal Palace) and Antarvansika (A lady police officer to maintain vigilance on the ladies of the Royal household).

Military

Army While King was the Commander in Chief Megasthenese mentions a committee with six subcommittees for coordinating military activity

Military Strength: There is no definite source which could provide exact information about the strength of the Mauryan army. But some references of Arthashastra and references of some Greek writers throw light on Mauryan army. According to Pliny The Mauryan army included 6 Lakh infantry, 30,000 cavalry, 9000 war elephants, 1000 chariots and other things such as transport equipments. There was a War Council, which was further divided into 6 sub-councils

 [O1] 7 Elements of Mauran Empire as Described by kautilya

Mere Sw ami Ji ka naam DK hai aur wo yahn ke DM hai

SwSwami (The Ruler)

AmiAmatya (The Minister)

JiJanapada (The Population)

D Durga (The Fortified Capital)

K Kosha (The Treasury)

D Danda (The Army)

M Mitra (Ally and Friend)

 [O2]to remember City Commitees of Maurya

V (Visitors) 

I (Industrial)

S(Statistical)

Tra (TRADE) 

Ma( Manufacturing) 

X (Tax)

Agriculture

The mainstay of the economy under the Mauryas was agriculture, though trade was becoming increasingly more important. It would seem that cultivators formed a majority of the population. Advances in agriculture during Mauryas and various  Irrigation facilities were provided by the state

Measurement of Land : land suitable for agriculture was measured and channels were inspected through which water was distributed.

Expansion to non – agricultural areas large no of virgin lands(shunyanivesha) brought under cultivation

Water reservoirs and dams were built by the state for irrigation. : Junagarh inscription of Rudradaman mentions that Pushyagupta (Chandragupta’s governors) was responsible for building a dam on Sudarshana Lake near Girnar in Kathiawad.

Trade 

There was a brisk internal trade among different regions, in various types of goods. External trade was carried on with foreign countries, particularly with the Hellenic (Greek) world and Burma to some extent. Balance of Trade was with Mauryas . The Mauryas had a far-faring trade relations.. There were a variety of goods being exported thereby generating revenue. The exports were items of luxury like fine muslin, spices and exotic foods. Scientific knowledge and technology with Europe and West Asia also took place.

The development of trade became profitable for the empire and eventually a separate department looked after trade and commerce Reason for this extensive Trade in this time were

Maurya Empire’s political unity and internal peace encouraged the expansion of trade in India.

Standardized Punch marked coins ensured trading was safe from Forgery : Chandragupta Maurya established a single currency across India, a network of regional governors and administrators, and a civil service to provide justice and security for merchants, farmers, and traders.

Extensive Transit Infrastructure :  Ashoka sponsored the construction of thousands of roads, waterways, canals, rest houses, hospitals, and other types of infrastructure. There were many foreign traders who took up residence in Mauryan cities. Services of forest-guards were provided on hire to protect the merchants from robbers

New Trade Routes : The Maurya dynasty built the Grand Trunk Road, one of Asia’s oldest and longest trade networks, connecting the north of the Indian subcontinent from east to west.

The Uttarapath and the Dakshinapath routes were like a colourful thread connecting different parts of the subcontinent to each other wre United under the Mauryas. These two great highways connected major centres of North – South ( Rajagriha in Magadha, followed through Ujjaini and Narmada valley to Pratisthana) and East West (Taxila to Pataliputra and further east)  Trade to Each other

Preoccupied Caves Shelters – They are big sandstone rock Shelters . Even temporary pits were used. People also took shelter in trees for protection from animals that couldn’t climb them. 

Religion 

The people of the Mauryan Empire worshipped Buddhism, Jainism, Ajvika, and Hinduism. The third leader, Ashoka, truly believed that religion is what could save the empire but it is also what caused its downfall. 

Hinduism Despite increased popularity of Buddhism and Jainism, Hinduism remained popular too. Hinduism underwent changes during this era. Though Yajanas were performed but animal sacrifices were stopped.

Buddhism  Buddhism flourished during Ashoka’s realm. He sent his son Mahinda and daughter Sangamitra to Sri Lanka to propagate Buddhism. Ashoka is also credited for construction of 84000 stupas. Ashoka also convened the Third Buddhist Council Ashokan edicts were known as the buddhist monuments that the people of the mauryan empire worshipped. Ashoka believed that these edicts could be the religion that the people can worship and bring people together. These edicts represent the first physical evidence of the buddhist and Hindu culture and religion.

Jainism

Growing merchant community made religious grants to Jainism which ensured the religion prospered. Chandragupta Maurya became a Jain follower and sent missions to the South to propagate the religion further. The decline in animal sacrifices was a result of increasing influence of Jainism and Buddhism.

Varna System 

Chaturvarna system continued to govern the society with Brahmanical supremacy.  Megasthenese mentioned that during this period, the society was comprising seven castes,

Condition of Women 

A married woman had her own property in the form of bride-gift (stree-dhana). The widows had given respect in the society.

Salvery

Megasthenese mentioned that slavery did not exist in India. However, this seems false

We did not get any evidence of paintings from lower or middle paleolithic age yet. In the Upper Palaeolithic period, we see a proliferation of artistic activities. First discovery of rock paintings in the world was made in India (1867-68) by an Archaeologist, Archibold Carlleyle, twelve years before the discovery of Altamira in Spain (site of oldest rock paintings in the world). In India, remnants of rock paintings have been found on the walls of caves situated in several districts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Bihar, and Uttarakhand. Subjects of early works confined to three categories: Man, Animal, and Geometric symbols.