The mauryan empire

presentation on Mauryan Empire for 1st semester MA Ancient Indian history, culture, and archaeology Seminar.

1. THE MAURYAN EMPIRE ~ NAMAN SHRIVASTAVA MA AIHCA I SEMESTER

2. Sources Literary Arthashastra Mudrarakshasa Indica Pali Texts Archaeological Rock edicts and inscriptions Material remains and coins

3. Rise of MAGADH

4. The Mauryan Dynasty 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 . The Parishishtaparvan , on the other hand, describes Chandragupta as the son of the daughter of a chief of a village of peacock tamers ( mayura-poshakas ). The Mudrarakshasa refers to Chandragupta as being of low social origin .

5. CHRONOLOGY OF MAURYAN DYNASTY 321-297 Chandragupta Maurya 297-272 Bindusara 268-232 Asoka 232-224 Dasaratha 224-215 Samprati 215-202 Salisuka 202-195 Devavarman 195-187 Satadhanvan 187-185 Brihadratha

6. Chandragupta Maurya Invasion of Alexander the Great ( 326 B.C.E ) Nandas defeat (322 B.C.) Capital – Patliputra   Kautilya Chandragupta’s advisor Defeated the General Seleucus Nikator (305 B.C.E ) Megasthenese Ambassador 301 BCE – bhadrabahu – jainism – Sravanbelgola Unified northern India .

7. Chanakya , Kautilya , or Vishnugupta A teacher , philosopher, economist, jurist and royal advisor. Chandragupta overthrowing the Nandas with the help of a Brahmana of Taxila Wrote The Treatise on Material Gain or the Arthashastra Chanakya niti Thomas Trautmann  identifies four distinct accounts of the ancient Chanakya -Chandragupta  partnership.

8. Bindusar Patronised Ajivikas Ambassadors Succession Conflict The  Mahabhashya  names Chandragupta's successor as  Amitra-ghata  ( Sanskrit  for "slayer of enemies")

9. Ashoka Battle at Kalinga (265 to 264 B.C.E .)- 8 th year Religious conversion after the gruesome battle of Kalinga in 262 BCE . Series of edicts Dhamma 1837- James Prinsep – deciphered

10. Later Mauryas Lasted 137 years, slowly disintegrated and died out within 50 Last ruler- Brihadratha Assassinated by Pushyamitra - SHUNGA DYNASTY Reasons : pacifist policy, centralisation , weak successor , Brahamin reaction

11. Administration Saptanga theory or Theory of 7 elements of State: Swamin (King) Amatya (Ministers) Janapada (Territory and Population) Durga (Fort) Kosa (Treasury) Bala / sena (Army) & Mitra (Ally )

12. Administrative unit Chakra ( province ) : Rashtrapala /kumara Ahar / Vishya / Mandala (district) : Pradeshika & Rajuka ( land revenue) Sangrahana ( group of villages) : Gopa Gram : Gramika

13. Provincial Administration The capital region of Prachi ( Pataliputra ) was directly administered Four Provinces: Dakshinapatha (Capital- Suvarnagiri ) Avantirashtraha (Capital- Ujjain) Uttarapatha (Capital- Taxila ) Kalinga (Capital- Tosali ) Governors- Royal Princes

14. Municipal Administration Megasthenes : Six committees of five members each . Related to industrial arts. Attend to the entertainment of foreigners Registration of Births and Deaths. Trade and commerce. Supervises manufactured articles. Payment of taxes.

15. Revenue Revenue collection was the responsibility of a collector-general ( S amaharta ) supervise all the provinces, fortified towns , mines, forests, trade routes and others Sannidhata : (Chief treasury officer ) was responsible for keeping a record of the tax revenues.. Source- Agriculture Lands owned by the king, forests , mines and manufacture and salt, on which the state held a monopoly

16. Military Under Senapati According to Megasthenes : divided into 6 committees of 5 members each . Supervision of Naval fleet. Supervision of War materials . Infantry . Cavalry . Chariots . Elephant corps

17. Inscriptions Edicts scattered in more than 30 places in India, Nepal, Pakistan, & Afghanistan. Written mostly in Prakrit , Greek and Aramaic . Script- Brahmi & Kharoshti advocating peace and the pursuit of dhamma Two titles— Devanampiya (beloved of the gods) and Piyadasi (he who looks on auspiciousness)

18. There are 33 edicts comprising : 14 Major Rock Edicts, 2 known as Kalinga edicts, 7 Pillar Edicts, some Minor Rock Edicts and a few Minor Pillar Inscriptions. versions of Minor Rock Edict I containing the personal name of the king — Ashoka —were found, first at Maski , and later at Udegolam , Nittur , and Gujjara

19. Firozshah Tughlaq – Meerath and Topera to Delhi and Firozabad “ Shaar -e- kuna “ bilingual Kharoshti – Maansehra and Shahbaazgarhi Prayag pillar Edict - Akbar- koshambhi to Allahbad , Queen’s inscription : Kaaruvaki and son T eevar | samudragupta - harishen | Jahangir Sohagura - only copper plate inscription

20. Notable achievements convening of the 3 rd Buddhist sangha (council) in 250 BCE in the capital Pataliputra to expand the reach of Buddhism - send missions Mahinda and Sanghamitta , to Sri Lanka to propagate Buddhism Trade with foreign flourished Art and Culture : Yaksha and yakshni statue Constructed stupas and caves | Barabar caves | Lomesh rishi | Sanchi , Barhut | Pillars