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INDIA CIVILISATION
Maurya Empire is one of the grandest dynasties in India civilisation, considering its widely-spread territory
and the beginning of faith in Buddhism among rulers in this dynasty. Ashoka the Great, the renowned greatest
ancient Indian emperor, was born in this dynasty.
RISE OF MAURYA EMPIRE
(Retrieved from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Maurya_Dynasty_in_265_BCE.jpg)
Mauryan empire at its maximum extent
Maurya Empire was ruling the ancient India from 321 to 185 BC. Having its capital at Pataliputra, the empire was
founded in 322 BC by Chandragupta Maurya, who had overthrown the Nanda Dynasty and rapidly expanded his power
westwards across central and western India taking advantage of the disruptions of local powers due to withdrawa
westward by Alexander the Greats Greek and Persian
armies(http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Mauryan_Empire)
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. With an area of 5 million sq km, Maurya Empire was one of the worlds largest empires in its time. At its peak period,
Mauryan empire stretched to the north along the natural boundaries of the Himalayas, and to the east into the present
place called Assam. (http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Mauryan_Empire)To the west, it had invaded beyond
modern Pakistan. The empire was expanded into Indias central and southern regions by emperors Chandragupta and
his successor, Bindusara. Ashoka the Great ( Bindusaras son) later conquered small, unexplored tribal regions nea
Kalinga. (http://www.bharatadesam.com/history/maurya_empire.php) One of the greatest figures of wisdom and
knowledge in the Indian history is Chanakya. He is estimated to have lived from 350 - 283 B.C. Chanakya is touted as the
"Pioneer Economist of India". Chanakya was the adviser and Prime Minister of Emperor Chandragupta. He was a
professor at the University of Takshila (located in present day Pakistan) and was an expert in commerce, warfare and
economics. His famous works include Chanakya Neeti, Arthashastra and Neetishastra. Chanakya is also known by the
name of Kautilya and Vishnugupta as is mentioned in his text. His famous work called Arthashastra is a classic example
of statecraft and politics and is read in Europe even today. It basically consists of the principles of politics and how the
state works. An able ruler has to be a ruthless leader to make sure that the state works smoothly and efficiently. The
legends associated with Chanakya are very interesting and provide a testimony of his
greatness(http://www.iloveindia.com/history/ancient-india/maurya-
dynasty/chanakya.html)
.
(Retrieved from: http://www.iloveindia.com/history/ancient-india/maurya-dynasty/chanakya.html
ADMINISTRATION
The empire was divided into four provinces, with each of them shaping like a giant crescents, and the imperial capital
at Pataliputra. From Ashokan Edicts, the names of these four are Tosali (east), Ujjain (west), Suvarnagiri (south) and
Taxila (north). The head of provincial administration was Kumara (royal prince), who governed the provinces as kings
representative. Kumara was assisted by Mahamatyas and council of ministers. Historians theorise that the organization
of the Empire was in line with the extensive bureaucracy described by Kautilya in the Arthashastra: a sophisticated civil
service governed everything from municipal hygiene to international trade. The expansion and defense of the empire
was made possible by what appears to have been the largest standing army of its time. According to Megasthenes, the
empire wielded a military of 600,000 infantry, 30,000 cavalry, and 9,000 war elephants. A vast espionage system
collected intelligence for both internal and external security purposes. Having renounced offensive warfare and
expansionism, Ashoka nevertheless continued to maintain this large army, to protect the Empire and instill stability and
peace across West and South Asia.
