L.NO.8 MOURYAS AND KUSHANS.pptx

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1. B.J.P.S Samiti’s M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM HIGH SCHOOL Program: Semester: Course: NAME OF THE COURSE 1 MAURYAS AND KUSHANS Mrs Varada Phadke

2. MAURYAS AND KUSHANS The Mauryan kingdom was the first empire in India. Its contribution to various walks of life has been extra ordinary. Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka were the two outstanding emperors of the dynasty. You will learn the lives and achievements of these two Samrats in this chapter. After this we tell you some thing about Kanishka, the famous king of the Kushans. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 2

3. Chandragupta Maurya The credit of establishing Mauryan dynasty goes to King Chandragupta Maurya. When Chandragupta had lost his father and rendered an orphan, Vishnugupta (also know as Chanakya or Kautilya ) a brahmin teacher took him to Takshashila and gave him good education. The objective of this step was to free north-west India from the occupation of the Greeks. Besides, it was the aim of Chanakya to free Magadha kingdom from the misrule of the kings. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 3

4. After completion of education, Chandragupta organised an army at the motivation of Kautilya /Chanakya. He fought the Greeks and sent them out of the Indian border. Then he defeated and killed the king of Magadha and established an empire in North India. Pataliputra (Patna of today) became the capital of Magadha empire. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 4

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6. In the interim, Seleucus , a Greek officer invaded India. Chandragupta defeated him in a humiliating manner. Seleucus entered into a peace treaty with Chandragupta and surrendered Afghanistan and Baluchistan to Chandragupta. In return, Chandragupta gifted 500 elephants trained in warfare to Seleucus . M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 6

7. Seleucus deputed Megasthanes as his ambassador to Chandragupta’s court. Megasthanes studied Indian conditions and wrote a book ‘Indica ’. It records Indian situation as he saw it. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 7

8. Kautilya / Chanakya M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 8

9. Kautilya’s ‘ Arthashastra ’ : Kautilya / Chanakya was a minister of Chandragupta. His book is ‘ Arthashastra ’. This is a practical guide to administrators and kings, their conduct and also how the education should be given importance to. ‘As the king is, so will be his subjects’. King should give priority to security and prosperity of his subjects. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 9

10. Emperor Ashoka After the demise of Chandragupta, his son Bindusara ascended the throne. Ashoka was son of Bindusara. Ashoka holds a unique place among benevolent emperors of the world. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 10

11. Ashoka’s Inscriptions/Edicts There are many inscriptions/ edicts providing many details of Ashoka’s life and achievements which are spread all over the country. Fourteen of his edicts are found in Karnataka. Some areas of Karnataka were included in Ashoka’s rule. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 11

12. The Kalinga war Kalinga war happened to be a turning point in Ashoka’s personal life and his life as a king. About one lakh people died and one and a half lakh soldiers were taken prisoner.s M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 12

13. He was influenced by the Buddhist thought and tried to propagate it among his subjects. He emphasised good conduct more than empty religious practices. ‘Elders and teachers must be respected. Non-violence is the highest virtue . Don’t hurt even the smallest creature’. In this way he propagated universal love and brotherhood. Any other king so idealistic and inclusive in thought is hard to come across all over the world. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 13

14. Propagation of faith Ashoka convened a Buddhist conference at Pataliputra. He deputed ambassadors of faith to countries outside India. He got statement of his faith etched on rocks and pillars of stone. Those statements of faith were very broad based, all-inclusive and secular. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 14

15. Sanchi Stupa, Madhyapradesh M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 15

16. Monolith pillar Lion capital M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 16

17. MAURYAN ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM Central Government King was the highest authority of governance. All powers were centered in the hands of the king. There used to be a cabinet of ministers who had advisory capacity. There were high profile officials to take care of departmental affairs. There would be a ‘Dharma Mahamatra [special minister for Dharma (code of conduct)] who would take care of the orphans, widows, senior and aged persons. The kingdom was divided into many provinces for the convenience of administration. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 17

18. Local Governance Head of a village was called ‘ Gramika ’. He would carry on the governance of the village with the help of village elders. Villages were self governed to a large extent. ‘Gram Sabha ’ (village council) would decide village problems. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 18

19. Architecture and Iconography Some ‘ stupas ’ and ‘ viharas’ built during Ashoka’s time still survive. They present an idea of the high level to which architecture and iconography had developed: Viharas ( Budhist or Jain monasteries) and Stupas (Buddhist monument/a place where Buddhist relics are housed) at Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh caves in the rocks, Monolith pillars (they are 30 feet tall) known for the smoothness of their surface are examples of the glory of the times . M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 19

20. Ashoka pillar has at its upper stair (abacus) the figures of a bull and statues of four lions facing four directions. At Saranath museum the lion capitol which is adopted as our National emblem is preserved. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 20

21. Decline of Maurya empire Maurya empire declined in 50 years after Ashoka’s demise. Some reasons adduced for this to happen are: The vast empire was difficult to manage due to lack of facilities of communication and commuting • kings after Ashoka were weak • The empire fell apart because of internal squabbles • Invasions on the north-western part of the country became frequent The chief of the Mauryan military killed the last of the Maurya kings and occupied the throne. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 21

22. THE KUSHANS Kanishka : 2000 years ago Gandhara (now in Afghanistan) was ruled by the Kushan dynasty. As time passed, some parts of India came under their rule. Kanishka was the most powerful king. He carried on wars with neighbours and expanded his kingdom. His kingdom spread till Bihar in the north India. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 22

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24. Art and Architecture Kaniska built many stupas. The stupa that he built at ‘ Purushapura ’ had thirteen floors. Spire of the stupa was 400 ft. tall. This was considered a wonder during those days. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 24

25. Kanishka was a patron of art. He invited artists from countries outside India. As a result, artefacts of various art-styles contributed to synthesise and evolved a new style called ‘Mathura style’. Gandhara style also emerged during this period. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 25

26. A stone image of Kanishka is discovered at Mathura. Its head is missing. Kanishka’s name is etched on the pedestal . M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 26

27. Coins of Kanishka M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 27

28. Literature Kanishka patronised scholars and litterateurs. Aswaghosha was a great poet and adorned Kanishka’s court. He wrote ‘ Buddha Charita ’ an epic written in Sanskrit centered around Lord Buddha’s life. Nagarjuna was a great philosopher and scientist of Kanishka’s court. Vasumitra , a scholar, was the head of the ‘ Bouddha Maha Sabha ’ (Buddhist conference). M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 28

29. Charaka was Kanishka’s doctor. ‘ Charaka Samhite ’, a popular Ayurvedic work was written by him. Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine in India. M.V.HERWADKAR ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL 29