(Retrieved from:http://www.bharatadesam.com/history/maurya_empire.php)
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The Edicts of Ashoka are a collection of 33 inscriptions on the Pillars of Ashoka,
made by Emperor Ashoka during his reign. The edicts describe in detail the first
wide expansion of Buddhism through the sponsorship of Ashoka. These inscriptions
proclaim Ashokas beliefs in Buddhist concept of dharma and his efforts to develop
dharma through his kingdom. Although Buddhism and the Buddha are mentioned,
the edicts focus on social and moral precepts, rather than specific religious
practices or the philosophical dimension of Buddhism.The inscriptions revolve
around a few recurring themes: Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism, the description
of his efforts to spread Buddhism, his moral and religious precepts, and his social and animal welfare program. During
his reign, Ashoka began displaying religious tolerance, granting animal rights, building hospitals for people and animals,
treating his subjects as equals regardless of caste or creed, and promoting non-violence and republicanism. Ashoka's
inscriptions chiseled on rocks and stone pillars located at strategic locations throughout his empire--such as Lampaka
(Laghman in modern Afghanistan), Mahastan (in modern Bangladesh), and Brahmagiri (in Karnataka)--constitute the
second set of datable historical records. (http://countrystudies.us/india/7.htm)According to some of the inscriptions, in
the aftermath of the carnage resulting from his campaign against the powerful kingdom of Kalinga (modern Orissa),
Ashoka renounced bloodshed and pursued a policy of nonviolence or ahimsa, espousing a theory of rule by
righteousness. (http://www.bihar.ws/info/History-of-ancient-Bihar/Ashoka-The-Great.html) His toleration for different
religious beliefs and languages reflected the realities of India's regional pluralism although he personally seems to have
followed Buddhism. Early Buddhist stories assert that he convened a Buddhist council at his capital, regularly undertook
tours within his realm, and sent Buddhist missionary ambassadors to Sri Lanka. His rule marked the height of the Maurya
empire, and it collapsed only decades after his death. Under his reign Buddhism spread to Syria, Egypt, Macedonia,
Central Asia, Burma. For propagation of Buddhism, he started inscribing edicts on rocks and pillars at places where
people could easily read them. These pillars and rocks are still found in India, spreading their message of love and peace
for the last two thousand years. To his ideas he gave the name Dharma. Ashoka died in 232 BC. The capital of Ashoka
pillar at Sarnath is adopted by India as its national emblem. The "Dharma Chakra" on the Ashoka Pillar adorns Indias
National Flag.( http://www.incredibleindia.org/newsite/cms_page.asp?pageid=759)
ECONOMY
For the first time in South Asia, political unity and military security allowed for a common economic system and
enhanced trade and commerce, with increased agricultural productivity. The previous situation involving hundreds of
kingdoms, many small armies, powerful regional chieftains, and internecine warfare, gave way to a disciplined central
authority. Farmers were freed of tax and crop collection burdens from regional kings, paying instead to a nationally
administered and strict-but-fair system of taxation as advised by the principles in the Arthashastra. Chandragupta
Maurya established a single currency across India, and a network of regional governors and administrators and a civil
The distribution of the Edicts of Ashoka
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service provided justice and security for merchants, farmers and traders. The
Mauryan army wiped out many gangs of bandits, regional private armies, and
powerful chieftains who sought to impose their own supremacy in small areas
Although regimental in revenue collection, Maurya also sponsored many public
works and waterways to enhance productivity, while internal trade in India
expanded greatly due to newfound political unity and internal peace.
Under the Indo-Greek friendship treaty, and during Ashoka's reign, an
international network of trade expanded. The Khyber Pass, on the modern
boundary of Pakistan and Afghanistan, became a strategically important port of
trade and intercourse with the outside world. Greek states and Hellenic kingdoms in West Asia became important trade
partners of India. Trade also extended through the Malay peninsula into Southeast Asia. India's exports included silk
goods and textiles, spices and exotic foods. The Empire was enriched further with an exchange of scientific knowledge
and technology with Europe and West Asia. Ashoka also sponsored the construction of thousands of roads, waterways,
canals, hospitals, rest-houses and other public works. The easing of many over-rigorous administrative practices,
including those regarding taxation and crop collection, helped increase productivity and economic activity across the
Empire. (http://www.bharatadesam.com/history/maurya_empire.php)
In many ways, the economic situation in the Mauryan Empire is analogous to the Roman Empire of several centuries
later. Both had extensive trade connections and both had organizations similar to corporations. While Rome had
organizational entities which were largely used for public state-driven projects, Mauryan India had numerous private
commercial entities. These existed purely for private commerce and developed before the Mauryan Empire itself.
ARCHITECTURE
Architectural remains of the Maurya period are rather few. Remains of a hypostyle
building with about 80 columns of a height of about 10 meters have been found in
Kumhrar, 5 km from Patna Railway station, and is one of the very few sites that has
been connected to the rule of the Mauryas. The style is rather reminiscent of Persian
Achaemenid architecture .The grottoes of Barabar Caves, are another example of
Mauryan architecture, especially the decorated front of the Lomas Rishi grotto. These
were offered by the Mauryas to the Buddhist sect of the Ajivikas. The most
widespread example of Maurya architecture are the Pillars of Ashoka, often
exquisitely decorated, with more than 40 spread throughout the sub-continent.
(http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Mauryan_Empire::sub::Architectural_
Remains
Silver punch mark coin of the Mauryan
empire, with symbols of wheel and
elephant
Mauryan architecture in the Barabar
Mounts. Grottoe of Lomas Richi.
(Retrieved from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mauryan
Coin.JPG)
(Retrieved
from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:
CunninghamMauryan.jpg)
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DECLINE OF THE DYNASTY
Maurya Empires decline began 60 years after Ashokas rule ended, and it dissolved in 185 with the foundation of
Sunga Dynasty in Magadha. Ashoka was followed for 50 years by a succession of weaker kings. Brhadrata, the last ruler
of Mauryan dynasty, held territories that had shrunk considerably from the time of emperor Ashoka, although he stilupheld the Buddhist faith. Brihadrata was assassinated in 185 BCE during a military parade, by the commander-in-chief
of his guard, the Brahmin general Pusyamitra Sunga, who then took over the throne and established the Sunga dynasty
Buddhist records such as the Asokavadana write that the assassination of Brhadrata and the rise of the Sunga empire led
to a wave of persecution for Buddhists, and a resurgence of Hinduism. Pusyamitra may have been the main author of
the persecutions, although later Sunga kings seem to have been more supportive of Buddhism. Other historians, such as
Etienne Lamotte and Romila Thapar, among others, have argued that archaeological evidence in favor of the allegations
of persecution of Buddhists are lacking, and that the extent and magnitude of the atrocities have been exaggerated
(http://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Mauryan_Empire::sub::Decline)
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Mauryan ringstone, with standing goddess. NorthwestPakistan. 3
rdcentury BCE. British Museum.
(Retrieved from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MauryanRingstone.JPG)
6th
pillar edict of Emperor Ashoka. Sandstone, Mauryan
dynasty, around 238 BC.
(Retrieved from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:6thPillarOfAshoka.JPG)
Mauryan cast copper coin. Late 3rd century BCE. British
Museum.
(Retrieved from:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MauryanCastCopperCoinLate3
rdCenturyBCE.jpg)
Balarama, holding mace and conch (lower right) on a
Maurya coin. Balarama was originally a powerful
independent deity of Hinduism, and was considered an
avatar of Vishnu. 3rd2nd century CE. British Museum.
(Retrieved from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MauryanBalaramaCoin3
rd-2ndCenturyCE.jpg)
Statuettes of the Maurya period, 4th-3rd century BCE. Muse Guimet. Personal photographs 2006.
(Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MauryaStatuettes.jpg)
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2. Congress, U. L. (n.d.). The Mauryan Empire. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from Country Studieshttp://countrystudies.us/india/7.htm
3. History, S. (n.d.). Serving History. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from Serving historyhttp://www.servinghistory.com/topics/Mauryan_Empire
4. ILoveIndia. (n.d.). Chanakya. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from ILoveIndiahttp://www.iloveindia.com/history/ancient-india/maurya-dynasty/chanakya.html
5. Imaging, W. (2007, May 7). Cunningham Mauryan. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CunninghamMauryan.jpg
6. Imaging, W. (2006, September 6). Maurya Statuettes. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MauryaStatuettes.jpg
7. Imaging, W. (2007, June 23). Mauryan Balarama Coin. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MauryanBalaramaCoin3rd-2ndCenturyCE.jpg
8. Imaging, W. (2009, February 11). Mauryan CastCopperCoin Late 3rdCentury BCE. Retrieved October13, 2011, from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MauryanCastCopperCoinLate3rdCenturyBCE.jpg
9. Imaging, W. (2006, September 27). Mauryan Coin. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MauryanCoin.JPG
10.Imaging, W. (2005, September 27). Mauryan Ringstone. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MauryanRingstone.JPG
11.India, M. o. (2004). History. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from Incredible Indiahttp://www.incredibleindia.org/newsite/cms_page.asp?pageid=759
12.PHGCOM. (2007). Edicts of Ashoka. Retrieved October 12, 2011, from Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EdictsOfAshoka.jpg
13.Singh, S. (n.d.). Ashoka The Great. Retrieved October 13, 2011, from BIharhttp://www.bihar.ws/info/History-of-ancient-Bihar/Ashoka-The-Great.html
14.Vastu. (2009, June 27). Maurya Dynasty in 265 BCE. Retrieved October 12, 2011, from Wikipediahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Maurya_Dynasty_in_265_BCE.jpg
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